In the Autumn of last year, DG Energy launched a 2-year Ecodesign Preparatory Study on Smart Appliances which will provide an analysis of technical, economic, environmental, market and societal aspects that are relevant for a broad market introduction of smart appliances. The study is carried out by a consortium led by VITO in cooperation with Viegand & Maagoe ApS, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, MINES-ParisTech and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy GmbH.