8 August 2008
18 June 2008
30 May 2008
21 May 2008
16 May 2008
15 May 2008
28 April 2008
15 April 2008
14 April 2008
14 April 2008
25 March 2008
14 March 2008
3 March 2008
|
|
BING Newsleter 4-08 is now available on the BING intranet
BING joins industry call on Members States to deliver more ambitious energy efficiency policy. To the press release.
BING newsletter 3-08 is now available on the BING intranet.
BING publishes comments on the planned extension of the Eco-design directive. They are available here.
BING presents comments for improving the financing of energy efficiency measures in buildings.
BING critizices Commission support for multifoil manufacturers. The letter is available here.
BING publishes factsheet on water resistance of rigid polyurethane. The document is available here and in the library.
BING critizices the modification of product mandate M/103. The comments is available here and in the library
BING publishes factsheet on walkability. The document is available here and in the library.
BING newsletter 2-08 is now available on the BING intranet
BING publishes recommendations for the recast of directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy performance of buildings. The recommendations are available here.
BING newsletter 1-08 is available in the Members only section
BING comments on the report "Review of Regulation EC 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer" are now available in our library |
Commission proposes revised Eco-Design Directive
The Commission has adopted long-awaited proposals to expand the scope of existing eco-design and labelling requirements to all products that impact on energy consumption with a view to decreasing the environmental impact of industrial activity, product manufacturing and consumption patterns. The package of measures, contained in 'action plans' on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and on a Sustainable Industrial Policy (SIP), includes:
- A proposal to revise and expand the scope of the eco-design directive to all energy-related products;
- A widened scope for the use of labels that detail the energy use or impact of products;
- New public procurement rules to favour the uptake of 'green' products;
- A revision and expansion of the EU's Ecolabel or flower scheme to include, among others, food and
drink products, and;
- A revision of the voluntary eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS ).
Eco-design directive
The mainstay of current EU efforts is the 2005 Eco-design requirements for energy-using products directive, which sets out requirements on energy use for popular products that consume energy, such as hairdryers, computers, fridges or office equipment. Under the draft plans, this directive will be extended to include all “energy-related” products.
The products that will be affected by the measures still need to be determined and will be the subject of negotiation between Council and Parliament. Once specified, the minimum requirements will be set either by industry or by the special committees of EU experts according to the existing implementing measures set out in the eco-design Directive.
Links
Commission press release: EU promotes sustainable products and technologies: a package of actions for sustainable consumption, production and industry
Commission: European Sustainable Consumption and Production Policies
Commission: Towards a sustainability industrial policy
Commission: EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
|
Commission proposes new rules for reduced VAT
The European Commission made a proposal to change the VAT Directive 2006/112/EC so as to provide Member States with the flexibility to apply reduced VAT rates for some specific services on a permanent basis. The Commission proposal covers areas where there is sufficient evidence that reduced rates do not create problems for the proper functioning of the Internal Market. The sectors concerned are mainly so called labour-intensive services and locally supplied services. The proposal does not alter the principle that the application of reduced rates is optional for Member States. It requires unanimous approval by the Council.
The scope of the proposal is limited and most of the services in question are already eligible for a reduced rate but only in a limited number of Member States and only for a limited period running until 2010.
The proposal is not widening the scope of reduced rates for environmental or energy saving purposes. On this last point, the Commission is currently carrying out a number of studies concerning the possible use of reduced rates for energy saving materials or energy efficient goods and services in accordance with the request formulated by the European Council in March 2008. The Commission will present the results of its analysis, accompanied by relevant proposals in the autumn.
The housing sector would no longer be limited to services linked to a social policy, as it is currently, but would be broadened to include the supply and construction of all housing, as well as all services related to the housing sector (including renovation, maintenance, cleaning, ...).
It is proposed that labour-intensive services should be permanently included in the list of services eligible for reduced rates.
More information is available here.
|
Commission publishes draft Construction Products Regulation
The Commission has proposed to replace the “Construction Product Directive” (89/106/EEC) by a new Regulation (CPR). The proposal wants to facilitate free movement of goods by creating a common technical language for manufacturers to express the performances/characteristics of the products they place on the market. This common technical language, mainly harmonised standards and ETAs, replace the corresponding national technical specifications. The CPR proposes new and stricter criteria for notified bodies and a strengthening of market surveillance. The proposal contains precise rules when a manufacturer shall make a declaration of performance. Manufacturers may declare the performance of their products beyond the minimum requirements in place.The use and the meaning of CE marking will be determined clearly. This marking attests that the information accompanying the product has been obtained in accordance with the Regulation and therefore must be considered accurate and reliable.
In some situations, CE marking procedures will be simplified in order to reduce the costs incurred to manufacturers. In particular, this goes for micro-enterprises and for individual products without significant safety concerns. For the same purpose, also the use of stable previous test results or other existing data on the products will be allowed, instead of demanding repeated testing.
The CPR extends the ER3 (now EWR3) to construction and demolition and introduces a new EWR7 on the sustainable use of resources.
More details at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/construction/cpdrevision/cpd_revision_intro_en.htm
|
EUROACE survey on very low energy homes
The results of a survey initiated by the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EuroACE), wich BING is a member of, demonstrate that the time is ripe for the European Commission to introduce mandatory requirements for EU Members States to establish a political timetable to make very low energy homes the default standard.
The survey revealed that a majority of countries have either an official or non-official definition of very low energy housing and many are planning a revision of their energy requirements. Despite the fact that many European countries are already taking national action towards implementing requirements for very low energy housing over a 5-12 year timeframe, very few intend to strengthen the requirements for existing buildings; an important step towards achieving a major reduction in the overall energy used for buildings.
EuroACE believes that recasting of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPDB-202/91/EC) provides an excellent opportunity for the European Commission to require that every Member State establish a plan to deliver very low energy homes.
The study is available here |
Commission presents legislative package on climate change and renewables
The European Commission has presented a package of proposals that will deliver the European Council's commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. The proposals demonstrate that the targets agreed last year are technologically and economically possible and provide a unique business opportunity for thousands of European companies. These measures will dramatically increase the use of renewable energy in each country and set legally enforceable targets for governments to achieve them. All major CO2 emitters will be given an incentive to develop clean production technologies through a thorough reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) that will impose an EU-wide cap on emissions. The renewable energies in the energy consumption by 2020, as agreed by EU leaders in March 2007. The emissions reduction will be increased to 30% by 2020 when a new global climate change agreement is reached.
More details here. |
