EU Adopts Efficiency Legislation

The European Federation of Elevator Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (EFESME) reported that the European Union (EU) has adopted a series of legislative acts with the goal of improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of buildings and industrial products. Among them is Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 on energy labeling and directives 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) and 2009/125/EC on the eco-design requirements for energy-related products, more commonly known as the Eco-Design Directive.

Although lifts are not included in the scope of these legislations, they have been included in the product list of Working Plan 2016-2019 of the Eco-Design Directive. This list consists of products estimated to have relevant potential in terms of energy savings and environmental impact. Products on it are being or will be studied by the European Commission (EC) to verify the possibility of improving their environmental impact.

Fraunhofer ISI, a German research institution for energy technologies, has been undertaking the study for lifts since the second half of 2017. The study is to provide an analysis of relevant technical, environmental and economic aspects. Once the two-year study is complete, the EC will be able to execute an impact assessment that will allow deciding, after consultations with stakeholders, whether to widen the scope of the Eco-Design Directive to lifts. If so, the EC can decide to approve either an implementing measure (specifying an ecological design for lifts) or a self-regulation measure proposed by the industry and elaborated in accordance with the directive.