Implementation of EU Directives

Country / jurisdiction: European Union · Year: 1995 · Status: In force · Level: International · Type: Voluntary

EU mandatory labelling: Member States have the responsibility (in addition to transposition and compliance) to ensure that the labelling schemes are accompanied by educational and promotional information campaigns aimed at encouraging more responsible use of energy by private customers. Germany has implemented the EU labelling Directive 2010/30/EU for energy-related products (see related policies) in the Energy Consumption Labelling Act and the Energy Consumption Labelling Ordinance (EnVKG and EnVKV). The Energy Consumption Labelling Act and Ordinance had to be amended in particular to open legislation for the labelling of products other than energy using appliances (energy-related products). Both acts became effective in May 2012. Other directives that Germany has implemented are EU standards Directives for residential and commercial appliances (see related policies) in the Ordinance on Maximum Energy Consumption, Energie-verbrauchshöchstwerteverordnung.

EU Directive on Fuel Economy and CO2 Labels for Cars: Germany has implemented the EU Directive 1999/94/EC in the Ordinance on Consumer Information about Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions of New Passenger Cars of 28 May 2004, Verordnung über Verbraucherinformationen zu Kraftstoffverbrauch und CO2-Emissionen neuer Personenkraftwagen.

EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings: In Germany large parts of the Directive had already been implemented in the Energy Conservation Ordinance of 16 November 2001, Energieeinsparver-ordnung. The remainder will be implemented within the framework of an amendment of the Energy Conservation Ordinance.

EU Directive to Promote Cogeneration of Heat and Power: Germany implemented the Directive in a step-by-step-approach during the year 2006. The national legal basis for labelling and minimum energy performance ordinances, the Energy Consumption Labelling Act, had to be amended in particular to open legislation for the labelling of appliances other than white goods. The act became effective in February 2002. On this basis, the federal government started to work out new ordinances on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting and on the disclosure of motor vehicle energy consumption levels, to include European Directives into German law. The transposition of the recast of the EPBD (2010/31/EU) into German law is in preparation, but not in force already (see above). The following issues are required: the long-term introduction of the "Nearly-Zero-Energy-Building" as a standard for new buildings by 2021 (buildings owned and used by public authorities by 2019); new regulations concerning the energy performance certificates; establishment of an independent control system for Energy Performance Certificates and for reports on the inspection of air-conditioning systems.

Official source: https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-19-1596_en.pdf