EURO NEWS
Commission adopts regulations to
improve lighting products' efficiency
T
he Commission has
adopted two ecodesign
regulations which aim to
improve the energy efficiency
of household lamps and of
office, street and industrial
lighting products. The two
regulations lay down energy
efficiency requirements that
Research intend to save close to 80 TWh
centre opens
by 2020 (roughly the electricity
consumption of Belgium, or of
CO2 emissions
23 million European households,
or the equivalent of the yearly re-injected every year into the providing between 25% and
testing lab
output of 20 power stations of european economy. 50% energy savings.
500 megawatts) and will lead to households will still have Depending on the number
A
neW fACiliTY for a reduction of about 32 million the choice between long-life of lamps installed, an
testing fuel consumption tons of Co2 emission per year. compact fluorescent lamps average household switching
and emissions of trucks and incandescent light bulbs will that currently yield the highest from conventional bulbs to
buses has been opened. The be progressively replaced by energy savings (up to 75% compact fluorescent lamps could
installation, VELA-7 (Vehicle improved alternatives starting less energy than incandescent make net savings (taking into
emission laboratories) at the in 2009 and finishing at the lamps), or efficient incandescent account higher purchasing
Commission’s Joint Research end of 2012. As a result of lamps (of the halogen type) price of the lamps) between
Centre (JRC) in Ispra, these regulations, €11 billion fully equivalent to conventional €25 and € 50 a year on their
Northern Italy, simulates wind are expected to be saved and bulbs in terms of light quality, electricity bill.
drag, tyre/road friction and
drive cycles for articulated
lorries of up to 40 tonnes or EU Commission announces nominees
12m long buses. According
to the Commission, it comes
for Inventor of the Year 2009 Award
at a crucial time since
implementation guidelines
I
nvenTions suCh as the The nominees include: system that sets new standards
for new emission standards, commercial use of solar energy n Adolf Goetzberger (Germany), in robotics.
notably the euro vi regarding and long-life batteries for hybrid widely regarded as the father n hendrikus meijer and huibert
heavy-duty vehicles, must be cars are among the nominations of the commercial use of solar den hartog (the netherlands)
defined by 1 April 2010. for the inventor of the Year energy. for a furnace that allows
velA-7 aims to provide 2009 award. The european n maria-Regina Kula production of pig iron using
independent, accurate and Patent Office and the European (Germany) for the use of very little energy.
unbiased test results. With Commission have announced the an enzyme as a catalyst for n Joseph lemer (france) for a
measurements going beyond twelve nominees for this year’s more eco-friendly methods new kind of energy-efficient
those achievable on simple european inventor of the Year for producing drugs and heat exchanger.
engine test stands, VELA-7 awards. The winners will be chemicals. n Fiona Fairhurst (UK), with her
is said to be able to test a announced in Prague on 28 n Bartolomej Janek (slovak 'fastskin' swimsuit inspired by
range of alternative fuels and April 2009. Republic) for reduction-gear shark skin.
exhaust gas after-treatment
systems in existing and future
Study pushes ICT use for a greener Europe
truck configurations.
The facility intends to
produce a broad picture A
s PART of its effort to efficiency. These technologies spaces, it will help make people
combat climate change are expected to reduce total more aware of how they use
– quantitatively and and drive economic recovery, carbon emissions in europe by energy. With smart metering in
qualitatively – of the the european Commission has up to 15% by 2020. According their homes, for example, the
emissions of the whole called on member states and to the Commission, ICT can not Commission pointed out that
range of heavy vehicles industry to use information and only improve monitoring and consumers have been found to
in the eu. communications technologies management of energy use in reduce their energy consumption
(iCT) to improve energy factories, offices and in public by as much as 10%.
 SuStainable SolutionS april 2009
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