The most important frame directives for lighting are:
2006/32/EG ESD: Directive on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services
2010/31/EG EPBD: Overall energy efficiency for buildings
2009/125/EG ErP Eco Design Requirements for Energy-related–Products
Thus, also products are in the scope of the direction which do not consume any energy but have got massive influence on the overall energy consumption (e.g. windows).
ESD: Directive on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services
The ESD aims to promote demand of energy efficient products, for example, by minimal standards for tendering processes.
Therefore, national action plans are put up with a duration of 3 years which should describe the measures precisely such as information or promotion programs, more legal regulations or guidelines with minimal standards for awarding a contract.
The current German EEAP can be obtained at the ministry of economics and technology (BMWi).
This EEAP of November 2007 quotes as measures relevant for lighting, for example:
- Energy label
- Information and education campaigns such as „Initiative Energieeffizienz“ or „Aktion Klima sucht Schutz“ (action climate looking for protection)
- Energy agencies
- Energy saving guidelines for application in the public sector (administration, hospitals, sports)
- Gesetz zur Einsparung von Energie (EnEG) = Law for saving energy, for energy efficiency in buildings
- Energieeinsparverordnung (EnEV) = regulation for saving energy, Increase of requirements and expansion of duty to retro-fit and upgrade
- Energy performance certificate for new buildings (from 01.10.2007) when selling or letting newly (from 01.07.2009)
- Promotion program to modernise lighting technologies outdoors
- Promotion of 'Contracting in lighting'
ErP (Eco Design Requirements for Energy-related–Products)
Target of the ErP is the promotion of supply as well as design of new energy efficient products and thus, in practise, constrictions on the supply of products which cannot meet the minimal standards. They must not carry the CE-marking any more and, therefore, may not be brought to market, so, the manufacturer must not sell to retail any more. But there will not be an explicit ban, warehouse stock may be sold off and users may - of course - employ them as always.
The implementing measures (IMs) set minimal standards specific to each product as efficiency as a numbered value and the time table of their coming to force. So, there is now a 'ban' on conventional ballast class D and C due to directive 2000/55/EG (ballast directive), for example. Further details are set in the follow-up regulation 2009/245 (TIM) .
Regarding lighting, first, there is the so-called TIM or IM tertiary sector which aims towards professional lighting. This directive sets minimal luminous efficencies for certain lamp types (high pressure discharge, fluorescent lamps) which come into force at a certain date. Furthermore, there will be minimal lumen maintenance and survival rates, for fluorescent lamps also a minimum colour rendering index. But there are restrictions and exceptions also, for example, for special applications or for lamps with special technological properties. 2014, a review of the IM tertiary sector has been scheduled by the EU commission.
In addition to that, there will be two other directives for general lighting, originally planned as indoor or better home lighting directives (Domestic IM = DIM). One of these - known as DIM I - has come into force in April 2009 and affects all non-directional light sources such as standard incandescent lamps. 2014, a review of the DIM I has been scheduled by the EU commission.
The other – DIM II – for directional light (therefore, affects reflector lamps and luminaires), LED retrofit lamps and halogen transformers is discussed as a draught by experts at the moment. The directive being issued and getting into power will probably not happen before 2012.