2021 --About the European new lighting regulations

What are the new lighting regulations called?

 

EU SLR - Single Lighting Regulation | Commission Regulation (EU) No 2019/2020 laying down ecodesign requirements for light sources and separate control gear.

EU ELR - Energy Labelling Regulation | Commission Regulation (EU) No 2019/2015 laying down energy labelling requirements of light sources.

UK The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Lighting Products) Regulations 2021

 

What is the Single Lighting Regulation about?

 

The SLR will replace and repeal three regulations: (EC) No 244/2009, (EC) No 245/2009 and (EU) No 1194/2012. This will give a single point of reference for compliance, and defines in new terms the light sources covered under the regulation and separate control gear. Light sources can be anything that emits white lights, including LED lamps, LED modules, and luminaires. Luminaires can also be classified as containing products for light sources.

The new, more stringent minimum efficacy thresholds on light sources and separate control gear should encourage the lighting industry to innovate and further improve energy efficiency beyond existing technology.

It also encourages design for a circular economy with more reuse and less refuse. This means products should be designed to be more reliable, be upgradeable where possible or enable the ‘right to repair’, contain more recyclable material, and be easier to dismantle. This will ultimately help to reduce waste ending up in landfill

 

What is the Energy Labelling Regulation about?

 

Energy Labels are the tool used to communicate energy efficiency in a simple manner. They are used on all electrical energy using products, including washing machines, televisions and light sources.

Regulations are a tool used to implement the requirements for improving efficiency.

The ELR will replace and repeal two regulations: (EC) No 874/2012 and (EC) No 2017/1369.

It defines the new energy labelling requirements for packaging, sales literature, websites and distance selling. As part of this, all products requiring energy labels must be registered into the EPREL database. A QR code linking to the technical product information is also mandatory.

 

How have energy labels changed?

 

The old ratings had lost clarity as the efficiency essential to the previous regulation had maxed out. Most product would be rated A, A+ or A++ while the E and F ratings had become redundant. As such, energy ratings have been rescaled to increase clarity between different classifications. This also gives headroom to accommodate more energy efficient products entering the market.

New energy efficiency requirements

Consumers are now presented with more information on each energy label, which may take some getting used to, but overall these changes should help them in making fair comparisons between products.

 

How the energy label QR codes work

By scanning the QR code on the packaging with their phone’s camera app, consumers will be able to instantly access the product information sheet for that product. This helps them to quickly check how well it compares to other products using the same metrics – no guesswork involved.

Market surveillance will also use these codes. It will help with the process of weeding out poor performing products, raise accountability and ensure customers are paying for what they expect.