On Friday, May 9, the European Commission announced the implementation of new regulations aimed at limiting the energy consumption of household appliances that are not in active use. These measures are now in effect, as stated in a recent communication from the EU executive body.
With these regulations, the European Commission aims to achieve a savings of 4TWh (four terawatts per hour) annually by 2030. This amount is nearly twice the annual electricity consumption of Malta and is sufficient to power over one million electric cars. Additionally, the measures are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.4 million tons.
The Commission has projected that these changes will lead to a financial saving of 530 million euros annually by 2030.
The new rules mandate detailed information on energy consumption in ‘standby’ mode (when not in active use) to be available to consumers. These standards apply to products manufactured from May 9 onward.
Included in these regulations are Wi-Fi routers, wireless speakers, and even electronic furniture components such as curtains and desks.
