Technology to marvel at - and it’s easy on the climate and resources, too!

UBA and Blue Angel eco-label at the International consumer electronics trade fair

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is calling upon producers of electrical and electronic equipment to further boost the energy efficiency of televisions, washing machines and computers. “Consumers must be able to really trust that products have as high a degree of energy efficiency as possible, which is precisely why rigorous standards applicable to all equipment for sale is so important”, said UBA President Jochen Flasbarth upon the launch of the IFA Consumer Electronics Unlimited trade fair on 2 September 2011 in Berlin. Flasbarth alluded to new regulations in the EU Ecodesign Directive and the EU Energy Labelling Directive. They entail that, as of 30 November 2011, the energy consumption of TVs will finally be marked on the product, whereas enforcing similar labelling for computers has been debated unsuccessfully for years. “Everyone can easily make out the energy consumption of washing machines or dishwashers according to energy class on the machine itself. I fail to see why this crucial consumer information is still missing on computers and other IT equipment”, said Flasbarth. “The European Commission must move to establish minimum standards of energy efficiency in this regard.“
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UBA wants to make product total energy costs more transparent. “Up to now purchase price has been the most important factor for merchants and consumers; however, it represents only a fraction of real cost. It would be ideal to have compulsory information in advertisement and shops as to the total costs of a product over its average lifetime, stated in euros and cents,“ said Flasbarth. “If a television with a 81-cm screen in energy efficiency class C costs about 20 euros per year more than a same-size set in energy efficiency class  A+, the consumer should be able to see this in black and white upon purchase. It makes products more easily comparable and automatically exposes the energy squanderers.“

IFA is the world’s large trade fair for consumer electronics, information and communications technology and appliances. It will be held from 2-7 September on the Berlin fairgrounds at the radio tower. The Federal Environment agency will be present at Booth 177 in Hall 1.2 to provide information about environmental protection. Visitors can learn how many different materials are in a television and why it makes sense to recycle used sets: an interactive touchscreen will break down the TV into its many parts with just a few clicks, revealing what precious raw materials are hidden in and behind its grey screen.

UBA is also highlighting the topic of energy efficiency. The energy check at the booth will help consumers find out how much energy appliances which are supposedly on stand-by actually consume. It is often no more than simply pressing one button that can save plenty of electricity. Visitors can experience just how much effort it takes to generate energy with their own legs: (athletic) visitors can pedal two exercise bicycles to produce some of the power needed to provide lighting for the UBA booth (which, by the way, is making use of energy-saving LED technology only).

The Blue Angel eco-label will also be represented at Booth 177 in Hall 1.2. UBA President Flasbarth remarked, “Products with the Blue Angel prove that environmental protection and technical sophistication are not mutually exclusive.  There are already more than 11,500 products that have the label, and new ones are being added all the time.” Some of the devices that are labelled with the Blue Angel include the Brother DCP-195C printer, Siemens’ Open Stage series telephones or the Fujitsu ESPRIMO desktop computer.

 

 

Umweltbundesamt Hauptsitz

Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau
Germany

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