EU introduced a new standard for electrical appliances and charging stations in « standby » mode
The new appliances should be even more economical, as new rules for the energy consumption from household and office appliances, charging stations for electricity and smart devices in standby mode have entered into the EU.
They halve the maximum levels of electricity consumption from such devices in standby mode (Standby), which should spend no more than 0.5 watts instead of the previous 1 watt.
For devices that show information in standby mode, the restriction is slightly higher – 0.8 watts, but will be reduced again in 2027.
The changes that have come into force through a regulation adopted in 2023 will affect a much larger number of devices than before, when such requirements have been mainly for TVs and microwave stoves. The rules include engine -powered equipment and network connected devices.
The more economical standard of consumption in the excluded state will need to be applied to all new appliances that have been launched from May 9, including receivers, routers and modems, printers, copiers, charging stations for electric vehicles, motor-driven furniture, automated elements in intelligence.
Manufacturers will need to implement innovation in energy management technologies and process their products in order to reduce not only energy consumption in standby, but also maintain the quick reaction that consumers and businesses expect.
The changes will also require a change in the labels of the appliances, which will also have to contain information about their energy consumption in standby mode.
The « vampire » energy
Known as « vampire power », the problem that leads to huge energy costs and depletes the devices’ batteries early, is largely due to ineffective AC adapters in older electronics, which lose nearly 50% of the energy supplied.
The EU has introduced a single charger for mobile devices since 2024.
The European Commission estimates that changes in the ecodiza of appliances will provide 4 terrace hours of electricity annually, which is sufficient to power more than 1 million electric vehicles. The reduction of the carbon footprint will be by 1.4 million tonnes, and the electricity bills will be thinner with 530 million euros a year by 2030.
