Switzerland toughens energy efficiency requirements
Switzerland makes amendments to the Energy Efficiency Ordinance, which provides for adjustments for mass-produced vehicles and appliances.
Increasing energy efficiency is a cornerstone of the Energy Strategy 2050. Accordingly, the Federal Council also emphasized the importance of improving energy efficiency and, in particular, electricity efficiency in its dispatch in 2021. Against this background, the planned amendments to the Energy Efficiency Ordinance will make adjustments for series-produced vehicles and appliances.
Against this background, the planned amendments to the Energy Efficiency Ordinance will make adjustments for series-produced vehicles and appliances.
A significant part of the changes will lead to stricter efficiency requirements for electrical appliances, with which electricity efficiency is to be strengthened. Due to the overall lower electricity consumption, this will contribute to the security of electricity supply in the medium and long term.
However, since these requirements are stricter than those currently applied in the European Union, this leads to trade barriers. According to the Federal Act on Trade Barriers, technical regulations in Switzerland may deviate from those of the EU as exceptions if this is necessary to safeguard overriding public interests. The Ordinance on the Placing on the Market of Products in accordance with Foreign Regulations therefore provides for several exceptions. In such cases, the Federal Council must thoroughly examine the proportionality of the measures.
The following product groups are affected by the amendments:
- Refrigerators
- Household tumble dryers
- Household dishwashers
- Commercial refrigerated storage cabinets
- Water heaters and hot water storage tanks
- Space heaters and combination heaters
- Individual room heaters
- Commercial dishwashers
- Commercial kitchen appliances
Consumers also benefit from the changes described, as inefficient appliances with high life-cycle costs are no longer on the market. As a rule, the purchase costs of more efficient appliances are higher than those of less efficient appliances, but the energy costs over the entire lifetime are significantly lower.
