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2017
Conference Paper
Titel
Harmonisation of MEPS and energy labelling in Latin America and the Caribbean - opportunities and challenges
Abstract
As in most developing countries and emerging economies, the demand for electricity is increasing rapidly in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and energy efficiency (EE) potentials are large. Besides climate change mitigation, EE can contribute to meeting diverse development goals in the region, including enhanced energy security and social improvements. Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and energy labelling have been recognized as two of the most effective and efficient policy measures to address product EE, and programs have been introduced by most countries in the LAC region. However, unlike the EU regulations, MEPS and labelling programs in the LAC region are national and largely lack harmonisation between the various countries. In particular, a lack of availability of competent services and alignment in quality infrastructure, needed for measuring the energy output of products, testing their performance as well as assuring and certifying their quality, hampers an effective implementation of EE programs. The lack of harmonisation poses considerable challenges for product manufacturers, importers, retailers and end consumers and largely reduces the effectiveness of the programs. This paper describes how strengthening the national and regional standardization bodies, metrology institutes, conformity assessment bodies and regulatory agencies and supporting interaction between them can help to make EE programs more effective. The results draw upon a project funded by the German International Cooperation and executed by the German National Metrology Institute PTB, in which a variety of capacity building activities, including workshops, training measures and interlaboratory comparisons were conducted in the region between 2011 and 2015. We analyse how these activities can contribute to a harmonisation of MEPS and Labelling in the LAC region. We conclude by providing recommendations for further interventions to support effective EE policy.
Author(s)