Modelling the effect of the Ecodesign and Labelling directives - bottom-up analysis of EU-27 residential electricity use

The Ecodesign and Labelling directives are key policy measures to increase energy efficiency in Europe. In view of the extension of Ecodesign and Labelling to further products as well as the revision of the current implementing directives, it is essential to evaluate the potential energy savings, taking into account different paths of technological development and diffusion. Our study uses bottomup modelling to evaluate the long-term saving potentials of Ecodesign and Labelling for residential appliances (including large appliances, cooking and ICT), lighting and air conditioning. The household end-uses that are affected by the legislation are implemented in the model in a disaggregated way. The model is designed as a vintage stock approach and based on the simulation of consumer activities as well as technological trajectories. We model the electricity demand of household end-uses in the EU-27 by country and compare various scenarios. Our Reference Scenario reflects the electricity demand of household end-uses without any policy measures implemented after 2008. Our current Policy Scenario includes all implementing directives that are currently in force and assumes that the sensitivity of consumers to the total cost of ownership remains at the currently witnessed level. Finally, our LLCC Scenario explores the potential energy savings assuming that consumers choose the economically favourable options considering the total cost of ownership.