Brussels, 15 March 2013 – EHPA and EPEE welcome this week’s adoption of the Ecodesign requirements for heaters by Member States experts. These new rules are expected to foster the uptake of renewable heating solutions, and in particular heat pumps.
“Following the adoption of the energy label, ecodesign rules for heaters mark a second major step towards the achievement of EU’s 2020 targets, in particular improving energy efficiency and the use of renewables in Europe.” comments Andrea Voigt, EPEE Director General.
“The Ecodesign measure in its current form is a significant step forward to improve the efficiency of the heating sector and to unleash the potential of energy efficient products such as heat pumps. In combination with the related Energylabel, the efficiency of the products subject to the measure will become visible to the end user." adds Thomas Nowak, Secretary General at EHPA.
Together with the energy label for heaters (ENER Lot 1) and water heaters (ENER Lot 2), which have been adopted mid-February, the ecodesign rules for both product groups are expected to trigger substantial energy and CO2 savings. A lower energy demand can also result in significant reductionsof EU citizen’s energy bills and the EU's import dependency on fossil fuels.
These new rules will directly support the development of more energy efficient products, such as heat pumps, and thus contribute to maintaining Europe as a technology leader in this segment.
EHPA and EPEE look forward to the entry into force of the ecodesign rules for heaters, and the impact of the minimum efficiency requirements from July 2015 onwards.

Thomas Nowak
Secretary General EHPA

Andrea Voigt (AP Euroconsult Sprl)
Director General EPEE

Notes to the Editor:
About EHPA: EHPA was established in the year 2000 to promote awareness and proper deployment of heat pump technology in the European market place for residential, commercial and industrial applications. EHPA today has 102 members representing the majority of actors in the European Heat Pump Industry.
The association aims to provide technical and economic input to European, national and local authorities in legislative, regulatory and energy efficiency matters. All activities are aimed at overcoming market barriers and dissemination of information in order to speed up market development of heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water production. It is the declared aim of the association to make heat pumps a core technology in the development towards a more energy efficient, RES based, sustainable energy system. For more information: www.ehpa.org

About EPEE: The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) represents the European refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump industry (RAC) which directly employs over 200,000 people in the EU. EPEE members also create indirect employment through a vast network of small and medium-sized enterprises such as contractors who install, who service and maintain our equipment.
EPEE members have manufacturing sites and research and development facilities across the EU, which innovate for the global market. Founded in the year 2000, EPEE’s membership is composed of 40 member companies and national associations across Europe realising a turnover of over 30 billion Euros. As an expert association, EPEE is supporting safe, environmentally and economically viable technologies with the objective of promoting a better understanding of the sector in the EU and contributing to the development of effective European policies. For more information please visit: www.epeeglobal.org.