From May, a new European legislation that will directly affect electricity consumption in millions of Portuguese homes will directly. The goal? Reduce the energy expenditure of appliances that, even turned off, continue to consume electricity without anyone noticing. Learn more about these new European Union (EU) rules.
Changes in energy use in home appliances
This is a profound review of previous “waiting mode” consumption, or standby, applied to a wide range of home and office equipment. The measure is followed by the European Union Regulation 2023/826 and promises concrete changes in the use of energy in apparatus we have home every day.
An Energy Escape that costs dearly
Many of the devices we use continue to spend electricity even when they are “off” . Televisions, porters, routers, printers and other equipment remain standby, ready to be used immediately. But this readiness has a price: it can represent up to 10% of a family’s electricity bill.
With the new rules, this invisible consumption will be strongly limited, says the same source. Equipment without informative display will not be able to exceed 0.5 watts in standby. Those who have display, such as digital clocks or informative screens, can consume up to 0.8 watts.
The savings that can reach € 100 per year
According to the Polaco website Warsaw in a nutshellquoted by itself Executive Digestthis measure may translate into an annual savings up to 100 euros per family. Does it look little? Multiplied by millions of European homes, the economic and environmental impact is significant.
The European Commission estimates that by 2030 this change may prevent the consumption of about 35 terawatts-hour per year. To get an idea, this is equivalent to what a country like Denmark consumes an entire year.
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What devices will be affected?
This new EU regulation applies to various types of equipment, especially those that traditionally spend a long time linked to current without being used.
Are included:
- Electronic consumer equipment such as televisions, decoders, routers and modems;
- Office equipment such as printers, photocopiers and multifunction machines;
- Electric vehicle charging stations, which will now have to ensure greater efficiency even when they are not charging;
- Motorized devices such as adjustable secretaries, automatic curtains and other intelligent houses.
Impact on companies and consumers
For companies that produce or sell this type of devices, it will be necessary to adapt the products to new energy limits. The new models will have to comply with these rules from May 2025.
On the consumer side, it will not be necessary to replace the devices they already have at home. The rule applies only to new products that enter the European market after the law is entry into force. However, it is recommended to verify the energy consumption of certain equipment, especially the oldest.
Towards a smarter energy
This is another measure inserted in the EU strategy for energy transition and environmental sustainability. By reducing invisible waste, the EU intends not only to alleviate citizens’ portfolios, but also reinforce the commitment to more conscious and efficient consumption.
Even if it is a “silent” change, the impact may be expressive, both on the light and collective effort to save energy.
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