Ecodesign: what does it mean?
Only ‘eco-compatible’ stoves and fireplaces in the EU from 2022
The environmentally-friendly nature of pellets and wood is undeniable. These renewable fuels have a substantially neutral impact on CO2 emissions in the atmosphere and allow for 95% less overall emissions of CO2 compared to the equivalent use of a traditional fossil fuel, like gas or diesel fuel, also considering the emissions associated with the cultivation, processing and transport of the fuel itself.
However, on the other hand, if burnt in technologically obsolete appliances, they might affect the quality of air, especially in terms of particulate emissions and unburnt gases. The gradual replacement of obsolete appliances with latest-generation stoves, fireplaces and boilers would drastically reduce this impact.
This is why the European Union will introduce environmentally-friendly design criteria for biomass heat generators, too. Manufacturers will be required to comply with them and they will lead to a better environmental performance of the new biomass products launched on the European market and overall lower harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
The Ecodesign Regulations will come into force in the 28 EU Member States and in all EES (European Economic Space) countries on the following dates:
- for biomass boilers the ecodesign requirement will start from 1 January 2020 (EU Regulation 2015/1189);
- for domestic biomass appliances, i.e. for stoves, fireplaces and range cookers, the ecodesign requirement will come into force on 1 January 2022 (EU Regulation 2015/1185).
The topics covered by Ecodesign Regulations
The two EU regulations related to Ecodesign define the minimum requirements that products running on solid fuel used for heating purposes must comply with to be introduced on the EU market.
These requirements are related to two aspects, which have been identified as important for environmental purposes:
- energy efficiency;
- particulate emissions (PM), gaseous organic compounds (OGC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
However, EU Regulations do not just define basic requirements. They also establish measurement and calculation methods, which need to be harmonised at a European level. They need to be reliable, accurate, reproducible and based on advanced and generally recognised measurement methods.
The commitment of MCZ: a whole generation of products already compatible with Ecodesign
Even if the Ecodesign Regulations will not come into force before 2022, MCZ has chosen to adapt the design of its stoves and fireplaces for several years now, so that they already comply with the envisaged parameters.
This is why the whole collection, with both pellet and wood appliances, already exceed the minimum requirements in terms of efficiency and emissions set by Ecodesign regulations.
What does this mean for consumers?
- Lower consumption
- More savings
- Respect for the environment
- Protecting the quality of air
