What is embodied energy? Qu'est-ce que l'énergie grise? Hva er grå energi?
Short definition - Embodied energy relates to the total quantity of energy which is necessary to the production, transport, manufacturing, and further transport of a good until the place of consumption. Embodied energy can be calculated for any good, from electronic devices, household appliances, car or construction materials. It can be described as the energy counterpart of life cycle analysis resulting in life cycle energy analysis. Where the embodied energy for the production of a certain good or the functioning of certain plants is so high that it overcomes the benefits of the resulting product, one can talk about energy cannibalism.
Orientate customers - If embodied energy information is disclosed on the packaging, customers will be able to make their own assessment and orientate their consumption choice towards a less energy demanding product. The same reasoning already apply to the food sector. In the latter case, foodstuffs' components qualities and origin are detailed on the packaging. This is regulated at EC level by Council Directive 2000/13/EC on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs to the final consumer (as amended). The directive is itself based on the principle of functional labelling.
Energy labelling of products: from ex-post to ex-ante - The labelling of products is already regulated. However, such labelling focuses on an ex-post analysis, at the consumption level. For example, Council Directive 92/75/EEC provides for harmonised rules for the labelling and standardisation of product information of the consumption of energy by household appliances. Separate sister directives apply to the energy labelling of household appliances.
When it comes to the disclosure of information in relation to embodied energy, the closest EC regulatory attempt is the Eco-design of energy-using products (EuP) Directive 2005/32/EC, recasted by Directive 2009/125/EC of 21 October 2009. This is a typical New Approach directive, containing provisions on CE conformity marking, declaration of conformity and putting on the market and/or into service. As of today, it is the most appropriate legal basis for developing a legal framework on embodied energy in the EC. However, I do not think that I take wrong when saying that the visuability of such labelling is very low among customers. There is here a serious communication work to do by public authorites and by companies when marketing their products. One day can we maybe talk about "energy footprint" as we do with "carbon footprint".
In a way, the United States is doing better, by the use and easy recognition of the Green-e logo. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products. Lately, the logo use has been extended to other goods than electricity. For the latter, the logo certifies that the product has been produced from renewable energy sources. Green-e consequently argues that it is "providing customers clear information about retail 'green' electricity products to enable them to make informed purchasing decisions."
Labelling without green protectionism - This is a good case for international free trade rules. If information disclosure on embodied energy becomes a commercial or public issue for governments and citizens, one can imagine that embodied energy labelling of product can be introduced at large scale. Labelling could even be made mandatory, like it is for food ingredients or genetically modified organisms. But the manner labelling is used for market entry is always a critical issue, and should not justify green protectionism.
Short definition - Embodied energy relates to the total quantity of energy which is necessary to the production, transport, manufacturing, and further transport of a good until the place of consumption. Embodied energy can be calculated for any good, from electronic devices, household appliances, car or construction materials. It can be described as the energy counterpart of life cycle analysis resulting in life cycle energy analysis. Where the embodied energy for the production of a certain good or the functioning of certain plants is so high that it overcomes the benefits of the resulting product, one can talk about energy cannibalism.
Orientate customers - If embodied energy information is disclosed on the packaging, customers will be able to make their own assessment and orientate their consumption choice towards a less energy demanding product. The same reasoning already apply to the food sector. In the latter case, foodstuffs' components qualities and origin are detailed on the packaging. This is regulated at EC level by Council Directive 2000/13/EC on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs to the final consumer (as amended). The directive is itself based on the principle of functional labelling.
Energy labelling of products: from ex-post to ex-ante - The labelling of products is already regulated. However, such labelling focuses on an ex-post analysis, at the consumption level. For example, Council Directive 92/75/EEC provides for harmonised rules for the labelling and standardisation of product information of the consumption of energy by household appliances. Separate sister directives apply to the energy labelling of household appliances.
When it comes to the disclosure of information in relation to embodied energy, the closest EC regulatory attempt is the Eco-design of energy-using products (EuP) Directive 2005/32/EC, recasted by Directive 2009/125/EC of 21 October 2009. This is a typical New Approach directive, containing provisions on CE conformity marking, declaration of conformity and putting on the market and/or into service. As of today, it is the most appropriate legal basis for developing a legal framework on embodied energy in the EC. However, I do not think that I take wrong when saying that the visuability of such labelling is very low among customers. There is here a serious communication work to do by public authorites and by companies when marketing their products. One day can we maybe talk about "energy footprint" as we do with "carbon footprint".
In a way, the United States is doing better, by the use and easy recognition of the Green-e logo. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products. Lately, the logo use has been extended to other goods than electricity. For the latter, the logo certifies that the product has been produced from renewable energy sources. Green-e consequently argues that it is "providing customers clear information about retail 'green' electricity products to enable them to make informed purchasing decisions."
Labelling without green protectionism - This is a good case for international free trade rules. If information disclosure on embodied energy becomes a commercial or public issue for governments and citizens, one can imagine that embodied energy labelling of product can be introduced at large scale. Labelling could even be made mandatory, like it is for food ingredients or genetically modified organisms. But the manner labelling is used for market entry is always a critical issue, and should not justify green protectionism.
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