Proposals should set-up and implement in-situ measurement campaigns to capture the actual energy consumption, or energy efficiency where relevant, in EU households and to better understand the determinants of energy use for the selected products. Data collected should be statistically analysed and policy recommendations formulated on the related EU ecodesign and energy labelling rules. Proposals should build on relevant studies, including on the recommendations from the recent JRC technical report.

The following aspects should be taken into account for the measurement campaigns:

• Product selection: while multi-product monitoring would be preferable, an appropriate balance should be sought between the number of samples, geographical focus and the range of products selected. Priority should be placed on products which are simple to measure and relevant for policymaking, including displays, household refrigerators and cooking appliances, considering also their expected overall energy consumption;
• Sample and geographic focus: a representative sample and a good geographical spread among EU Member States (ideally representing over 70% of EU households) should be ensured; depending on the products selected, different climatic zones, socio-economic, cultural, and other aspects should be considered;
• Duration: should be decided based on relevant criteria, including the intrusive character of testing from the household’s perspective, the effect of seasonality on products considered, cost/benefit, the possibility to rotate monitoring among households etc.;
• Determinants influencing energy use of the selected products should be investigated (e.g. thermostat settings of a refrigerator, functions aiming to optimise consumption) and other relevant data should be collected, such as the model identifier, energy class and corresponding product information (e.g. information sheet, technical documentation), as applicable. Consideration could also be given to registering user patterns/ significant user interactions and observations in a logbook (e.g. refrigerator door-openings).

Particular attention should be paid to ensuring a sufficient household engagement and retention, including to factors that could influence this, such as the type of products selected (e.g. plug-in domestic appliances compared to other products requiring expert installation), data protection issues etc.

Proposals should involve a consortium with multidisciplinary expertise and resources, including on technical aspects (e.g. installing equipment, with remote accessibility, and capacity to tackle on-site issues, such as malfunctions), household engagement, statistical evaluation. Monitoring instruments of adequate precision should be installed, but the use of existing and embedded meters would be also possible, if their precision is known or can be established.

Relevant stakeholders necessary for the successful implementation of the action should be involved, including consumer organisations at the European or national level. Access to experts with technical knowledge on the concerned products, regulations and standards as well as the wider legal framework will be necessary.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting an EU contribution of up to €2 million would allow the specific objectives to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

The Commission intends to select one single proposal under this topic.