EEDAL 2013 - 7th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting

7th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting
(EEDAL’13)
11-13 September 2013
Coimbra, Portugal
Citizens and households are responsible for a large share of global energy and electricity consumption and the related greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Residential energy demand is also rapidly increasing, due to a higher degree of basic comfort and level of amenities: larger homes, new services and new appliances and equipment (in particular information and communications technology,ICT), which is putting a strain on the economies and energy infrastructures of both developed and developing countries.
Energy efficiency improvements in residential appliances, heating and cooling equipment, ICT equipment and lighting can play a key role in achieving a sustainable energy future and socio-economic development, and at the same time mitigate climate change. Energy efficiency measures related to residential appliances, heating equipment and lighting are in most cases highly cost-effective CO2 emission reduction actions, and offer good opportunity to increase the security and reliability of energy supply. In developing countries efficient residential appliances and lighting are vital to reduce household energy costs, to improve living conditions while reducing local pollution. In addition to technical progress on efficiency, large energy savings and carbon reduction can only be achieved with a paradigmatic change in consumer behaviour in the context of usage patterns of energy using products. These changes must be aided by “smart” product design providing automatic optimisation of energy and water resource usage for a given task and providing readily accessible feedback to the consumer to catalyse optimum usage patterns.
These themes are echoed in a growing number of policy commitments and in strategies calling for action at local, regional, national and global levels. The challenge, now, is to ensure market, policy, trade and information barriers do not impede the timely development, delivery and proper use of energy efficient residential equipment, resulting in a missed opportunity for climate change mitigation, security of energy supply and socio-economic development, particularly considering the present global economy. Last, but not least, the consumer must accept these changes and not misuse energy saving on one side by energy consumption for other purposes.
In addition, smart appliances and equipment, smart meters and communication protocols, allow households to be a key part of the smart grids, with storage, load flexibility and generation capabilities through renewable energies and demand response and system energy savings.
The international community of stakeholders dealing with residential appliances, equipment, metering and lighting (including manufacturers, retailers, consumers, governments, international organisations and agencies, academia and experts) have already gathered six times at the International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EEDAL) (Florence 1997, Naples 2000, Turin 2003, London 2006, Berlin 2009, Copenhagen 2011) to discuss the progress achieved in technologies, behavioural aspects and policies, and the strategies that need to be implemented to further progress this important work.
The previous EEDAL conferences have been very successful in attracting an international audience, representing a wide variety of stakeholders involved in policy implementation and development, as well as the manufacturing and promotion of energy efficient residential appliances and lighting. The EEDAL conference has established itself as an influential and recognised international event where participants can discuss the latest developments, establish synergies and build international partnerships among stakeholders.
Following the success of the previous EEDAL conferences, the University of Coimbra and the European Commission Joint Research Centre, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme,the International Energy Agency, and the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP), are pleased to announce:
the 7th International Conference on
Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting ? EEDAL’13
11-13 September 2013
Coimbra, Portugal