• Ten days until EU companies can no longer make/import powerful vacuum cleaners
    66 replies, posted
[quote]Anyone wanting to buy a powerful vacuum cleaner has only 10 days left to be certain of getting one - following new EU rules that come in next month. From 1 September, companies in the EU will be banned from making or importing vacuum cleaners above 1600 watts. Hoover - based in South Wales - said that most of its cleaners were in that category. It has been replacing its models since July with less powerful versions, but a few are still left on the shelves. Elements of the directive - known as 2009/125/EC - are being challenged by the Dyson group. The consumer organisation Which? says many of the models involved were rated as "best buys" by its researchers. In one recent study, five of the top seven cleaners had motors of more than 1600 watts. The [URL="http://0.0.7.217/125/ECec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/eed/eed_en.htm"]new European rules [/URL]are part of the EU's energy efficiency directive, designed to help tackle climate change. [/quote] [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28878432[/URL] Personally I can't see the point - hoovering isn't usually done every day and usually doesn't take too long, how much is this really going to save? Also factor in that weaker vacuum cleaners usually take longer to clean with (excluding Dyson, because apparently they are all 1600W and lower)...
It's going to force innovation, look how far energy saving light bulbs have come since the incandescent ban. Instead of more watts for more suction we're likely to see improvements in motor and rotor technology contributing to more suction for the same energy input. A case in point for this is the range of models Dyson make. None of which are over the initial 1600W limit (due to their "digital motor" and "cyclone" technology? - Marketing terms.).
vacuum cleaners are hell for the climate, if we had super powerful ones, they would suck too much air away from the atmosphere
Why can't we just buy whatever the fuck we want? I don't want some random EU paper pusher telling me what I can and cannot buy.
How will this affect the consumer? Will prices go up? Down? ... Left?!
[QUOTE=Tezzanator92;45759208]It's going to force innovation, look how far energy saving light bulbs have come since the incandescent ban. Instead of more watts for more suction we're likely to see improvements in motor and rotor technology contributing to more suction for the same energy input. A case in point for this is the range of models Dyson make. None of which are over the initial 1600W limit (due to their "digital motor" and "cyclone" technology? - Marketing terms.).[/QUOTE] With a bulb, if it's bad, you can tell right away and you get rid of it then you make a note not to buy that bulb again. A hoover is a bit more of an investment, you can't go around trying lots until you find the right one. So, while I hope you're right, I can see manufacturers simply lowering the wattage then slapping some super-duper sounding technology name on the box (much like they already do I suppose)
[QUOTE=uzikus;45759245]Why can't we just buy whatever the fuck we want? I don't want some random EU paper pusher telling me what I can and cannot buy.[/QUOTE] Because these bans are not meant to intentionally target you nor intentionally cripple, they are put in place to promote and enforce things that affect all of us and are far greater than you, I, or even a small group or even a big business. You may be inconvenienced by this, but if it makes a decent in climate change, that will be far more important than the small inconvenience we'll face.
[QUOTE=uzikus;45759245]Why can't we just buy whatever the fuck we want? I don't want some random EU paper pusher telling me what I can and cannot buy.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]The new European rules are part of the EU's energy efficiency directive, designed to help tackle climate change.[/QUOTE] That attitude over decades is basically why we're in this situation to begin with.
There will be a hoover depression and everyone will revert back to dustpan and brush.
Finally the earth is saved
[QUOTE=Tezzanator92;45759208]A case in point for this is the range of models Dyson make. None of which are over the initial 1600W limit (due to their "digital motor" and "cyclone" technology? - Marketing terms.).[/QUOTE] Yeah, but Dysons are [I]significantly[/I] more expensive than other vacuum cleaners because of said technology. The most expensive Hoover is cheaper by $100 than the smallest upright Dyson vacuum cleaner. :v:
[QUOTE=uzikus;45759245]Why can't we just buy whatever the fuck we want? I don't want some random EU paper pusher telling me what I can and cannot buy.[/QUOTE] Because fighting climate change is more important than your fucking vacuum cleaner.
[QUOTE=Tezzanator92;45759208]It's going to force innovation, look how far energy saving light bulbs have come since the incandescent ban. Instead of more watts for more suction we're likely to see improvements in motor and rotor technology contributing to more suction for the same energy input. A case in point for this is the range of models Dyson make. None of which are over the initial 1600W limit (due to their "digital motor" and "cyclone" technology? - Marketing terms.).[/QUOTE] they can't really innovate that much without using more expensive rare earths which doesn't really help the EU in any way
And people wonder why our vacuum cleaners resort to drug addictions after losing their jobs. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmC62Eg82E8[/media]
Really really pointless when you consider the amount of time you actually use a vacuum cleaner, hell my electric shower uses nearly 10kW and I often spend 45 minutes to an hour in it, this is going to do fuck all to stop climate change, they should be dealing with China and other major polluters rather than placing pointless bans on consumers, the incandescent bulbs I can understand but this is just plain stupid.
This is a good thing, its the same principle applied to car engines; forcing innovation. Give it a few years and we will have very efficient hoovers. Look at Dyson now for example, all their products are well under 1600 yet they have some of the highest suction power available. You do not need a stupidly inefficient motor in a hoover these days.
[QUOTE=uzikus;45759245]Why can't we just buy whatever the fuck we want? I don't want some random EU paper pusher telling me what I can and cannot buy.[/QUOTE] i know right i ain't buying a hoover unless it runs on diesel and suffocates me with smoke every time i use it
[QUOTE=Uber|nooB;45759584]i know right i ain't buying a hoover unless it runs on diesel and suffocates me with smoke every time i use it[/QUOTE] Next they'll be regulating the curviness of bananas bloody EU regulations
[QUOTE=Jsm;45759579]This is a good thing, its the same principle applied to car engines; forcing innovation. Give it a few years and we will have very efficient hoovers. Look at Dyson now for example, all their products are well under 1600 yet they have some of the highest suction power available. You do not need a stupidly inefficient motor in a hoover these days.[/QUOTE] You're forgetting Dyson motors use neodymium magnets which are not exactly environmentally friendly to produce, also Dyson is practically double or more the price of a traditional vacuum cleaners, frankly I don't give a shit if it uses less power as long as its cheap.
FUCKING BARROSO
I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, the side of me that gives precisely zero fucks about power usage and global warming wants to tell the EU to fuck off. On the other hand, lowering the obnoxious power requirements of these things means my circuit breakers won't go crying war crimes every time I have the audacity to plug one in without turning everything else in the house off first, which I wouldn't mind at all. Would mean I actually vacuum once in a blue moon. Who knows, maybe by the time the yuppietastic low-wattage vacuums finally trickle over here they'll have figured out how to make them do the job just as well. The first few models are going to be terrible while they figure that shit out. [QUOTE=uzikus;45759245]Why can't we just buy whatever the fuck we want? I don't want some random EU paper pusher telling me what I can and cannot buy.[/QUOTE] Just buy secondhand models. Nothing wrong with a used vacuum and they'll actually be able to do the job at hand. Which, for a few years at least, brand new ones won't be able to do. Yuppie bullshit doesn't need to get in the way of your appliances being able to do the job you ask them to do, simply continue using the one you have now and if it breaks replace it with a used one of similar vintage and power.
[QUOTE=Chryseus;45759562]Really really pointless when you consider the amount of time you actually use a vacuum cleaner, hell my electric shower uses nearly 10kW and I often spend 45 minutes to an hour in it, this is going to do fuck all to stop climate change, they should be dealing with China and other major polluters rather than placing pointless bans on consumers, the incandescent bulbs I can understand but this is just plain stupid.[/QUOTE] Somehow, I don't think the [I]European[/I] Union can do much about the People's Republic of China. And considering the population of all EU countries is 503 million (and rising), even if there's only 1 ≥1600W vacuum per 1000 people (or 503000 vacuum cleaners), used (when averaged out) for 5 minutes a day, that's still 67066.63984W, or about 67kW, per day- and that's an unbelievably conservative estimate, I'd say. Yes, it's not going to save the planet, but every step is a step.
[QUOTE=Jsm;45759579]This is a good thing, its the same principle applied to car engines; forcing innovation. Give it a few years and we will have very efficient hoovers. Look at Dyson now for example, all their products are well under 1600 yet they have some of the highest suction power available. You do not need a stupidly inefficient motor in a hoover these days.[/QUOTE] dyson's innovation is they use a shitton of rare-earths in their vacumes compaired to others that...don't so the 1600+ watt motors are actually better for the enviroment because they don't irradiate the land in their manufacturing
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;45759766]Somehow, I don't think the [I]European[/I] Union can do much about the People's Republic of China. And considering the population of all EU countries is 503 million (and rising), even if there's only 1 ≥1600W vacuum per 1000 people (or 503000 vacuum cleaners), used (when averaged out) for 5 minutes a day, that's still 67066.63984W, or about 67kW, per day- and that's an unbelievably conservative estimate, I'd say. Yes, it's not going to save the planet, but every step is a step.[/QUOTE] Why not just put a tax on vacuum cleaners over 1600W instead of outright banning them?
I love my dyson because its the only damn vacuum that weve had that doesnt turn to shit within a year or two, plus its the only one that can actually get all the dog hair out of the carpet while being a lot quieter. This is a joke in the first place when there are much more energy consuming products like an electric range or water heater or even hair dryers. A vacuum is used maybe once a week two tops, when all of those are used every single day. Really stupid ban and even more stupid to tackle something like that instead of major polluters like china.
[QUOTE=Chryseus;45759562]Really really pointless when you consider the amount of time you actually use a vacuum cleaner, hell my electric shower uses nearly 10kW and I often spend 45 minutes to an hour in it, this is going to do fuck all to stop climate change, they should be dealing with China and other major polluters rather than placing pointless bans on consumers, the incandescent bulbs I can understand but this is just plain stupid.[/QUOTE] You know, honestly don't think going after china's pollution or and banning vacuum cleaners are excluding each other.
Do I sense a decline in the popularity of carpeted floors?
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;45759856]Do I sense a decline in the popularity of carpeted floors?[/QUOTE] Unless you go linoleum, hardwood floors get torn to shit by dogs so no.
On one side people see these predictions of completely devastating climate change and crisis yet they can go raving mad about having to maybe use a broom or a mop now and then again. I love powerful vacuum cleaners but outside of genuine business use, having the extra power is just convenient, not necessary at all. And if people fail to live ecologically, who else but the government can make them?
[QUOTE=codemaster85;45759863]Unless you go linoleum, hardwood floors get torn to shit by dogs so no.[/QUOTE] My dog ate the lino in the kitchen.
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