Abstract
The most recent generation of the electrical and electronic household and office equipment is far more efficient than its predecessor, but it is still improvable. The smart equipment, when it is used, adds the advantages of the supplementary control functions with the requirements of beeing electrically supplied. By interconnecting the smart devices in a data network, some of the energy consumption occurs even in the non-active states. These states, either a “stand-by” mode or an “off-line” mode, according to the European Committee directives, imposes maximum limits for the electricity consumption, thus an eco-design of the electrical and electronic equipment. The impact of these eco-design requirements on household appliances and office equipment with repercussions in their operation and use, as well as the energy and environmental effects, are dealt in this paper, based on a case study.