Watch your watts

Abstract

The European Commission has taken aim at the excessive power used by electronic equipment in its latest directive. Over the last 10 years, electronics designers have had to deal with a growing list of regulations derived from European Union directives. We have had the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and low-voltage (LVD) directives; the radio and telecommunications terminal equipment (RT and in the last few years the regulation of hazardous substances (RoHS) and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directives. Don't think that the list is not set to grow more.