Making energy efficient choices

It is becoming increasingly easier for consumers to make well-informed choices when it comes to purchasing energy efficient products. A new law recently adopted by the European Parliament has laid down the legal basis for the possibility of an EU-wide extension of the current obligation for manufacturers and retailers to indicate the energy consumption of certain products to even more products.

To date, there already exists an obligation for manufacturers to attach an energy label to most household appliances including refrigerators, freezers, ovens, air-conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines, washer-driers, tumble driers and lamps.

The new law has extended this obligation to encompass a wider range of products including those used in the commercial and industrial sector and has paved the way for an extension of the same obligation to a wider range of domestic products including televisions, water heaters and boilers.

The label will continue to be based on the current A to G scale currently applicable.

However, a maximum of 3 more classes may be added on top of class A and these new classes will be named A+, A++ and A+++.

The scope behind the introduction of these three new classes is to grant an incentive to manufacturers to compete further by coming up with products which are more and more energy efficient.

The colour schemes of the label are to remain the same with the highest energy efficiency class in dark green and the least energy efficiency one in red.

Any advertisement containing energy-related information or price must include a reference to the energy efficiency class of the product.

The same applies to any technical promotional literature such as manuals and manufacturers' brochures.

Such an obligation ensures that consumers are fully aware of the energy-related running costs to be incurred when purchasing certain appliances.

Statistics go to prove that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits to be had from purchasing energy efficient products.

Ten per cent of domestic washing machines and dishwashers sold in 1998 were in class "A", while by 2005 this percentage went up to 90 per cent.

This comes as no surprise considering that energy costs are on a constant increase.

It is therefore more important than ever before for consumers and businesses alike to make informed decisions when purchasing any product.

mariosa@vellacardona.com

Dr Vella Cardona is a practising lawyer and a freelance consultant in EU, intellectual property, consumer protection and competition law. She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta.