The Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new consultation focussed on smarter eco-design for energy-using products.

Such design improvements could save the economy £900 million as well as protect the environment, according to the agency. The new consultation, which closes on 4 September, seeks views on how to implement minimum energy standards and energy labelling of high street products.

Minimum energy standards and labels for televisions, washing machines and fridges are already being introduced under The European Union (EU) Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (EuP), with more products to follow. Implementing these standards effectively will reduce EU energy use by 10 per cent, according to EU estimates. On the other hand, non-compliance with these standards is believed to cost some £30 million per year.

Defra’s new consultation aims to ensure that manufacturers can compete in a fair environment while consumers are guaranteed that the products they purchase meet the mandatory minimum energy performance standards and their declared energy label.

“It is really important that we hear from businesses and manufacturers to get a well rounded view of how we can enforce and check on the energy standards of products,” said Dan Norris, the new Environment Minister. “These standards can save our economy so much money and can save millions of tonnes of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.”

The consultation aims to:

• Find out who would be best placed to carry out the market surveillance;
• Discover what the necessary powers such an enforcement authority should have, whether we need more regular testing programmes, and the role business should play in enforcement and testing of energy using products; and
• Seek industry and business views on draft guidance notes for five energy-using products (standby, simple set top boxes, external power supplies, tertiary lighting and household lighting).

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