Electrical manufacturers will have minimum levels of energy efficiency imposed on to them under the EU’s Ecodesign decree, despite doubts within the industry whether the rules would improve products’ performance.

 

The European Commission said the ruling on a number of electrical goods could reduce energy consumption by 10 per cent, which will put the EU in good stead to meet its target of reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent in 2020.

 

Washing machines and dishwasher will have to meet minimum levels of energy efficiency under the EU’s Ecodesign decree, despite doubts within the industry whether the rules would improve products’ performance.

 

The EC says the ruling will reduce energy usage in electrical appliances by 10 per cent, which will put the EU in good stead to meeting its target of cutting energy usage by 20 per cent in 2020.

 

The ruling means that washing machines and dishwashers join the growing list of electrical products including televisions, fridgesfreezers andelectric cookers that have to meet strict guidelines on reducing energy and water usage.

 

The standards were formally adopted at the beginning of November. From June 2011 instruction booklets for some electrical goods will list the most energy efficient features and programmes and detail energy consumptions. Furthermore, by December 2013 household washing machines sold in The EU will have to have a cycle function at 20°C.

 

At the momentWasher dryers are excluded from the EU’s ruling, but the EU have sad that these appliances will be brought under the directive as soon as possible.

 

The White Goods Trade Association have questioned the EU’s ruling feeling that the commission’s findings are uncomprehending.

 

A spokesman said: “The difficulty is that a lot of these figures are disingenuous and what you get are meaningless percentages.”

 

He added that an apparent improvement in energy efficiency didn’t take into account the energy cost to produce and dispose of the old unit. Furthermore, he claimed that most manufacturers couldn’t back up their figures with actual energy and water efficiency employed methods to improve performance

 

“Basically, it comes down to how manufacturers interpret figures. It makes no difference to the industry, they’re just in the business to sell white boxes,” he said.