BUSINESS electricity users and householders could save €90 billion a year by 2020 if the European Commission (EC) raised energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances, according to leading electronics firms.
Electrolux, Bosch and Siemens have called on the EC to speed up the rollout of Ecodesign regulations so that more products such computers and televisions are designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind.
Under the regulations, the least energy efficient products will be taken off the market and the most energy-efficient will be promoted through the use of a European standard energy efficiency label.
In addition to saving business electricity consumers and householders significant amounts of money, the EU’s total energy consumption would be reduced by nearly 20% by 2020 under the plan.
However, in a joint statement, the electronics firms said the Ecodesign Directive would not achieve its stated aims unless it was beefed up.
The firms called on the EC to set clear priorities for products, along with clear deadlines, and improve market surveillance and enforcement. The companies also want to see good quality data used to draw up new standards and more manpower devoted to the effort within the EC.
Energy consultancy group Ecofys has also warned that the Ecodesign Directive could fail to meet its potential as a result of delays to the introduction of new standards and a perceived lack of ambition.
Six major product groups, including boilers, water heaters and computers are still waiting approval to be included in the scheme year after the preparatory work was finalized, Ecofys warned in a recent report.
The call from electronics forms coincides with the release in the UK of the report, Powering the Nation, which suggests that business electricity users could make considerable savings by switching electrical appliances off when not in use.
Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line said UK business electricity users welcomed any measures that would reduce their energy spend – so long as the reforms did not involve added red tape or additional costs for firms.
“Business electricity users need all the help they can get in helping to keep their energy spend down, so these reforms are welcome so long as there are no additional costs involved,” Mr Morgan said.
“But firms need to take a multifaceted approach to energy. The easiest and quickest way for businesses to reduce their energy costs is to ensure they know when their fixed-term energy contracts expire, to give timely notice to their supplier that they are switching, and search the market for a better deal.
“Many firms simply don’t realize that if they stay with the same supplier year on year they will be offered a much more expensive tariff than they would find if they shopped around.
“Firms should be looking to use a reputable independent service like the Energy Advice Line to ensure they find the best available business electricity tariffs on the market.”
The Energy Advice Line is a consumer champion and the UK’s only independent price comparison and switching services exclusively for small and medium-sized businesses. The service enables firms to quickly and simply compare business energy and business gas prices, and to switch to the best available deal on the market.
The Energy Advice Line’s team of business energy experts can also provide free advice on what businesses need to do to avoid being trapped in expensive and onerous rollover contracts.
For further information or a free quotation, visit www.energyadviceline.com
