In July 2000, the Energy Saving Trust established the Energy Saving Recommended product labeling scheme to direct consumers to the most energy efficient products in the market. By using the Energy Saving Recommended label across the 19 different product groups, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers can help consumers to reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions. The 96 certified manufacturers and suppliers contribute to over 1700 products, all available through a publicly accessible online database.

Where products can be differentiated by their energy efficient properties, the Scheme aims to endorse the top 20% of products in class. This aim is realized through a consistent standard revision process for each of the product groups. Between April 2005 and March 2006, nine product standard revisions were completed. The Scheme continues to expand through:

• a thorough standard-setting and revision process that gathers industry support and commitment, calculates the energy savings derived from endorsement, details the current and projected product sales with and without endorsement, and sets clear objectives;
• providing manufacturers and suppliers with a detailed future direction on product standards;
• a strong working relationship with partners (e.g., the Partnership’s industry sector working groups provide market perspective, Defra’s Market Transformation Programme provides technical support and ensures coherency with wider Government policy; all proposals for standard revision are peer reviewed by an independent panel of experts); and
• the legal rights afforded from the label’s certification mark status allows enforcement activity.

Regular product compliance and label monitoring exercises build on the credibility of the label. The Scheme constantly looks for ways to further embed itself within the marketplace and frequent evaluation exercises confirm that both consumers and the trade recognize the label and indicate that it influences consumers purchasing decisions, leading to improvements in environmental quality.

By using an approach embracing national and international best practice, the Scheme will continue to grow in effectiveness, building on enforcement activities, invoking continual improvement and bench-marking and fostering greater links with the industry.

This paper outlines the Energy Saving Recommended labeling scheme in the UK. It was presented at the 4th International Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances & Lighting Conference ’06 (EEDAL’06), on June 21-23, 2006, in London, UK.

Authors: Tom Lock and Jennifer Hindson

Information from: Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EEDAL)