HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 c7W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient domestic appliances; and what contribution he estimates this encouragement will make to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. [43038]

Angela Eagle

My Department supports and is developing a range of measures at European and national levels, including mandatory energy labelling, promotional initiatives, negotiated agreements with manufacturers to encourage the increased availability and purchase of energy efficient domestic appliances and lighting. Estimating the impact of such measures is complicated but some experts put the potential UK savings from an integrated programme of measures to be as high as 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions. In April my Department launched a series of published discussion papers and formal consultation rounds, starting with the lighting sector, as part of a market transformation strategy to build a consensus on what practical and acceptable measures could deliver those savings.

My Department also promotes the installation of energy saving measures by means of grants provided under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and "cashbacks" under the range of schemes developed and managed by the Energy Saving Trust.

My Department has also contributed to and supported promotional campaigns aimed at encouraging consumers to purchase energy efficient appliances, including, most recently, the Energy Saving Trust's "Energy Efficiency" programme.

Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to require minimum standards of energy efficiency for domestic appliances. [43037]

Angela Eagle

Legislation has already been introduced to set minimum standards of energy efficiency for central heating boilers, which came fully into effect on 1 January 1998, and for domestic refrigeration appliances, which will come into force on 3 September 1999, to enforce European Directives applying to these products. There are no immediate plans for further legislation. However, my Department is pressing the Commission to develop an action plan of common and co-ordinated measures, as part of its response to the legally binding Kyoto climate change targets, which could include measures to require manufacturers of domestic appliances to improve the energy efficiency of their products.