Government calls for evidence on energy-related products

The government has called for evidence from producers, distributors and importers of certain electrical goods to explore how effective policies for energy-related products can support the UK’s transition to net zero by 2050.

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass legislation to end its contribution to global warming by 2050 and a target was set requiring the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by this date.

Greater energy and carbon savings

Energy-related products are goods such as washing machines, lighting and televisions which use energy, or affect energy consumption when in use or in standby modes.

Collectively, they account for 55% of total non-transport energy use in the UK and these products are currently regulated under three policies in the UK – Ecodesign, Energy labelling and The Energy Technology List.

In particular the government are seeking evidence on:

• how to improve the efficacy of ecodesign and energy labelling policy in the UK to realise greater energy and carbon savings as well as other environmental benefits of more resource efficient products.
• whether better minimum energy performance standards and resource efficiency requirements could be set for certain products.
• whether there are any other policy measures that could help to increase the uptake of energy and resource efficient products.

Feedback from producers is specifically sought on cooking appliances, lighting, water pumps, boilers, heat pumps, electric motors, space cooling and ventilation.

Improve effectiveness of products policy

The information and data gathered will be used to build up an evidence base on how to improve the effectiveness of products policy. This will, in turn, be used to inform a set of policy options that will be subject to a formal Consultation.

Head of client services at Ecosurety, Abigail Warren, commented “Whilst there is no obligation to respond, it is particularly important that producers of the specified goods input into this call for evidence."

"In this way they can help to shape the future legislation that will affect their products and input into how the industry can support the transition to net-zero by 2050. We are proactively reaching out to our members to ensure they take advantage of this opportunity to have their say.”

How to respond to the call for evidence

More information can be found in the Energy-Related Products Call for Evidence document.

The deadline to respond is midnight on 4 September 2020 by completing this website form.

If you have any questions about this call for evidence, please contact our team for assistance.

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