AMDEA calls to incentivise energy-efficient appliance sales

Environmental charity Global Action Policy, supported by The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances AMDEA, has commissioned a report that calls on the Government to incentivise consumers to ditch old appliances.

The report, Promoting Highly Efficient Electrical Appliances, highlights incentive or scrappage schemes have proved successful in the uptake of energy efficient appliances in other countries.

It states Governments worldwide have successfully promoted efficient appliances, including consumers being rewarded with credits, directly deducted from their personal tax payments in France, if they purchased efficient appliance models.

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Whereas consumers received cash rebates from the Government if they purchased an efficient appliance in the USA. And in Brazil, low income consumers were offered a free energy efficiency appliance as a replacement for an old model from 2008 to 2010.

The report also indicates the average amount of electricity consumed by white goods appliances across the EU has dropped from 265kWh per year to 246kWh from 2005 to 2010, but over the same period there was no improvement in the UK.

It raises the point that £2billion can be saved in UK household energy bills, increasing to a potential £3.8billion by 2030 The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimates the purchase of energy efficient appliances could save the nation the equivalent power of 1,500 wind turbines or the proposed Hinkley nuclear power plant.

Chief Executive of AMDEA, Douglas Herbison agrees Government energy policy should pick off the simple solutions first: “We endlessly debate the virtues of wind power, nuclear and fracking. Vast sums have disappeared into schemes, like the Green Deal, to improve the fabric of homes, while comparable savings can be made at a fraction of the cost and hassle by replacing old inefficient appliances.

“Consumers could use a little help in the form of Government incentives or financial subsidies. Given the gains to the environment, it would be a small and sensible price to pay for a massive eco-saving.”