Energy rating labels to be displayed on all UAE appliances

The UAE government is embracing clean energy initiatives with the implementation of an energy ratings system to be incorporated across household appliances, air conditioning systems and lighting. The Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (ESMA) has passed into legislation and implemented the first phase of the new Energy Rating system to grade the energy consumption of products by using a star rating system - setting a benchmark for energy efficiency. ESMA consulted the industry extensively to create the programme and worked closely with manufacturers in order to develop the standards. The move is expected to save the government AED 400 million a year by 2016 from energy savings on air conditioning units alone. The new energy rating system is similar to that used in Australasia, but has been created specifically for the UAE. The ratings will be displayed on labels to help make comparisons between models and choose the most energy-efficient appliance that suits their needs. The labels will provide information on how much electricity an appliance uses in a year, plus the star rating to show how energy efficient it is. Director of the ESMA Conformity Affairs Department, Abdulla Abdelqadir Al Maeeni, explained, "As a provider and subsidiser of energy, this is a very important step for the government, as it will free up resources that will in turn contribute to the growth of the economy," he says. "The benefits to the environment are expected to be wide reaching and cut the country's CO2 emissions significantly once the scheme is fully implemented. "We are committed to this initiative, and products that do not have a star rating will not be allowed into the UAE. Those products sold here will all have the energy rating labels to help consumers choose energy efficient products that will save energy and reduce their own energy costs." Manufactures themselves are happy with the new regulations, saying that the rating system makes it easy for consumers to chose the best appliance for their needs. "Bosch Home Appliances worked closely with ESMA to develop the standards for washing machines and laundry," says Bosch Marketing Director Georg Kazantzidis. "Manufacturers accept that we need to take responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of our products, and this means helping customers use them more sustainably. "Appliances can account for up to 30 per cent of your home energy use and, as our reliance on electrical appliances increases and energy consumption also go up, selecting energy-efficient products becomes even more important. The first products required to adhere to the energy ratings system were residential air conditioning units, when compliance became mandatory earlier this year. Washing machines will need to meet energy rating standards from June 2013, after legislation was passed in early April. Other products currently being addressed by the ESMA board are expected to be included in the legislation over the coming months include cooling and refrigeration products, lights, water heaters, motors and water pumps. Implementation of the star rating system is mandatory and the government is encouraging manufacturers to produce higher quality products. Manufacturers and importers of lower rated products will be charged fees according to the star rating of the product The energy star rating system is just one part of an overall system being implemented by the government that combines building codes and energy efficient glass solutions with energy ratings to create a system to monitor and reduce overall consumption of energy. The government hopes to make the energy rating system the standard for the region and implement it across the GCC. Meanwhile, Bosch Domestic Appliances recently launched their Green Star campaign, an environmental initiative aimed at promoting sustainability by encouraging communities to take simple steps in their everyday lives to save resources.