More energy efficient air-conditioners, refrigerators now available

Channel NewsAsia 25 Jan 08;

SINGAPORE : Consumers looking to buy new air-conditioners and refrigerators now have more options to choose those that are more energy efficient.

Such models are available in the market, thanks to the "Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme" which came into effect on 1 January this year.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that so far, 312 air-conditioner and 235 refrigerator models have been registered and labelled under this scheme.

These models carry labels that contain information on energy efficiency. And to make it simple for consumers, the more ticks a label has, the more energy efficient the appliance is.

For example, a three-tick refrigerator can help consumers save about S$80 in a year, compared to one-tick model.

A three-tick air-conditioner saves consumers about S$400 over a one-tick model.

Air-conditioners and refrigerators are the first two appliances covered under the scheme.

NEA said this is because using these items can account for about 50 percent of the total electricity bill of a typical household.

It added that manufacturers, such as Daikin and Mitsubishi, have shown strong support for the scheme.

These two brands alone have more than 20 air-conditioner models, which have earned four-tick labels. - CNA/ms