Joanne Chan Channel NewsAsia 29 May 10;
SINGAPORE : Energy efficient appliances are making waves in the market, thanks to government-industry collaborative efforts.
Under the Voluntary Agreement on Energy Efficient Appliances, 16 participating retailers have pledged to offer more eco-friendly models to consumers, while phasing out energy-intensive appliances.
This strategy of improving energy efficiency is in line with Singapore's push towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 16 per cent from the 2020 business-as-usual scenario, provided a global agreement is reached and put in place.
Months of public education appears to be paying off, with green appliances gaining popularity among consumers and retailers alike.
In the last six months, energy efficient air-conditioners on offer by participating retailers of the Voluntary Agreement have gone up by four per cent. These are models that have at least three ticks on the energy label.
Similarly, the number of energy-efficient refrigerator models rose to 67 per cent, up 1 per cent from October 2009. On the flip side, air-conditioners on sale with zero ticks have dropped from nine per cent to six per cent.
Participating retailers are also seeing increased sales.
Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Environment and Water Resources Ministry, said: "That should also encourage others to come on board, as more consumers become more enlightened and also require or request or look for energy efficient appliances."
Dr Khor was at the Energy Challenge Fair at Suntec, where she handed out awards to companies which achieved set targets under the Voluntary Agreement.
This includes retiring their stocks of energy inefficient models and introducing more 3- and 4-tick models, so that energy efficient models form at least 50 per cent of their model range after six months, and 60 per cent of their model range after one year.
Best Denki Singapore was one retailer recognised for introducing more green appliances, and sending employees for training.
C J Raj, managing director, Best Denki Singapore, said: "They had to undergo training on how to calculate the power supply, vis-a-vis the product so that they can tell the consumer approximately how much money they would be able to save.
"Secondly, they had to have full knowledge of the product itself, and how this product is going to help them to save money."
The minimum energy performance standards for household air-conditioners and refrigerators will kick in by the middle of next year. This means that the most energy inefficient models, or those with zero ticks on the energy label, will be removed from the market. - CNA/ms
