Energy-saving scheme sees traders forced into green labelling

A new energy-saving scheme begins in Hong Kong appliance stores on Monday, when traders will have to have energy-efficiency labels displayed on three types of products: refrigerators, air conditioners and compact fluorescent lamps.

The mandatory labelling ordinance is being launched 13 years after the start of a voluntary scheme covering washing machines, television sets and other appliances. The three product types in the latest initiative account for almost two-thirds of total power use in the city's homes.

Green campaigners were delighted with the law, which puts pressure on manufacturers to make more efficient models. But they urged the government to speed up inclusion of other appliances into the voluntary scheme.

In preparation for Monday's launch, 498 models of air conditioners, 261 refrigerators and 965 compact fluorescent lamps had been registered with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department by this week, the department said. Once the models and their energy-efficiency grades are registered, the department issues the labels.

The mandatory scheme was proposed in 2005 in a bid to save up to 105 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year - or 105,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions - if consumers use products of average efficiency. 'Average' means grade-three efficiency on the government's scale from one to five, where one is the top. Traders who fail to comply with the law can face fines of up to HK$100,000.

The South China Morning Post visited 15 stores this week run by three major home electrical appliance chains, and found almost all their air conditioners, refrigerators and compact fluorescent lamps already had energy-efficiency labels.