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    The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will embark on a three-month public consultation on a proposal to introduce a mandatory energy efficiency labelling scheme (EELS) for room coolers, refrigerators and compact fluorescent lamps.

    The proposed scheme aimed to increase public awareness on the importance of using energy-efficient products, a spokesman for the EPD said today (July 29).

    "It also to provide incentive to product suppliers to market more energy-efficient products and eventually helps to drive out products with poor energy performance from the market in the long run," he said.

    The three household appliances to be included in the initial phase of the mandatory scheme together account for more than 70% of the electricity consumption in the residential sector. They have been included in the voluntary EELS from early stages and have the highest market penetration rates under the scheme.

    Under the proposed mandatory scheme, importers or local manufacturers of these three products will have to register their products with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) prior to supplying them to the local market. A new energy label with distinctive features indicating the energy efficiency grades of the appliances will be developed for the mandatory scheme.

    With the implementation of the proposed mandatory EELS for these three products, it is estimated that an electricity saving of 150 Gigawatt hours (GWh) per year could be achieved, equivalent to a monetary saving of $135 million in electricity bill per year.

    "It also corresponds to an annual reduction of carbon dioxide emission of 105,000 tonnes," the spokesman said.

    "We will review the results of the initial phase of the mandatory scheme, taking into account energy consumption reduction achievement and acceptance of the community and the trades, before considering whether the mandatory labelling scheme should be expanded to other products," he added.

    To allow the trade to make the necessary preparations for the transition to the mandatory scheme, a one-year grace period is proposed after the enactment of the relevant legislation.

    The three-month public consultation will last until October 31, 2005. People are welcome to send in their views and comments. The consultation document can be downloaded from a dedicated website at http://eels.emsd.gov.hk. Copies of the document are also available at the District Offices and EMSD.

Ends/Friday, July 29, 2005

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