Energy labels: Tesco
In support of E-Day, Tesco will be extending its use of energy efficiency labelling to a wide range of electrical items. These labels will also include the estimated cost of use.
Tesco is to bring clear and simple energy labelling to small electrical products like TVs and kitchen equipment, helping our customers save hundreds of pounds as they make cleaner choices for the environment.
Most customers are already familiar with energy efficiency labelling on white goods like fridges and washing machines, but Tesco will be the first retailer to introduce a similar scheme to smaller products from light bulbs to microwaves. And not only will many of Tesco’s electricals have an ‘A’ to ‘G’ mark based on the scheme used for larger goods, the labels will also incorporate an indication of the annual cost in use!
Choosing efficient electricals can make a real difference to the household budget. Research from Tesco shows that the most energy-efficient 15” TVs have an average power consumption of as little as 7 watts, while a 50” plasma set could consume 20 times as much! So making the right choice could save hundreds of pounds over the average product lifecycle, Tesco Green Category Director Andy Brocklehurst said:
“If a customer wants to buy a new TV or toaster, we want to be able to tell them about the benefits of choosing the most efficient technologies. A more efficient product will save customers money as well as helping them do their bit to cut their carbon footprint.”
The ‘A to G’ label on white goods has made a huge impact on the energy efficiency of products coming on to the market since its introduction – in fact, some of the less efficient products have more or less disappeared from the market.
The first products to carry the new label will be set-top boxes, available from March 2008. Other high-energy-consuming products will soon follow suit, and by the year we hope to have the new labels on all the TV sets, DVD players and desktop and laptop computers sold through Tesco.
The labels will appear at the point of sale and on the relevant pages of the Tesco Direct catalogue (both print version and online), helping customers make informed decision about which product to buy.