Tories propose to ban fridges

[pp05]

The Conservatives are to propose banning plasma screens and other energy-guzzling electrical goods.

The plans will target white goods like fridges and freezers, as well as TVs, personal computers and DVD players that use too much energy or operate on stand-by.
Under the proposals, a cap could be set on the energy use of each electrical appliance, and those exceeding limits could be banned from sale in the UK

The ideas come from a group set up by David Cameron to develop policies to protect the environment.

Although the measures to make household electrical appliances more energy efficient are not binding on Mr Cameron, they are thought likely to be warmly received by the Tory leader.



The group will also suggest scrapping Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of the nation's success in favour of a model that measures people's happiness drawn up up by Friends of the Earth.

Under the proposals, a cap could be set on the energy use of each electrical appliance, and those exceeding limits could be banned from sale in the UK.

A new labelling requirement could be introduced to inform consumers of products' annual energy consumption compared with other similar appliances.

And there could be a ban on electrical goods with stand-by lights which can stay on indefinitely.

Some 2 per cent of Britain's total electricity use is currently taken up by appliances left on stand-by rather than being switched off.

The proposals are set to be unveiled on Thursday in the final report of the Tories' Quality of Life Policy Group, chaired by former Environment Secretary John Gummer and green activist Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative spokesman confirmed.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already announced his ambition to "eliminate" the stand-by function on appliances, which was blasted by the Government's energy review last year as a waste of electricity.

The report is expected to focus on plasma-screen TVs as particularly wasteful of electricity, and it is thought that many models would fall foul of the proposed energy cap unless dramatically more efficient technology was developed.

Householders are also expected to be offered tax cuts potentially worth thousands of pounds to make their homes more energy-efficient.

The authors are quoted as saying: "We propose a partial rebate of stamp duty if all cost-effective energy efficiency improvements are adopted at the time of sale or shortly after.

"This should be combined with a zero rate of stamp duty for zero carbon homes.

"We also favour a discount on council tax payable in respect of all homes which are built to the highest environmental standards."

http://itn.co.uk/news/f7a785a0c6bb7f...b6fa2892e.html

[BUFF]

I don't think that they are proposing to ban fridges per se - just the least efficient ones

[capt_cornflake]

Originally Posted by pp05

A new labelling requirement could be introduced to inform consumers of products' annual energy consumption compared with other similar appliances.

Don't fridges and the like already come with energy efficiency ratings?

Originally Posted by pp05

And there could be a ban on electrical goods with stand-by lights which can stay on indefinitely.

Because those little LEDs waste so much energy...
There are plenty of TVs etc. that implement a stand by function that uses little energy, wouldn't it be better extend energy efficiency ratings to all consumer electronics, and include a measure of power used on standby in the rating.

[[GSV]Trig]

If it gets to the point where people are switching there PC's off due to being taxed more (which is where it'll go I bet) on none energy efficient electrical goods then what happens to all of the folding things that use home PC's to find cures for stuff?

[Zak33]

Originally Posted by [GSV]Trig

If it gets to the point where people are switching there PC's off due to being taxed more (which is where it'll go I bet) on none energy efficient electrical goods then what happens to all of the folding things that use home PC's to find cures for stuff?

oh clearly Daviod Cameron already has the cure's for cancer, ME, MS etc, he's just not saying yet ....

[Lee @ SCAN]

Originally Posted by Zak33

oh clearly Daviod Cameron already has the cure's for cancer, ME, MS etc, he's just not saying yet ....

Nah - they'll never release cures if they have them

Think about it. A cure which can be taxed once, or a series of treatments and daily medication which they can tax and get some cash over and over again.

[dangel]

Can you hear the cackling laughter? Yes - you're right - it is the sound of Brown from the top of Mount Doom...

[Kumagoro]

Surely a far better way is to lower tax on products which are extremly energy efficeint.

[Grimley]

IIRC fridges/freezers which have an energy efficency rating of less than 'B' are banned from sale in the EU anyway

[JPreston]

Ah but you are forgetting the heroic Cameron and his band of Etonians will slay the dragon of Brussells, and free us from the yoke of European tyranny. Huzzah! Therefore the tories can get away with recycling EU green policies (no pun intended) in the absence of any of their own. Oh wait, he's also going to ban rappers. Go Dave!