Consumer electronics under fire

UK IT industry body Intellect has pledged to work with the British Retail Consortium, the government and retailers to phase out energy-intensive consumer electronics.

The British Retail Consortium launched discussions with retailers in November aimed at setting out clear targets in the next few months. Participants will kick off the process by analysing the energy efficiency of set-top boxes and considering how to make a significant reduction in standby energy use.
Intellect, whose members include Alba, Humax, JVC, Sony and Pace, has said it will help develop proposals to promote energy efficient consumer electronics products. A string of large retailers, including Tesco, Asda and DSG International, are already on board.
Joan Ruddock, minister for climate change, gave the process her full backing.
“In 2006, consumer electronics used 15 per cent of the UK’s total domestic electricity consumption. If we do nothing, that could double by 2020. But switching to more efficient products, and taking the least efficient products off our shelves, will cut CO2 emissions and save people money,” she said.
“We need to start the switch off for inefficient electronics. We want to work with everyone involved in producing and selling these products to make them more efficient, and I am pleased that the major
manufacturers have joined the ambitious work programme to look at what can be done ­ which is starting by looking at set-top boxes and standby levels.”
The discussions are part of a government initiative, announced in the 2006 Budget, to introduce voluntary schemes in the retail sector
encouraging the purchase of more energy efficient alternatives in consumer electronics.
The government has claimed one million tonnes of CO2 would be saved each year if retailers were to adopt its published range of indicative performance standards for consumer electronics. Excessive use of power while in standby mode has been highlighted as a primary concern.
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