Europe’s Most Energy Efficient Refrigerator-Freezers — the European Countries Working Together on the Forefront of the Market

Abstract

This paper presents the outcome and the lessons learned from the first round of the Energy+ procurement project of refrigerator-freezers carried out under the SAVE program. The aim of the project, that was preceded by a thorough market study, is to give procurement as a market transformation tool a trial run on a pan-European level. According to the study this instrument could be a means to achieve market transformation on highly international markets with fairly standardised products where national initiatives would not be enough, and could constitute an opportunity for the European Union Countries to work together to fulfil their Kyoto commitments. The Energy+ project has in a first round brought together nearly 90 retailers, institutional buyers and other organisations from 10 European countries, eager to purchase and promote the most energy efficient refrigerator-freezers on the market. The specifications issued by the project specified an appliance using three-quarters or less of the energy of equivalent appliances meeting the minimum class A requirement for the European energy labelling scheme. This call was answered by the manufacturers who submitted 2 models complying with this high efficiency criteria available on the European market from February 2000 and 5 complying models to be introduced during the year. In a second round, additional optional criteria are added to the initial specification to lead the manufacturers to even further developments to lower the environmental impact and rise the user utility of their appliances. The results of this second round will be presented at the Domotechnica trade fair in March 2001 when the most advanced units will receive the European Energy + Award. In September 2000 the Energy+ project gives new entrants a possibility to come on board when an update of the available appliances meeting the specifications is made. The result of the update will be made official at the SAVE conference in Naples.