Brussels, 5 July 2012: EPEE is urging decision-makers to pledge their support for a compromise on an energy label for heaters (boilers and heat pumps), so that consumers can easily compare and choose home heating technologies.

With energy savings currently riding high on the EU agenda, EPEE – the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment - is calling on the Commission to swiftly conclude and adopt a single energy label for all type of heaters. Having a single label would highlight the big energy gains that can be made by using heat pumps, encourage the uptake of efficient fossil fueled boilers, and most importantly would enable consumers to compare different technologies.

On the contrary, energy gains and the emerging market in renewable energy technologies like heat pumps would be completely undermined by last minute moves to have separate labels, and consumers will not have a true idea of how they can heat their homes efficiently.

Separate labels for different technologies do not make any sense. They all have a single purpose – to heat homes.

Avoiding such a situation is possible by supporting the compromise which is currently on the table and which so far has brought together an emerging majority of decision-makers and stakeholders involved. EPEE supports the compromise which contains the display of the efficiency value of the product on the energy label, one single label for all technologies, and the possibility to voluntary use the A+++ class for products available on the market.

“We have a good energy label system for home heating technologies. Now is the time to agree on it and start giving clear advice to consumers – for their and all the EU’s economic benefit,” says Andrea Voigt, EPEE Director General

Ends.

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Notes to the Editor:

The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) represents the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe. Founded in the year 2000, EPEE’s membership is composed of 40 member companies and national associations across Europe realising a turnover of over 30 billion Euros and employing more than 200,000 people in Europe. As an expert association, EPEE is supporting safe, environmentally and economically viable technologies with the objective of promoting a better understanding of the sector in the EU and contributing to the development of effective European policies. For more information, please visit www.epeeglobal.org