SANEDI encourages consumers to identify appliance energy efficiency labels

25th May 2021

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

     

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To mitigate climate change and help move South Africans towards being more energy efficient in the way they use electrical devices, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is encouraging individuals to consider their household energy use and find avenues to reduce consumption.

South Africa is the highest greenhouse-gas contributor in Africa, according to SANEDI, which also states that all the country’s citizens have a role to play in changing this situation.

SANEDI Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling Programme project manager Ashanti Mogosetsi says there are easy ways for consumers to get on board with this initiative and, in some cases, it is as simple as reading a label.

Working with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), SANEDI has been mandated by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to implement the Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling Programme which promotes consumer awareness through the energy efficiency labelling of appliances.

These labels provide consumers with accurate and comparable information on the appliance’s energy efficiency performance.

With the rapid pace of technological development, SANEDI says it can be difficult for consumers to remain informed on which appliances, brands and models are more energy efficient.

The Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling Programme aims to educate consumers and visualise the energy consumption through the prominent display of informative and easy-to-understand labels on appliances, thereby enabling them to more easily make informed decisions.

“Many consumers aren’t aware that these labels exist or what they communicate when they do see them, and this means that they aren’t empowered with the information they need to make the best buying decision,” she explains.

Mogosetsi adds that consumers stand to benefit from buying more energy efficient appliances as they will also save on electricity costs.

In addition, low-energy appliances also benefit low-income households that may rely on free basic electricity on a monthly basis – mostly households that consume below 350 kWh to 450 kWh of electricity a month.

“Government’s focus on energy efficiency and greenhouse-gas emissions reduction requires all role-players to share a common vision for this initiative,” she says. 

SANEDI says that, by improving the efficiency of appliances, South Africa’s carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by six-million tonnes by 2030.

SANEDI reports that, through the Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards and Labelling Programme, government hopes to eventually remove inefficient electrical appliances and equipment from the South African market and encourage the adoption of energy efficient technologies.

Appliances for which the display and use of the South African Energy Efficiency Label is compulsory include washing machines and tumble dryers, and combinations thereof; electric ovens; fridges, freezers and combinations thereof; electric geysers; dishwashers; air-conditioners; and televisions and audio-visual equipment.

However, SANEDI notes that televisions and audio-visual equipment do not need to display a label, but must have a standby power usage of less than 1 W; while set-top boxes should not consume more than 3 W.

SANEDI also notes that a number of additional products are in the pipeline to be included in this initial basket of appliances to be labelled in the short term.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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