New energy labelling scheme in Sept

Shopping for greener home appliances such as air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers will become easier from Sept 1, when revised energy labels are rolled out.

Under the National Environment Agency's (NEA) revised Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme, appliances will be given a rating of between one and five ticks. Five ticks indicate the most efficient models and one tick, the least.

They will also carry energy labels with estimated annual energy cost and energy consumption information.

This compares to the existing tick rating system, which gives appliances a rating of between zero and four ticks - with four indicating that the appliances are among the best in their class for energy efficiency.

The no-tick band, said the NEA in a statement on Tuesday, "will be removed as some consumers were confused when they came across labels without any ticks".

From next month, those shopping for TV sets will be the first to benefit from the revised labelling scheme, as these appliances will be the first to carry the new labels.

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