Views are being sought on a proposal to introduce a mandatory energy efficiency labelling scheme for room coolers, refrigerators and compact fluorescent lamps.

The three household appliances account for more than 70% of the electricity consumption in the residential sector. They have been included in the voluntary energy efficiency labelling scheme from early stages and have the highest market penetration rates.

Under the proposed scheme, importers or local manufacturers of those products would have to register their products with the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department before supplying them to the local market.

A new energy label with distinctive features indicating the applicances' energy-efficiency grades would be developed for the mandatory scheme.

Energy saving

With the implementation of the proposed scheme, it is estimated that an electricity saving of 150 Gigawatt hours per year could be achieved, equivalent to a saving of $135 million in electricity bills each year.

It also corresponds to an annual 105,000-tonne reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Environmental Protection Department will review the results of the initial phase of the mandatory scheme before considering whether it should be expanded to other products.

To allow the trade to make the necessary preparations for the transition to the mandatory scheme, a one-year grace period is proposed after the relevant legislation is enacted.