Many Appliance Retailers Not Yet Up To Scratch

30 July 2002

Many Appliance Retailers Not Yet Up To Scratch

A survey of New Zealand appliance retailers has revealed that many are not yet up to scratch when it comes to providing their customers with information on the energy consumption of whiteware, something now required by law in New Zealand.

Heather Staley, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), says the shop floor survey showed a huge variance in the compliance of New Zealand retailers with the requirement to display an energy-rating label, four months after it became law.

But Ms Staley says New Zealand retailers aren't doing too badly with the average of 63 percent* compliance not too bad when compared with Australia's average of 78 percent more than a decade after they introduced energy rating label regulations.

"The star of the survey was Bond and Bond in Auckland's Botany Town Centre. This store came out on top with a very customer friendly result of 96 percent compliance. Of the buying groups surveyed, Pacific Retail Group, which has the Bond and Bond, Noel Lemming and Electric City Stores, was well ahead of the others in displaying the Energy Rating Label."

The Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 came into effect on 1 April 2002. Energy rating labels are required to be displayed on refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes dryers, clothes washers and air conditioners. The labels show the energy rating of the appliance, in the form of stars out of six, as well as the units of electricity consumed per year.

"The lack of compliance in many stores is disappointing but not yet a real concern. In some cases there are valid reasons and EECA is working through those issues with industry. However, in other cases there is no obvious reason and EECA will be reminding retailers of their obligations," Ms Staley said.

When the regulations came into effect EECA sent comprehensive energy rating label training kits to every appliance retailer in New Zealand. The shop floor survey will be followed by another survey in four months after which time EECA will start taking a tougher line on retailers who aren't meeting their obligations to consumers.

ENDS

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