As Coolproducts launches, we hear from Friends of the Earth and the Netherlands Society for Nature and Environment that a group of "penguins" will set up on Thursday 12th November a penguin refugee camp made of refrigerators just outside the European Commission's Berlaymont Building, in Brussels. A mass petition signed by European citizens will also be delivered to EU negotiators by Avaaz.org.
Environmental organisations are urging Europe not to agree weak energy efficiency measures and confusing changes to energy labels for key appliances this week. Experts from European Union member states will vote on ‘green’ standards for household appliances like televisions and fridges and how to update or introduce new energy labelling of these products. Environmental groups call on European decision-makers to stop caving in to industry pressure and strengthen the proposals so that Europe can meet its environmental and climate change targets.
The EU aims to become 20% more energy efficient by 2020. According to the Netherlands Society for Nature and Environment and Friends of the Earth Europe, ambitious eco-design rules have the potential to cut Europe’s CO2 emissions by 450 million tons per year by 2020 - equivalent to the emissions of all European cars!
Increased efficiency of products to be voted on this month, including electric motors (11 March), fridges (13 March), televisions (17 March), dishwashers (30 March) and washing machines (31 March) could account for a 100 million ton CO2 saving annually.
Find out more from Friends of the Earth Europe