There are two energy efficient alternatives to electricity-guzzling tumble driers: the best one is of course to hang your clothes out to dry outside. But if you can’t do that, you should consider the new heat pump drier technology. It is still more expensive but achieves very substantial savings. Switzerland has been the first country to introduce a mandatory shift to these heat pump driers. In the EU, policy makers are still hesitant.

What does the coolproducts campaign want?
•    A quick ban on the worst performing products among the mainstream driers
•    A longer-term objective of shifting the market towards heat pump driers (with a safeguard clause in case prices do not drop down sufficiently)
•    Imposing on all driers a sensor to stop the cycle when the clothes are dry enough (a very good way of avoiding energy waste)

What’s the European Union doing and what’s our position?
Domestic tumble driers have been discussed since June 2010. The European Union seems reluctant to promote heat pump driers aggressively, unlike Switzerland. A decision on whether to set minimum efficiency requirements and/or only consumer information through a revised energy label should be taken by the end of 2011.
A preparatory study on professional driers is also underway.There should be a vote on 10th May to pass regulation on tumble driers.

(Last update: July 2011)

Further reading
- A fact sheet from Topten on heat pump driers
- Find out more about the EU process on our expert pages
- Chose an efficient appliance on TopTen