The government should introduce a scrappage scheme for domestic appliances in a bid to encourage households to buy more energy-efficient products, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
The trade body today (August 17) revealed that it had written to Chancellor Alistair Darling urging him to explore the possibility of incentivising the purchase of energy saving products to kick-start households’ move towards energy-efficiency.
“A clear signal should be given to households of the benefits of a switch to the most efficient energy products through the reduction or elimination of VAT on energy efficient and energy saving products. “This could be kick started through time-limited scrappage schemes for those buying Energy Saving Recommended products,” it added.
The ‘Energy Saving Recommended’ scheme was launched by government-funded body the Energy Saving Trust in 2000, using a label on products such as domestic appliances, consumer electronics, lighting and heating to demonstrate that they meet energy-efficiency criteria.
Commenting on its support for a domestic appliance scrappage scheme, the BRC’s director general, Stephen Robertson, said: “The Government’s working against its own objectives when it sets targets for reducing carbon emissions while charging full VAT on the efficient products that will move us towards those targets.”
“Retailers are already doing their bit to cut carbon but homes are responsible for 27% of the nation’s emissions. Helping householders improve their performance has to be the next step”
