Patio heaters may be taken off the market, and standby buttons banned, after the European Parliament voted to back a report that describes the damage they do to the environment.
Fiona Hall, a British MEP, says in her report that banning standby modes and patio heaters will amount to significant steps to cutting CO2 emissions.
Dr Eric Johnson, a climate change expert who was commissioned to do a study on patio heaters by Calor, said however that the overall impact on emissions from patio heaters was ‘very minimal’, and that in fact, plasma-screen TVs produced much greater emissions.
The debate on patio heaters and standby modes will now go to the European Commission – although Ms Hall has acknowledged the priority was to work on previously agreed energy commitments to minimise damage to the environment.
To comment on this article, use the comment box below, or email us at clonews@ipcmedia.com. Read more about the countryside.
