Energy efficiency labeling to be a must in Hong Kong

Air conditioners, refrigerators and compact fluorescent lamps for sale in Hong Kong will have to carry energy labels with information on their energy efficiency performance starting from Monday.

The initial phase of the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme will be fully implemented following the expiry of an 18- month grace period on Sunday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said in a news bulletin Friday.

The scheme was introduced under the Energy Efficiency Ordinance. The initial phase of the scheme covers above three categories of products.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will conduct inspections at retail shops to monitor compliance with the Ordinance, the bulletin said.

"Any person who supplies a prescribed product which does not properly bear an energy label or is not of a listed model will commit an offense and is liable to a fine of 100,000 HK dollars ( 12,821 U.S. dollars)," a spokesman for the HKSAR government said.

The energy label classifies energy performance into five grades, with the Grade 1 label indicating the most energy efficiency. Consumers can make environment-friendly choices by buying products with higher energy efficiency.

Source: Xinhua