Bristan has committed its support to the Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive and the impact it predicts its September implementation will have on driving the green agenda.

In the same way that refrigerators, freezers and other white goods now have energy labels, 26 September will see energy labelling come into force for water heaters of a certain capacity, including those with an instantaneous heating design, such as electric showers.

This is a result of the 2010/30/EU Directive which establishes a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for ErP, which was adopted by the EU on 19 May, 2010 in order to help aid its vast carbon reduction targets.

This will mean that certain water heaters, including electric showers, will need to meet minimum energy performance criteria and require an energy label showing their energy efficiency class and level of energy consumption.

Peter Manning, Bristan’s technical liaison manager, said: “Although there has been much furore in industry about the imminent arrival of ErP and the changes it will bring, the reality is that it will have a hugely positive impact in driving the green agenda.

“After all, it is important to remember that Britain is not only the first country to set a legally binding carbon budget but we also have the most ambitious targets of all the EU – in aiming to reduce all UK carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050.

“As such, ErP will play an integral role in working towards the goal by helping to create greater transparency whereby consumers can easily compare the efficiency of products on a like-by-like basis. More so, in this way, it will create a great opportunity for installers to more easily advocate the highest rated products, in turn, creating increased profit opportunity.”

Under the Directive, the energy efficiency class must be included in any advertising and in any technical promotional material, such as datasheets.

Additional performance and efficiency parameters will need to be disclosed through a ‘product fiche’ – a table of information that has to be included in the fitting instructions, sales literature and other such marketing material. It must also be supplied/made available for dealers (e.g. merchants) to include in their advertising.

“ErP may mean more change for installers to get to grips with but, as with all new regulations, it is being introduced for a reason. The reality is that the transition to more efficient electrical products will have a huge impact in aiding our carbon reduction goals while, in turn, bringing additional opportunity for the installer to upsell.”