Action at the international level is essential to create the framework for improved resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production (SCP). Increasingly, this requires governments and their agencies to work together to provide a common labelling and standards framework. The following databases contain valuable product information that can be used to facilitate greater co-ordination of product standards between countries.
Australian Greenhouse Office - Energy Allstars
Energy Allstars makes it easy to find and compare the most energy efficient appliances and commercial and industrial equipment for sale in Australia. Only the top performing white goods, air conditioners, lighting products, office equipment and household fixtures are eligible for listing on Energy Allstars, ensuring long term cost and energy savings for consumers. The Energy Rating site provides a comprehensive guide to choosing an energy efficient appliance in Australia.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) - Energy Standards Information System (ESIS)
The primary objectives of ESIS are the following:
- to provide up-to-date information about appliance and equipment energy standards and regulations;
- to provide links to experts and information related to standards and regulations being used by APEC and other economies;
- to provide a regular newsletter with news updates and a listing of new and proposed standards in the region (APEC Standards Notification Procedure);
- to provide a user-friendly way for Key Contacts in APEC economies to review the listing of standards for their economies so that they can be updated systematically, and on a regular basis;
- to provide "Communities of Practice" for experts and officials to discuss efforts to harmonise and rationalise the testing, labelling, and minimum energy standards for specific appliances and equipment.
UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - Market Transformation Programme's Performance Standards Information Base (PSIB)
The Performance Standards Information Base has been drawn up by Defra's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) to provide information on UK benchmarks for the environmental performance of household appliances and traded goods. It also identifies existing and proposed test methodologies used to determine a product's environmental performance.
UN DESA - Division for Sustainable Development & UNEP - Division of Technology, Industry and Economics database for Sustainable Consumption & Production (SCP) Initiatives
The Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) database provides a basis for reviewing international cooperation mechanisms on SCP. It can also serve as a source of information on such mechanisms and activities for the use of national and regional initiatives seeking international cooperation. It identifies the organisations active in each area and the nature of their activities, and indicates sources of further information.
Topten.info
Topten is a consumer-oriented online search tool, which presents the best appliances in various categories of products in a growing number of European countries. The key criteria are energy efficiency, impact on the environment, health and quality. As a communication tool it helps to show how energy consumption causes climate change and what individuals can do personally to reduce their impact. It is also a powerful instrument to influence manufacturers. |
