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Part
Two: Promotion of Energy Efficiency through Effective Consumer
Information -- Selected Issues and Policies
Part Two presents four selected issue and discussion papers which cover important dimensions of energy efficiency promotion policies. These constitute important reference and background information materials for consumer organizations and other environmentally concerned civil society groups.
A comparative analysis of national and international
legislation on consumer protection, environment issues,
and promotion of energy efficiency forms the basis
for any professional environmental protection advocacy
work. In his paper presented in
Section 2.1, Adrian J. Bradbrook, Bonython Professor
of Energy Law, University of Adelaide, Australia,
provides an overview of perspectives for the development
of the legal framework that is considered suitable
and conducive to strengthen consumers and their interest
groups. Professor Bradbrook highlights the importance
of independent consumer information and greater market
transparency for the effective promotion of more environmentally
benign consumption.
In many countries, consumers making purchasing decisions
on electrical or other energy consuming devices have
little or no information on the comparative energy
efficiency performances of the available products.
During recent years, a growing number of countries
in the Asia and Pacific region have, therefore, introduced
energy labelling programmes aimed at providing prospective
buyers with independently certified information on
invisible product qualities, such as comparative energy
efficiency. In
Section 2.2, Jong-Duck Kim, Senior Researcher
at the Korea Energy Economics Institute, Kyonggi-Do,
Republic of Korea, provides an introductory overview
of the most prominent energy labelling programmes
in the region.
In
Section 2.3, Kwisun Huh, Institute of Environmental
Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies,
Seoul, Republic of Korea, draws particular attention
to aspects of consumer psychology. Consumer perceptions,
interests, and preferences need to be carefully studied
and taken into consideration when designing energy
labels if labelling programmes are to be effective.
The information on the comparative differences in
energy labelling programmes is expected to be of particular
interest to readers from those countries where similar
programmes are still under consideration.
Over the past decade, a growing number of electrical
home and office appliances have been developed with
additional features for consumer convenience, including
remote control and stand-by mode. These features have
increased product popularity but have also affected
consumer behaviour and consumption patterns. During
recent years, policy makers in industrialized countries
have become increasingly concerned about the impact
of stand-by electricity consumption on overall national
energy use. In the developing countries, stand-by
electricity consumption is still comparatively negligible
but growing rapidly. In his paper presented in
Section 2.4, Brahmanand Mohanty, Visiting Associate
Professor, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani,
Thailand, and Regional Adviser in Asia for the French
Agency for the Environment and Energy Management,
provides a well-illustrated overview of recent and
current trends in stand-by electricity consumption
and introduces the reader to the policy options available.
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