How to tell if an appliance is environmentally friendly

Energy and water efficiency labels, product lifespan are some things to keep in mind

- Zhaki Abdullah

In March, it was announced that all Housing Board households would receive $300 in e-vouchers that can be used to buy certain eco-friendly appliances, as part of an extension of the Climate Friendly Households Programme.

But how do consumers determine which appliances are more environmentally friendly? Simply Science looks at how you can choose devices that can help save the earth.

HDB residents can claim their climate vouchers online by logging on at RedeemSG (go.gov.sg./.,cv ckaim) using their Singpass accounts.

The vouchers can be used at 14 participating retailers – including Courts, Best Denki, Audio House and Sheng Siong – with proof of residential address such as NRIC, utility bills or other documents.

They cover a variety of products, such as refrigerators with at least three ticks, or air-conditioners with five ticks on the National Environment Agency’s energy label, which highlights the relative energy efficiency of an appliance.

Other products include shower fittings, taps and mixers with at least three ticks under national water agency PUB’s mandatory water efficiency labelling scheme.

More information on the scheme can be found at Beyond the ticks, what else can consumers do to select more environmentally friendly appliances?

Mr Alvin Ee, a research fellow at NUS’ Energy Studies Institute, noted that energy labels also provide the annual energy consumption of an appliance, based on typical usage.

This will provide an indication of how efficient the appliance is, compared with similar appliances with the same number of ticks, he said.