EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DEBATES PATIO HEATERS

12.00.00am GMT Wed 30th Jan 2008

Fiona Hall MEP is calling for a Europe-wide review of the use of outdoor patio heaters.

The call comes as part of a major report on European action on energy efficiency which is to be voted on in the European Parliament today. The report criticises the lack of action by both the European Commission and national governments, in particular the failure to implement existing energy efficiency legislation.

Ms Hall welcomes the Commission's proposal for establishing minimum energy performance standards for certain products. But she says that some devices such as outdoor patio heaters are so inherently wasteful that an all-out ban on them is the only answer.

Commenting before the vote, Fiona Hall said:

"For many appliances, plans are now in the pipeline to take the worst performing models off the market.

"But some energy-using products are intrinsically wasteful. Patio heaters burn gas - a fossil fuel - in the open air, producing tonnes of carbon dioxide for very little heat benefit.

"Now that everyone is aware of the need to tackle climate change, it is appropriate to consider whether goods which are inherently energy wasteful should no longer be sold. Already two major retail chains in the UK have decided not to stock patio heaters because they are seen as incompatible with the companies' and customers' wishes to cut carbon emissions."