Cold shoulder for A/C energy campaigners

The air conditioners sold in Europe use much more energy than machines on the market in Australia, Japan and New Zealand. In the columns of Trouw, the Natuur en Milieu(Nature and Environment, N&M) group blames European air conditioning standards, which are not as strict as those in other countries. The Dutch NGO further believes that lobbying on behalf of the Italian manufacturer De'Longhi has effectively thwarted plans to introduce more stringent legislation.

While the Union has set itself the objective of achieving a 20% cut in energy consumption by reduction by 2020, sales of air conditioners are increasing at a rate of 10% per year, notes Trouw, and there is no prospect of new measures on the horizon. N&M is openly critical of the EU's "hesitant attitude" and accuses Italy of "blocking every attempt to change [European ] energy standards for air conditioners."