Home > Press releases > Friends of the Earth backs call to ban carbon-belching patio heaters
30 January 2008
Friends of the Earth is backing calls for the EU to phase out energy-wasting products such as patio heaters.
The environmental campaign group was instrumental in persuading companies like B&Q to stop selling patio heaters and is now backing proposals to ban them completely in order to save energy and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Friends of the Earth's Director, Tony Juniper said
"In the face of the threat posed by climate change it is madness that we should be wasting energy and pumping out carbon dioxide by heating the open air. If the UK Government is committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions it must be prepared to back EU proposals to improve energy efficiency, which include banning these carbon-belching monstrosities."
The Energy Saving Trust has estimated that a propane patio heater with a heat output of 12.5kW will produce around 34.9kg of CO2 before the fuel runs out (after approximately 13 hours). This is equivalent to the energy required to produce approximately 5,200 cups of tea (or 400 cups for every hour of operation) [1]
[1] The call comes as part of the Energy Efficiency motion currently being debated in the European Parliament. The motion covers all aspects of energy efficiency:
Full proposals available at: www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference= ¬
A6-2008-0003&language=EN&mode=XML
For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
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