Ministry of Environment and Energy has launched Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling programme. The purpose of the programme is to identify and labelling appliances that consume relatively low energy to help consumers identify energy efficient products in the market, according to the ministry.
In Maldives, it is in line with the National Energy Policy and Strategy, which came into effect in 2016, which encourages energy conservation and energy efficiency. Home appliances such as refrigerators, automatic washing machines and air conditioners would be labelled, as part of the programme.
As it would have an economic and commercial impact, the ministry has been consulting importers of refrigerators, automatic washing machines and air conditioners, and other relevant stakeholders to develop a framework which would be adopted for the programme.
So far, the ministry has developed the detailed methodology to issue energy efficiency labels for selected appliances along with necessary forms, documentation, and monitoring methodology for the labelling programme. After consultations with stakeholders, a survey would also be conducted among the public, regarding the issue.