First prosecution for breaching energy performance standards
A Christchurch company is the first business in New Zealand to be convicted for selling products that do not meet our Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).
In February, the Christchurch District Court found that the Crystal branded heat pumps sold by the Matipo Trading Company Limited (trading as Cargo Shed Christchurch), did not meet the Standards and were not labelled with the mandatory energy performance labels.
This is the first conviction under the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. The Cargo Shed was convicted and fined $15,000 and costs.
What are MEPS?
MEPS help ensure that consumers buy more efficient appliances and equipment because the relevant products must comply with Energy Efficiency Standards. EECA is responsible for maintaining and enforcing the Standards in New Zealand as part of its Products programme.
A key part of ensuring the effectiveness of this programme is monitoring compliance in the marketplace and prosecuting where necessary.
“EECA is serious about keeping energy guzzling appliances out of New Zealand, and we are pleased that the court has taken the same view,” said Mike Underhill. “Minimum Energy Performance Standards save New Zealand millions of dollars on energy bills every year.
“For example, consumers who purchased a non-compliant 3.5 kW heat pump, like those at the centre of this case, may end up paying at least $3,000 more for electricity over the life of the unit, when compared to a MEPS-compliant unit.
“The absence of the Energy Rating Labels denied consumers the ability to make an informed decision about what they were buying, taking into account not just the initial capital cost, but also the whole-of-life cost, which includes the running costs. In this case that could add up to 805 per cent more than the purchase price,” he said.
Look for Energy Rating Labels
Consumers buying appliances should always look for the Energy Rating Label, which provides information on how much energy a product uses, making it easier to compare models, and the ENERGY STAR® mark which is awarded to the most energy efficient products in each category.
