On the other hand, it makes the manufacturers think more about making there equipment efficient, as posed to just throwing more electricity at the problem.

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I'm not sure there's much you can do with a toaster or hairdryer! And if there was it'll hardly filter down to the customer who needs X and buys the first, cheapest one at Argos. Products are likelier to get more costly for less value. Joe Average doesn't give a crap about the environment, they would like the products they've paid money for to get the job done quickly and correctly though. The whole market thing applies as much to the customer as the manufacturer.

It seems every time the EU intervenes it's the customers who wind up worse off, even with the plans for electronic waste!

I don't know. Maybe it is a German thing, but most people look at the energy efficiency certificate when buying. They then try and work out of the cost of the device over a cheaper, less frugal device will pay for itself in the next couple of years.

Our daughters did that with all their appliances, because they are living off of student grants or apprenticeship wages and need to keep their monthly costs to a minimum.

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I have to say that's always the impression I've got with Germany, what with credit and savings etc. It's something I admire personally as a tight git!

For major energy using items (Fridge, dish washer, Tumble Dryer etc) then I do look at the energy rating and have generally bought more expensive but more efficient goods

However for more minor stuff (like hoovers etc) then its either looks or performance thats important not energy efficiency

I imagine trying to make an energy efficient toaster will be quite a challenge.

It's not difficult. Just make it only heat up the elements being used (so don't have all 4 slots heating up for 1 slice of bread).

Possibly also recirculate the hot air round the inside somehow so it toasts quicker.

There was a story a while back about a solar power plant in California that worked by using mirrors to focus sunlight on a chamber in which a liquid was heated which turned a generator - basically a form of solar powered steam engine. The story said that occasionally a bird would fly through the wrong part of the system and be immediately incinerated - the staff called them 'tracers'. I'd imagine if you set that up, it'd toast your bread pretty well at zero cost.

Jon

I was thinking more that radiant heating elements aren't that efficient. Recirculating hot air could work but you'd need to strip out moisture or you'd end up with soggy toast.

A solar toaster would be interesting but maybe not so practical in the UK in the middle of winter

I would still be at home waiting for my toaster to work if I had one of those - not sure my boss would be happy

Or a Solar cooker?

And I'm not liking the ban on hairdryers, I already struggle for 20min as it is