Coffee machine regulations to save UK bill payers £46m per year

UK electricity bill payers could make a ￡46 million annual saving by 2020 thanks to more efficient coffee machines, according to analysis of forthcoming new regulations. The rules, which are due to enter into force on 1st January 2015, will oblige manufacturers to include a function on new coffee machines that switches them into standby mode after a set period of time.

For a drip filter coffee machine with an ordinary, non-insulated jug, standby would kick in after 40 minutes. The new standards are part of the EU Ecodesign Directive, which will also bring in new rules on standby for networked appliances, commonly known as the ‘internet of things’.

The analysis, carried out by the New Economics Foundation, also found the annual energy saved from coffee machines by 2020 could be equivalent to powering 57,214 homes, while the associated emissions reductions could be equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of 16,288 UK citizens. The savings will increase year on year as people replace old coffee machines with the new more efficient models.

Commenting on the new analysis, Marylyn Haines Evans, Public Affairs Chair of the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI), said:

"Nobody likes to waste energy, and at a time when energy bills are increasing, having appliances designed to be sparing with electricity is definitely a good thing for your household finances.

“Coffee is one of the many products threatened by climate change, so it’s also good to know that when you’re making a cup, you’re doing your bit to cut down on carbon emissions too. With a better designed appliance you can enjoy a coffee without the bitter taste of wasting energy or adding unnecessarily to the climate problem.”

The analysis follows research published earlier in the month by the Energy Saving Trust showing that the UK has been using less energy even as the economy grows, a trend partly driven by energy efficiency regulations on household devices.

Climate change is likely to affect coffee production in Latin America, Africa and Asia, with impacts on drinkers and farmers, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and the spread of plant diseases and pests are all projected to reduce the amount of coffee produced, particularly the high-quality Arabica bean that constitutes 70% of the world supply.