Major electronic retailers have met with the government today to discuss how more energy efficient products can be brought to the UK consumer market.
Environment minister Ian Pearson is meeting with 11 of the largest retailers in an attempt to find ways to cut the carbon emissions of household goods, such as televisions.
This follows an announcement in this year's Budget to set up a voluntary partnership for retailers to sell more energy efficient consumer electronic products.
The government wants to significantly reduce emissions from consumer products by 2010.
Last year, household electronics accounted for the equivalent of five standard power stations, about 30% of the UK's total domestic electricity consumption.
This was mainly due to the rise in the number of television sets in people's homes, and the demand for larger screens and for digital set-top boxes.
Official estimates show that there will be over 50m digital set-top boxes in UK homes by 2012.
The government hope that electronics retailers and supermarkets will commit to supply energy efficient products that will reduce this extra energy consumption.
Mr Pearson said: "This is a truly international agenda. We have similar products - and we share the same problem: how to deal with the demand for more and better goods and services while at the same time ensuring that we minimise the effect on the environment.”
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