Red/ Green Calculator
1. Context, background and objective 2. Approach The Red/Green Calculator is a voluntary policy instrument that has been developed by the UK Environment Department, Defra. It is an Internet‐
based tool providing retailers (and manufacturers) with a means of assessing the energy efficiency of consumer electronic products that they procure and sell, and to compare that with the UK government’s targets and standards for sustainable products. Recognising the big impact that the retailing sector can have on consumer decisions, the UK government engaged in a dialogue with the major British retailers with regard to implementation of UK product policy, in particular the energy use of electronic products. The Red/Green Calculator was devised in response to the retailers´ request to simplify the government’s targets and the mass of associated technical standards they are asked to comply with. This policy instrument was design to support environmental product policy and developed as part of the UK Market Transformation Programme (MTP). High‐level support both within the UK government and within the major retailers played an important role at the inception of the R/G Calculator and helped to achieve the necessary commitment of procurement managers within the retailers. Assessing energy consumption of electronic products includes very technical specifications that, if outlined in detail, could cover lengthy and complicated lists. The development of technical specifications for the Red/Green Calculator requires an extensive amount of data about each product group in question. Therefore, Defra decided to start with products that use significant amounts of energy at the UK level and for which reliable data is readily available. 3. Involvement of actors and their roles Government: developer of the project – stimulate and accelerate the greening of the product range Producers and manufacturers: beneficiaries of the program ‐ gain a better understanding of the policies and product requirements 4. Results After its launch in early 2008, the R/G Calculator has been used by over 15 retailers, 10 manufacturers and a couple of service providers, energy suppliers and trade associations. Over 72 companies registered on the website. Retailers acknowledged that the tool provides useful assistance in understanding government product policy and feeding this into their purchasing decisions. Given that the R/G Calculator is a voluntary tool, no sanctions or any other government initiative is envisaged to follow. In October 2011 the tool was not available anymore and the website not functional. 5. Key challenges •
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Voluntary character of the tool Solid market data is needed The R/G Calculator contains a separate worksheet for each of the consumer electronics products covered, and one summarising spreadsheet bringing together all individual results. Within each worksheet users can insert data for each product they sell. The R/G Calculator then calculates the expected energy consumption of each product over the period of one year. This is then compared to the energy consumption that would be expected of a product meeting the government indicative standard. The difference between the two becomes the so‐called ‘Ecopoint’ score. These Ecopoint scores are tallied to give an overall score for each individual product. This is then multiplied by the number of each individual products sold on an annual basis. Once the users are provided with an Ecopoint score (and corresponding ’red’ or ’green’ flags) for the individual power modes and product models, they are then given an overall product group Ecopoint score. If the score is negative, (and consequently ‘red’), it tells the user that his/her particular range of products does not meet government indicative targets. Conversely, if the score is either zero or positive it tells the user that his/her products either meet or exceed the government indicative standards. These product group scores are then tallied to provide an overall Ecopoint score (and ‘red’ or ‘green’ flag) for that user based on all the products he/she sells in that year. Thus, the R/G Calculator does not only rate products and retailers as being ‘Red’ or ‘Green’, but also shows the degree to which government targets are met, exceeded or not achieved. This makes it easy for retailers or manufacturers to understand and identify their own strengths and weaknesses. 6. References Rubik F. et al, (2009), ‘Innovative Approach in European Sustainable Consumption Policies’, Institute for ecological economy research