If you live in the EU, you might want to grab that high powered hair dryer and hide it now. That’s because the hair dryer is on the list of 30 appliances that the EU is considering banning in order to curb energy consumption. A study that was commissioned by the EU has identified these 30 appliances which would be restricted.
The ban on powerful vacuum cleaners already began this week. From September 1, companies in the EU will be banned from making or importing vacuum cleaners that are above 1600 watts.
Sales have certainly risen ahead of the deadline with sales jumping for Tesco 44% in the last few nights.
As Guenther Oettinger told Germany’s Bild newspaper “We haven’t got round to these devices yet, we want to curb power consumption.” The EU Commission spokeswoman said, “It’s a study we have asked consultants to do. In the final report they will reduce 30 products to 20. In January 2015 we will look at these recommendations then select from this list what to regulate and how.”
Of course, the National Hairdressers’ Federation (NHF) has urged the EU to reconsider, saying its plans are “ill thought-out”. NHF president Mark Corary pointed at the potential irony of the ban, saying that banning these items won’t reduce energy consumption since blow-drying a client’s hair will now just take longer.
