British manufacturing firm QRL Radiator Group has launched a campaign to introduce an energy labelling system for radiators.

The group wants the system to be similar to the one used for hot water cylinders, renewables, boilers and other household essentials.

QRL’s ‘Don’t Omit Emitters’ campaign was launched on August 23 and has called for the industry to join in with a petition to the government to include radiators in mandatory efficiency ratings.

Currently, radiators are not covered by the Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive and its colour coded energy labelling system, with efficiency bands ranging from A+++ to G.

This means that manufacturers are not required to produce and energy label for radiators, or for installers to include radiators when producing the package label to indicate the efficiency of the whole system.

Chief Executive Officer at QRL Radiator Group, David Kerr, commented: “At a time when everyone connected with the heating industry – from government right through to manufacturers and installers – is putting efficiency at the top of the agenda, it’s ludicrous that there is no energy labelling system in place for radiators.”

“Of course it’s important that we focus on insulation and the heat source, but if emitters aren’t included as the third piece of the efficiency puzzle then we risk undermining the performance of the system as a whole.”

In the manifesto for the ‘Don’t Omit Emitters’ campaign, the firm argues that proper energy labelling would make it easier for people to identify high efficiency emitters – ones that will reduce emissions, cut costs and improve the performance of heating systems.

QRL Radiator Group Product Development Manager, Mike Wright, added that inefficient emitters are costing businesses and homes thousands, as well as having a detrimental impact on our collective carbon footprint.

Wright believes that the introduction of clear, recognisable and universal energy labels is the most effective way for the trade (and their customers) to confidently pit one product’s performance against another’s.