Overview
The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme is Australia’s urban water saving scheme. The scheme reduces demand for drinking water by informing consumers about product water efficiency at the point of sale.
All states and territories participate in the WELS scheme, which is largely mirrored in New Zealand in support of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement.
The WELS scheme provides a national approach to setting minimum water efficiencies and mandatory star ratings to plumbing products and appliances. Products within scope of the scheme are dishwashers, washing machines, washer-dryers and most taps, showers, toilets, urinals and flow controllers.
We are seeking suggestions and feedback on options to improve the water efficiency of commercial ice makers. Options being considered include both non-regulatory and regulatory approaches. The Regulatory Impact Analysis supporting this consultation identifies a range of policy options and the associated costs and benefits.
The non-regulatory options are:
Option 1: To not regulate commercial ice makers under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (WELS Act) (‘Status quo’).
Option 2: To encourage businesses who register commercial ice makers with the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Regulator to declare water use rates, and to publish water use rates to inform consumers.
The regulatory options are:
Option 3: To regulate commercial ice makers under the WELS Act and require mandatory registration and the declaration of product information at point of sale.
Option 4: To regulate commercial icemakers under the WELS Act and require mandatory registration; declaration of product information at point of sale; and application of minimum water efficiency standards.
This consultation is being conducted with knowledge of the recent regulation of commercial ice makers for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012. The implementation of MEPS will enable the voluntary declaration of commercial ice maker potable water use and condenser water use (in the case of water-cooled ice makers). Any potential regulation of commercial ice makers in relation to water efficiency (e.g. mandatory water efficiency disclosure or minimum water efficiency standards) would occur under the WELS Act.
Your comments, submissions and data will inform which policy option is appropriate for Australia and New Zealand to improve the water efficiency of commercial ice makers and the process for implementing any water efficiency requirements.
We will outline the preferred policy option in a final Regulatory Impact Analysis. We will do this before implementing any water efficiency requirements in relation to commercial ice makers.
