2024 Highlights: collaborations and events

Raising awareness and building partnerships 

This year, the ETL has actively engaged with the energy efficiency community, fostering new collaborations, and attending key events to promote sustainable technology. Our efforts have focused on creating and strengthening relationships, raising awareness of ETL-listed technologies, and addressing industry needs.

Here’s a comprehensive roundup of our activities, events, and partnerships throughout 2024, alongside a look at what lies ahead.

Eurovent Certification collaboration

Our collaboration with Eurovent Certification has been a key part of the ETL’s mission to advance the UK’s journey to Net Zero. This partnership, initiated at the beginning of 2024, has focused on aligning testing and certification standards for products listed on the ETL. By working closely with Eurovent, we’ve been able to streamline testing processes, ensure accurate performance data, and make it easier for manufacturers to have their energy efficient products listed. This shared commitment is driving the industry forward, ensuring that only the highest quality, energy efficient products reach the market. Read more about our Eurovent partnership here.

• ETL and Eurovent certification on Refrigerated Display Cabinets: A milestone has been the alignment on testing standards and efficiency parameters for RDCs. As these cabinets are commonly used in retail and food service industries, ensuring their energy efficiency has been a priority. It’s a move that not only benefits manufacturers but also helps purchasers make informed, sustainable choices. Discover more about our RDC collaboration here.

• Alignment on testing standards for Evaporative Air Coolers: Another critical achievement in our partnership is the recent work on evaporative air coolers. Recognised for their energy-saving potential, evaporative air coolers are an increasingly popular solution in sectors such as data centres and industrial settings. Learn more here. 

We are in the process of identifying technologies where we can align in 2025 and look forward to continuing our collaboration. Sign up to our newsletter here for future updates.

New Uniclass codes added to the ETL

Uniclass is a widely recognised classification system used across the construction and built environment sectors. Our ongoing collaboration with NBS has led to significant updates in 2024, incorporating new Uniclass codes to better classify energy efficient products and technologies. This makes it easier for industry professionals to identify relevant technologies. 

These updates provide greater clarity and alignment between industry standards and the technologies listed on the ETL. Each product, where available, now includes a relevant Uniclass code for its function and application. This code can typically be found at the bottom of the product's specification page. For convenience, users can also enter the Uniclass code directly into the search box on the ETL homepage.

These updates are important due to the increasing variety of energy efficient solutions available. As new sub technologies are developed and added to the ETL, having a flexible classification system like Uniclass ensures that these advancements are captured accurately.

Enhanced classification and improved searchability help streamline the process of procuring products using the ETL, making it as simple as possible. Read more about Uniclass codes on the ETL.

Event highlights: Raising awareness and making new connections

The ETL has been on the road, attending a series of events throughout the year to engage with manufacturers and promote the ETL scheme and its resources. These interactions have provided valuable insights into the market’s needs and allowed us to get to know the manufacturers and purchasers on the ground.

• Futurebuild 2024: At this premier event, we highlighted our latest technology additions and showcased the ETL's role in advancing sustainable building practices. Watch our Futurebuild video and read our article of the event to gain insights from the event.

• Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering (HRC) 2024: This was a singular opportunity to connect with the hospitality sector, where we emphasised the ETL’s support for energy efficient catering equipment. At HRC, we spoke with manufacturers such as Hobart UK and notable organisations such as the Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA). Our presence underscored the ETL’s role in helping to achieve energy efficiency in the hospitality sector through the introduction of the Professional Foodservice Equipment technology category. Learn more in our article and video covering the event.

• InstallerSHOW 2024: A key event that featured over 20,000 installers, specifiers, and decision-makers from the heat, water, air, and energy sectors. The ETL team engaged with manufacturers and purchasers interested in the benefits of ETL-listed products. View the highlights in our InstallerSHOW article and video. 

• CIBSE Build2Perform Live 2024: The event offered our team insights into the engineering strategies and technologies that are dominating the industry. Speakers and exhibitors focused on key topics, including the impact of the Building Safety Act, embodied energy, heat pumps and digital tools. In addition, we also conducted interviews with manufacturers to gather and share their perspectives.

• EMEX 2024: This expo is a major event focused on energy management in the UK. It featured over 100 exhibitors showcasing the latest technology, innovative products, and energy-saving equipment, providing the team with plenty of opportunities for networking and raising awareness of the ETL scheme. We also took the opportunity to interview some of the participating manufacturers. Watch the video here.

• We also attended a wide range of industry events including the Baxi Installer Skills Survey 2024 where heat pumps and the importance of installer training were central themes. This allowed us to discuss the challenges of consumer demand for energy efficient heat pumps and the ways the ETL supports manufacturers to increase the visibility of their products. Explore the article from the Baxi event and watch the interview with a Baxi Senior Training Officer.

Looking forwards

From Futurebuild to InstallerSHOW, 2024 has been a year of growth, outreach, and alignment for the ETL and our journey doesn’t stop here. As we look forward to the upcoming events in 2025, we are excited to continue our efforts. We are committed to raising awareness, supporting manufacturers, and ensuring that energy efficient technology continues to thrive so stay tuned for information about our activities at forthcoming events. 

Read our 2024 roundup of updates and future developments in our article available here and browse the ETL website for more information. 

Join us on our mission to advance sustainability in the UK, if you’re a purchaser looking to find energy efficient technology, browse our list here. If you’re a manufacturer looking to register your product on the ETL, click here. 

Contact us at info@etl.energysecurity.gov.uk to explore how the ETL can get you closer to a net zero reality.