2025 in review: A year of growth through industry collaboration

Connection, innovation and real-world impact across the energy efficiency sector

2025 has been a year of meaningful connection for the ETL. Strengthened by new collaborations across government, industry and specification platforms. These integrations have made it easier for manufacturers to list and promote energy efficient products, and for specifiers, designers and buyers to make informed decisions that support energy efficiency goals. 

This spirit of partnership has extended beyond systems and standards. From showcasing manufacturers’ success stories through new case studies to celebrating leadership and innovation in the Women Driving Change series, 2025 has highlighted the people and organisations working together to advance energy efficiency. 

As the ETL’s role grows so too does its reach and influence, ensuring that independently verified energy efficient technologies remain visible, credible and trusted across the market. 

Partnerships and integrations 

This year marked significant progress in building connections that simplify processes and increase visibility for ETL-listed manufacturers. 

Integration with external schemes has ensured that ETL-listed products are recognised across multiple platforms, giving manufacturers wider exposure and enabling buyers to make confident, evidence-based decisions. 

SKArating alignment

In September, SKArating, a scheme that supports architects, specifiers and buyers in selecting energy efficient solutions for building fit-outs, aligned their new Office Environmental v2.0 criteria with the ETL.  SKArating evaluates energy performance in office, retail and higher education buildings, relying on ETL criteria to benchmark technologies including:

• Lighting
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment
• Heat Pumps
• Heat Recovery Ventilation Units
• Pipework, Tank and Vessel Insulation
• Radiant and Warm Air Heaters
• Refrigeration Equipment

This alignment positions the ETL as a key entry point for manufacturers seeking inclusion under SKArating and access to these markets.  

Eurovent Certification 

The ETL also continued its collaboration with Eurovent to simplify the ETL application process for manufacturers, allowing them to reuse existing test reports, improve efficiency and reduce the costs of application. As part of this work, six new heat pump testing alignments were completed, covering: 

• Air to Water Heat Pumps  

• Air to Air Heat Pumps, Split, Multi-Split  

• Water or Brine to Water Heat Pumps   

• Water to Air Heat Pumps, Multi Split  

• Air to Domestic Hot Water Heat Pumps ​​​ 

• Packaged Air to Air Heat Pumps (rooftop) 

These build on the existing testing alignments for Evaporative Air Coolers and Refrigerated Display Cabinets, helping manufacturers to align certification requirements and streamline the ETL application process. Further alignments are in progress and will be announced in the New Year. 

Trade associations 

Strong relationships with trade associations have also remained central to the ETL’s work. Regular engagement with organisations such as the Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA), the British Controls Industry Association (BCIA), the Heat Pump Association (HPA) and the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has helped raise awareness of ETL features, benefits and updates, while supporting manufacturers and specifiers to identify aligned opportunities.  

New product listings and manufacturers 

Collaboration across the energy efficiency sector has translated into tangible growth for the ETL in 2025. Over 150 new products have been added to date, and we have welcomed eleven manufacturers to the scheme, including first-time applicants and others returning to the scheme with new listings. This continued growth reflects the trust businesses place in the ETL as a mark of verified performance and their confidence in the scheme itself, while providing manufacturers with greater visibility and access to wider markets. 

This year’s new listings span a diverse range of technology categories, including: 

• Heat Pumps

• Energy Monitoring

• Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment

• Professional foodservice equipment (PFSE)

• Refrigeration Equipment

• Boiler and Boiler Retrofit Equipment

• Showers

• Motors, Drives and Fans

• Wastewater Heat Recovery Systems

These additions help designers, specifiers and architects choose the most efficient products to support progress towards UK’s Net Zero goals. 

If you’re a manufacturer of energy efficient products, you can apply to have them listed for free on the ETL. Most applicants already have the information we need, making the process straightforward. For guidance, watch our short video or review the criteria requirements for listing. 

Ready to get started? Apply now! 

Industry presence and engagement 

The ETL maintained a strong presence across major industry events throughout the year, from exhibiting at Futurebuild to attending the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC) Show, the Catering Innovation Show in London, InstallerSHOW in Birmingham and Nisbets Live in Bristol. These events provided opportunities to engage directly with manufacturers, specifiers and designers. We were also delighted to see the ETL logo featured on several exhibitors’ ETL listed products, including those from Liebherr, Rational, Electrolux, Unox and Victor Manufacturing. 

The ETL team on our stand at Futurebuild 2025

At Futurebuild, the ETL captured insights from manufacturers and industry, who shared their perspectives on the future of energy efficient design and technology. Watch the video to hear their insights and discover the trends shaping the sector. 

Women Driving Change 

A highlight of 2025 was the Women Driving Change series, celebrating female leadership and expertise across the energy efficiency and engineering sectors. 

This year, the ETL featured interviews with six women who are leading progress in sustainable design, research and efficient technology. Each story offered insight, inspiration and practical advice for those pursuing careers in the sector.

The series reflects one of the ETL’s wider aims: to celebrate diversity, share knowledge and strengthen connections among the people driving change across the energy saving landscape. Explore the full series: 

• Caroline Bragg, CEO of the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE)

• Kristina Allison, Environmental, Sustainability and Net Zero Lighting Capability Lead at WSP / President of the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL)

• Emma Brooks, Managing Director of Quintex Systems Ltd and Chair of the Foodservice Equipment Association

• Tracy Southwell, Former Managing Director of Hobart Equipment Division and current Managing Director of March Foods

• Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association

• Dr Zainab Dangana, Head of Sustainable Technology Services at Wates Group

Thank you to all the women who took part in the series and shared their experience and insight

New functionalities on the ETL offer additional support to manufacturers, buyers and specifiers

The ETL’s digital content and resources continue to evolve to meet the needs of those designing, specifying and purchasing energy efficient equipment. 

More manufacturers are now uploading BIM objects and Technical Specification files, giving architects and buyers accurate data when they need it most. These resources are free to use and help promote ETL-listed products through specification platforms. Several manufacturers have already added this additional information to their product listings, including Baxi, Building Products, Knauf Insulation, Lainox Ali, Liebherr, Loxone, MITA, Pentland Wholesale, Quintex, Rational UK Limited and TRUE Refrigeration. We encourage other manufacturers to do the same. Read about the process here. 

Work also continued with specification platforms such as NBS Chorus and Source to increase ETL-listed products’ visibility in design and procurement tools, with further collaborations already in development for 2026. 

New case studies showcase the real-world success stories of ETL-listed products 

Six new case studies were published in 2025, showcasing the success stories of ETL-listed products and demonstrating the measurable energy savings and practical applications of ETL-listed technologies across diverse sectors.

• Adande refrigeration helps Whitbread cut energy use by 46% ​​​​​​

• Victor delivers cost effective, reliable refrigeration for East Riding Leisure Beverley 

• Hobart proves sustainability credentials to NHS using ETL-listed professional dishwashers 

• Autoflame burner controllers save energy at London’s Leadenhall Building and for the NHS 

• Quintex helps slash energy consumption in Wetherspoon’s pub 

Looking ahead

As 2025 draws to a close, partnership and collaboration remain central to the ETL’s progress. From closer integration with specification platforms to stronger engagement with industry bodies and government, this year has demonstrated the collective effort driving improvements in energy efficiency. 

The ETL remains committed to maintaining one of the world’s largest databases of independently verified energy efficient products and supporting UK businesses and the public sector in making informed purchasing decisions. Our listings highlight products typically within the top 25% of their class for energy performance, underpinned by an annual research programme that benchmarks technologies and reviews performance criteria. This evidence-based approach ensures the ETL continues to evolve with the market, providing assurance to both manufacturers and purchasers. 

We thank all manufacturers, partners and specifiers who have contributed to this shared progress and look forward to continuing this work in 2026 – another year of innovation, collaboration and connection.

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