MEP to vote for ban on outdoor patio heater

5.24.46pm GMT Wed 30th Jan 2008

Bill Newton Dunn (Liberal Democrat MEP for the East Midlands) is calling on the EU to review the use of patio heaters, especially popular in bars and restaurants, due to their high production of harmful CO2 emissions.

Sitting outside in a café, despite cold weather conditions, is possible when there are overheating and polluting patio heaters keeping you warm outdoors. However, in view of this week's vote in Plenary on the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, Bill Newton Dunn will vote for a ban on these outdoor heaters: "The EU needs to limit the use of patio heaters in order to cut CO2 emissions and save energy. In an era when we are all facing increasing environmental damages and when our biggest challenge is to fight climate change, we must take fast and efficient measures to cut down CO2 emissions. These measures are vital for us. Unnecessary, energy-wasting, environmentally unfriendly devices simply are out of place. A patio heater emits 4 tons of CO2 each year, whereas an average car emits only 3 tons per year."

The European Parliament will vote this Thursday, during the Brussels Mini-Plenary, on the energy efficiency report which establishes minimum energy performance standards on high-energy devices across the EU. It will only be a recommendation from the Parliament, calling for a future law to be drafted.