If you are a sucker for a truly excellent croissant but attached at the cord to your hairdryer, you may need to rethink your dreams of moving to Europe. A study commissioned for the European Union’s energy efficiency directive found there are up to 30 household appliances that “could be restricted” — read: banned — in order to reduce energy consumption. Among the offenders: certain high-powered hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, toasters, and electric tea kettles.
In fact, Europe’s already started restricting them: A ban on megawatt vacuum cleaners went into effect September 1, meaning E.U. companies can no longer manufacture or import vacuum cleaners above 1600 watts. (In true Prohibition style, people made sure to stock up on the dirty vacuums before they hit the black market.)
But prohibiting high-powered hairdryers — according to one very unbiased group — defeats the purpose. From the BBC News:
The National Hairdressers’ Federation (NHF) has urged the EU to reconsider, saying its plans are “ill thought-out”.
Former NHF president Mark Corary said a ban would not reduce energy consumption as it would mean blow-drying a client’s hair would take longer.
“The more powerful, the faster the blow dry – it’s as simple as that,” he said.
Here’s a frosted tip for anxious hairdressers: Relax, the rules aren’t set yet. Of the 30 appliances on the list, only 20 will be put forward for final deliberation. We won’t know until early 2015 whether or not Europeans will be forced to dry their hair au naturel. Banning the tea kettle, though? That’s bollocks.
