Tumble dryer 'ban' proposed as Ed Miliband pushes for 'era of clean energy'

Proposals for a 'ban' on traditional tumble dryers have been put forward. Traditional vented and condenser tumble dryers that rely on high-energy heating elements are being discouraged, and more energy-efficient 'heat-pump' options that recycle warm air and operate at lower temperatures are being promoted. It comes as the government says that heat-pump dryers could help families save almost £1,000 in energy expenses over the machine's 20-year life . According to the plans released last week, dryers will be rated for efficiency, and only those that meet a specific grade will be allowed to remain on the market. Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband has spoken out about introducing new regulations to phase out the sale of traditional vented and condenser tumble dryers in the UK. The policy is not a ban on owning or using existing tumble dryers, but rather a ban on the sale of new, less-efficient models to meet Net Zero targets. In a recently published document, titled " Raising standards for household tumble dryers ", the government issued a response to the consultation on raising standards for household tumble dryers and confirmed the final policy decisions. It outlines its intention to introduce a statutory instrument (SI), which "will both raise minimum energy performance standards and reform energy labelling requirements for household tumble dryers sold in Great Britain". Explaining the specific rule, a statement in the document reads: "To improve the efficiency of household tumble dryers, the final regulations introduce a new minimum performance standard that phases out inefficient gas-fired, air-vented, and condenser models." Outlining the requirement, it adds: "Only tumble dryers with an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) less than 85 will remain on the market." On April 21, 2026, Miliband spoke at the National Growth Debate. His ' The era of clean energy security' speech is available online on Gov.uk and in it, he elaborated on the government's "doubling down" on net-zero targets and the need for higher energy efficiency standards for household appliances. Explaining the transition on household energy, Miliband said: "I believe the agenda I have outlined offers an exciting, optimistic and hopeful future for the country, and that really, really matters. Energy and economic security that can withstand this new age of geopolitical instability. "Warmer homes, lower bills, cleaner air, better technologies. A stable environment for business. Good jobs across our country. And doing the right thing for our children and grandchildren. We owe it to the British people to deliver. We can, we must, we will do it together." Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) says that the move "would effectively phase out the sale of more inefficient" dryers. It adds: "To meet our net zero target, it is crucial to reduce energy consumption from domestic appliances. Phasing out the least energy-efficient household tumble dryers could contribute to achieving the targets set in the fifth and sixth carbon budgets." A DESNZ spokesperson said: "Energy efficient tumble dryers will save households up to £910 over their machine’s 20-year lifetime - putting money back into the pockets of hard-working people. Every tumble dryer model on the British market must comply with stringent safety regulations. There are no current specific safety concerns with heat pump tumble dryers." The law used to enforce this is the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Household Tumble Dryers) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/318). A key statutory quote includes: "The condensation efficiency of a condenser tumble dryer must not be lower than 80%." This is a technical threshold that effectively excludes most traditional non-heat-pump models. On April 21, Miliband also issued a written statement to Parliament titled " Further and Faster on Clean Power ". In it, he mentioned appliance changes as part of a 'broader mission'. He outlined a set of actions to improve the separation of gas and electricity prices, driven by energy issues due to the conflict in the Middle East. He says it is meant to help consumers and accelerate the shift to clean, locally produced energy. He said: "As the world faces the second fossil fuel shock in less than five years, the lesson for Britain is that exposure to volatile international fossil fuel markets cannot give us the energy security we need. For Britain and many other countries, clean energy is the only route to financial security, energy security and national security. "That is why today the government is setting out how, in response to this crisis, we will double down on our mission for clean energy." He continued: "This package of measures represents a significant acceleration of our mission to take back control of Britain’s energy, so that we can protect the British people from this and future fossil fuel shocks and bring down bills for good." Critics and politicians opposed to the government have called this action a form of "Soviet control" and "crazy". Some say that heat-pump dryers cost more to purchase and take longer to dry clothes. Shadow energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, criticised the plans, telling the Telegraph: "Why not let consumers choose whether or not that works for them? This is the problem with our net zero legislation – it means Ed Miliband dictating what car people drive, how they should heat their homes and even what machine they can tumble their pyjamas in. "This is Soviet levels of control. That’s why we would repeal net zero legislation and focus on cheaper energy. The Conservatives' plan is better for the environment and for people’s pockets."