Traditional tumble dryers ‘phased out’ under Labour in favour of green alternatives

Conventional tumble dryers will be “phased out” in favor of green alternatives as the Labor government continues to push to reach net zero.

The government is said to be introducing new rules that could mean traditional condenser tumble dryers will be phased out and replaced by more energy-efficient heat pump models.

Unlike condenser dryers, which use a heating element to remove moisture from clothes before draining the water, heat pump dryers use a system that recycles hot air and operate at a lower temperature, around 50°C.

Accordingly TimesThe government believes the move will save UK households £1,000 over its 20-year lifespan due to lower running costs.

It is understood the plans do not mean a ban on the use of existing tumble dryers, but that sales of new tumble dryers will need to meet higher energy efficiency standards.

It is also understood that the government is trying to enforce the rules to prevent imported tumble dryer prices from rising due to new EU rules rather than a net zero drive.

But critics of the plan pointed out that heat pump dryers have a higher average purchase cost than traditional alternatives and also take longer to dry clothes.

Conservative shadow minister Claire Coutinho accused energy minister Ed Miliband of “Soviet-level control” over a range of net zero policies.

Mr Miliband has served as Labour’s most vocal advocate of green energy and net zero targets since the government came to power in July 2024.

“Not only do heat pump dryers have a higher upfront cost and take longer to dry clothes, they can also use less energy,” the shadow energy secretary said.

“Why not let consumers choose whether this will work for them?

“This is the problem with our net zero legislation; it means Ed Miliband is dictating which car people drive, how they should heat their homes and even which machine they can put their pajamas in. This is the Soviet level of control,” he said.

“That’s why we will repeal the net zero law and focus on cheaper energy – our plan is better for the environment and people’s pockets.”

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “Energy-saving tumble dryers will save households up to £910 over the 20-year life of their machines, putting money back into the pockets of hard-working people.

“Every tumble dryer model on the UK market must comply with strict safety regulations. There are no specific current safety concerns regarding heat pump tumble dryers.”