About 2,000 rebate requests on energy-efficient domestic appliances have been received by the Malta Resources Authority (MRA) since December.

The scheme, announced in the budget for this year, enables consumers to request a 20 per cent - up to Lm50 - discount on energy efficient domestic appliances. Between 70 and 100 requests a day are being made, George Cassar, MRA senior analyst, said.

Payments should start being made soon, Mr Cassar said. The rebates had not been given yet because the authority had to gather evidence that the appliances complied with the scheme's regulations.

Apart from getting a cut in the purchase price, customers would be saving on electricity. Energy-efficient appliances are only marginally more expensive than the other models on the market, Mr Cassar said.

The scheme is part of the government's national energy efficiency drive to save one per cent on electricity annually over the next nine years.

"Consumers need to be more energy conscious," Resources Minister Ninu Zammit said during a press conference, adding that consumers could do a lot to cut the amount of energy they use, while maintaining their lifestyle.

"A lot of energy could be saved just by switching off appliances instead of leaving them on standby.

"We need to be smart when it comes to saving energy," he insisted.

A recently-published legal notice establishes criteria on energy-saving buildings.

Mr Cassar told The Times that many people were not aware about what to do to save energy. This has spurred the authorities to embark on a campaign about energy efficacy measures.

Data based on consumption in other countries and figures collected by the National Statistics Office show that water heating is the main electricity consumer at home, followed by air conditioning, fridges and lighting.

The authority is measuring the consumption of different appliances within households, which would provide data about consumption patterns.