The addition of home appliances at this year's IFA has placed energy efficiency high of the agenda at the world's largest consumer electronics expo, which opened in Berlin last Friday.

In recent years, makers of televisions and battery-driven devices have joined the call for energy-saving initiatives, but their products have only a tiny effect on global warming compared to energy-guzzling ovens, washing machines and dishwashers.

Reinhard Zinkann, who heads the home-appliances section of Germany's ZVEI electrical industry federation, said: "Appliance sales are going in opposing directions in Europe right now. Sales are declining in major markets such as Italy, Spain and Britain, whereas they are gaining in France and Eastern Europe.

"In Germany, even though shoppers are very leery of spending in general right now, we expect to grow sales 4% this year because buyers are coming back to leading brands and better quality," he said

IFA bigger than ever
The growth of IFA, which rivals the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held every January in Las Vegas, has outstripped the space available in the big concrete pavilions at the Berlin fairgrounds.

The organisers have set up 11,000 square meters of temporary extra space this year in tent-like buildings which include the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion, a showcase for 70 products from Taiwanese electrical manufacturers. The event this year features 1245 manufacturers from 63 nations, with newcomers from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.

Last year, exhibitors reported taking US$4.07 billion in orders from merchants, and organizers said this week that 2008 ordering was likely to outstrip that.