21 November 2025

Discover how the UK Government’s Energy Technology List (ETL) integrates with NBS Chorus and NBS Source to help specifiers choose verified energy-efficient products and support net zero goals.

Introduction

The ETL is a UK Government-backed initiative that helps organisations make informed, energy-efficient choices. Managed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), it features around 8000 products from more than 140 manufacturers - each independently verified and typically within the top 25 per cent most energy-efficient in its class. By using the ETL, specifiers, designers, and procurement teams can have confidence that the products they select meet high performance standards for energy efficiency. NBS has been working closely with the ETL team. As part of this work, not only are existing manufacturers in NBS Source having their ETL certifications promoted, but new manufacturers can now be onboarded more quickly by using the software API that ETL provide.

In this article, Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director at NBS, explains how the two work together to support better specification decisions.

What it means for specifiers

For specifiers aiming to reduce operational carbon and improve building performance, the ETL is an essential resource.

Products listed on the ETL have been stringently assessed and independently verified., helping project teams align with net zero carbon objectives and Part L compliance. By choosing ETL-listed equipment—such as HVAC systems, motors, refrigeration, and lighting—specifiers can:

  • Demonstrate a transparent, evidence-based approach to reducing energy use
  • Simplify product selection through verified data on energy efficiency
  • Strengthen sustainability credentials in specifications and tender documentation

In short, this allows specifiers to specify with confidence - knowing their choices help contribute to lower operational emissions and long-term cost savings for clients. Figure 1 below demonstrates how in NBS Chorus the technical guidance for those specifying heat pumps introduces the ETL scheme. If specifying generically – for example setting ‘Manufacturer’ to ‘Submit proposals’ then the requirement for a product to be listed on ETL could be specified as one way of verifying the energy efficiency requirements.

Figure 1 – Specifying generically

Figure 2 below shows that if specifying by brand, in this case for a direct-fired heating system, then within the certification information of a particular product the ETL certification is displayed. The example shows a heating system from Powrmatic Ltd within the NBS Source panel.

Figure 2 -Specifying products with an ETL certificate

And finally, even if a specifier is not yet at the stage of deciding which product they require, on NBS Source, relevant product categories will have the ETL certification type listed alongside other product certifications.

In figure 3 below both the manufacturer and the product have been filtered to show products with sustainability credentials. In this case a manufacturer with ISO 14001 certification has initially been found, then within their relevant product range products with ETL certification are listed.

Figure 3 – Filtering products on NBS Source to show those with ETL certificates

Tom Lock, Programme Director for the ETL, commented, ‘Integrating the Energy Technology List (ETL) within the NBS platform makes it easier for specifiers to identify proven, energy-efficient technologies at the point of design. It also helps manufacturers reach professionals who are actively seeking products that meet the UK government’s standards for energy performance and net zero alignment.’

What it means for manufacturers

For manufacturers, being listed on the ETL is a clear differentiator. It signals that a product meets the UK Government’s benchmark for energy efficiency, helping to build trust with architects, engineers and contractors who must justify design decisions against sustainability targets.

Being listed on the ETL means manufacturers can:

  • Gain greater visibility in the public and private procurement process
  • Increase specification likelihood by appearing in databases and digital platforms where professionals seek compliant products
  • Reinforce their commitment to net zero and demonstrate alignment with Government-backed sustainability initiatives

In a marketplace where environmental performance increasingly drives decision-making, ETL accreditation can lead to more frequent specification and stronger market reputation.

The ETL website publishes case studies from the scheme, showcasing manufacturer success stories such as Hobart successfully being listed on the NHS’s Evergreen Sustainability Supplier framework, and the University of Reading using the ETL when selecting products for construction work across their estate.

Powrmatic Ltd were one of the initial manufacturers on NBS Source to display their ETL certification, Nick Gray, Business Development Manager commented, ‘Having our products listed on NBS Source and certified under the Energy Technology List (ETL) gives specifiers the confidence that our solutions deliver real, verified energy savings. It helps our business stand out in sustainable design projects while supporting the wider goal of reducing carbon emissions across the built environment.’

Summary – Supporting the UK’s net zero transition

The ETL plays a vital role in the UK’s journey toward net zero emissions by 2050.

By promoting verified, energy-saving technologies, it connects government and private-sector policy goals with product innovation and professional specification practice. Supporting architects and engineers to design more efficient buildings and giving manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their sustainable products means that collectively, the industry can take measurable steps toward decarbonising the built environment.

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