In a move that could send shivers down the collective spine of Northern Europeans, the EU parliament is threatening to ban the sale of patio heaters and other energy-inefficient appliances.

The EU parliament is expected to back a resolution requiring the use of appliances with low energy efficiency to be phased out. The proposal comes at an awkward time for UK legislators, though, because pub owners have recently invested in patio heaters to appease patrons who were recently banned from smoking indoors.

Patio heaters pump heat directly into the atmosphere, and according to UK government statistics, they also produce about 22,200 tons of CO2 a year, compared with around 21 million tons from household heating and hot water.

The EU is also looking at introducing minimum standards for energy efficiency on appliances such as air-conditioners, TV "decoder" boxes, and light bulbs, as well as getting rid of stand-by modes on electrical appliances.

Even if the EU doesn’t pass this resolution, it’s a good sign that energy-hogging appliances like patio heaters are coming under more scrutiny. Making people aware of energy abuses is half the battle, so maybe the next time you’re out on a patio, you’ll opt for a warm sweater instead of firing up a heater.