What can I choose in the calculator?

The calculator lets you choose the efficiency of new appliances in Switzerland in the selected year (2035 or 2050).

Appliances efficiency

image

Contents

  • Impact
  • Global market
  • Definition
  • Constraints
  • Assumptions
  • Value range
  • References

IMPACT – What is the impact of increasing the efficiency of new appliances?

In Switzerland, increasing the efficiency of new appliances will have the following impacts:

Energy system

image Decreases final electricity demand if rebound effects are excluded.

image Decreases final energy consumption, if re-bound effects are excluded.

image No direct impact on the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix.

image Likely to increase energy independence and energy security.

Environment & Climate

image Likely to reduce Swiss CO2 emissions, impact on global CO2 emissions depends on embodied energy of new appliances.

image If older, but still functioning, appliances get replaced on the grounds of energy efficiency, this could increase deposited waste and environmental impacts related to end of life treatment of materials as well as mining of materials for new products

Society & Economy

image Impact on total costs of the energy transition not well understood.

image Efficiency labels and ratings make users more aware of energy use

image May improve balance of payments by substituting oil imports by domestic electricity.

image May reduce Confederation income from the tax on electricity under the current taxation system.

GLOBAL MARKET – What is the global potential for increasing the efficiency of new appliances?

[1] Section 2 and 3 of this IEA report should have the numbers we need. It is a pay report though (80 EUR, one PDF user). http://www.iea.org/W/bookshop/add.aspx?id=460

DEFINITION / CONSTRAINTS

DEFINITION - What is Appliances Efficiency?

The indicator concerns electric household appliances.

Modern household appliances often require less energy to provide the same useful service. Especially appliances such as refrigerators and freezers, laundry machines and dish washers, but also TVs are available with much lower consumption than their predecessors.

Based on the energy rating (A+++ to G in EU) the consumer can compare new products based on their typical annual electricity consumption before making a purchase.

CONSTRAINTS - What are the key barriers facing the increase of Appliances Efficiency?

• Replacement of old appliances by new and efficient ones is often not economically viable based on saved energy cost and current electricity prices.

• ‘Rebound effects’ may counteract the energy savings from more efficient appliances. The financial savings from lower running costs can lead to purchase of more appliances, or changes in lifestyle (e.g. wash more often).

ASSUMPTIONS – WHAT ARE THE ASSUMPTIONS CONSIDERED IN THE CALCULATOR?

The appliances annual average electricity consumption includes the electricity used by: * Appliances that can be found in the kitchen (stoves, oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and other cooking auxiliaries). * Washing machine and dryer. * IT and audio-visual (TV, computer, gadgets, etc.) * Air conditioning and ventilation systems. * Other (hair dryer, iron, vacuum cleaner, etc.) Some appliances as the air conditioning and ventilation systems are expected to have an important expansion. Because of the expected higher temperatures more households will be equipped with this technology. This fact reduces the effect of having more efficient appliances as more appliances are installed. E.g. the average electricity consumed by the air conditioning and ventilation systems was 350 kWh/(year∙household) [2], while in 2050 it is expected to be 526 – 659 kWh/(year∙household) [2].

VALUE RANGE - WHAT RANGE OF VALUES CAN I CHOOSE?

The expected future value ranges for average [[appliances_electricity_consumption|electricity consumption of the appliances]] in a household are: * 2035 -> 2429 – 2661 kWh/(year∙household) * 2050 -> 2436 – 2851 kWh/(year∙household) In 2011, the appliances of household consumed an average of 2873 kWh [2].

REFERENCES

[1] [[http://www.iea.org/W/bookshop/add.aspx?id=460|Energy Efficiency Market Report 2013, Market Trends and Medium-Term Prospects]] [2] [[http://www.bfe.admin.ch/php/modules/publikationen/stream.php?extlang=de&name=de_564869151.pdf&endung=Die%20Energieperspektiven%20f%FCr%20die%20Schweiz%20bis%202050|PROGNOS 2012, Die Energieperspektiven für die Schweiz bis 2050, Energienachfrage und Elektrizitätsangebot in der Schweiz 2000–2050.]]