Potential Gains in Appliance Efficiency and Recommendations for a Center for Consumer and Office Electronics and Appliance Efficiency
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Potential Gains in Appliance Efficiency and Recommendations for a Center for Consumer and Office Electronics and Appliance Efficiency

Abstract

Energy use in the residential and commercial sectors in California for appliances and electronic devices is growing rapidly -- by most accounts those items already constitute more than 10percent of energy use in the residential and commercial sectors. Government action to promote energy efficiency and conservation has been less rigorous for this load, especially for small appliances and electronic devices, not only because the load has historically been smaller but also because it derives from a wide variety of technologies and manufacturers, some of them quite new, and because the vagaries of consumer behavior play so large a role in the problem. Yet the technologies, the behaviors, and the realities of personal finance do tie these uses together as a group. For these reasons substantial marginal gains in efficiency could be made by improving coordination. This report recommends establishing a new center to coordinate the necessary efforts in research, demonstration, education, testing standards, and protocol development.This report reviews the markets, the energy consumption, and the emerging technological developments for many such devices, primarily for electric-powered devices – the so-called plug load. Only secondary consideration is given to industrial settings, to built-in systems such as HVAC, or to lighting. The report reviews recent and current actions by government, the utilities, and the manufacturers. The focus is on California, but given the nature of the industries and the regulatory processes, attention to the national level is necessary also. The information is based on a review of the literature (academic studies, trade publications, government reports, conference proceedings, news releases, web sites) and on discussions with many persons. The report discusses the priorities a center should address, the activities it should pursue, and the form it should take. The idea for a center is shaped by the Commission’s success in establishing major research centers on other energy topics.

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