Appliance Standards
Appliance standards can significantly improve appliance energy efficiency, resulting in substantial economic and environmental benefits.
Background
China is one of the first countries to adopt energy efficiency standards, the Chinese program is certainly one of the most successful programs in the developing world.
In 1989, The China State Bureau of Testing and Standardization (SBTS) issued the first batch of efficiency standards for appliances to address increasing appliance ownership and persistent electricity shortages. These eight standards included refrigerators, room ACs, clothes washers, electric irons, automatic rice cookers, electric fans, radio receivers and tape recorders, and television. Although international testing procedures were adopted, the effectiveness of these early standards was limited due to their relatively low requirements and lax enforcement.
By the mid-90's, the appliance market in China had grown tremendously, both in sales and market saturation, causing SBTS to initiate a new round of standard setting and revision. SBTS decided to adopt internationally accepted practices in standard development and sought the assistance of LBNL. The new standards are set according to thorough engineering and economic analyses, therefore their levels are higher. So far, SBTS has developed standards for refrigerators, fluorescent ballasts and lamps, room air-conditioners with LBNL's technical support. Standards for clothes washers and central air-conditioners are under development. Enforcement of standards remains a critical issue.
Minimum Efficiency Standards
As a result of the collaboration between SBTS and LBNL, standards for Refrigerators (2 revisions), Room Air-Conditioners (2 revisions), Central ACs, Clothes Washers, Fluorescent lamp ballasts, and Linear and Compact Fluorescent lamps have been enacted. Standards for Color Televisions--the first in the world--are under review, and standards for Gas Water Heaters are under development. Increased enforcement, monitoring, and verification of the standard programs have been proposed.
Energy Savings
Estimated cumulative energy savings resulting from appliance standards alone (not including lighting products) is estimated at 154 TWh or 53 millions of carbon. By 2010, energy savings are estimated to reach 33.5 TWh, or about 9% of China's residential electricity. This is equivalent to a CO2 emission reduction of 11.3 million tons of carbon.
In comparison, the US program is estimated to have saved 9.8 million tons of energy as of 2000 or 3.9% of residential carbon emissions; and is projected to have saved 13.6 million tons in 2010 or 5.4% of residential carbon emissions.
So in the a few years, China has developed a program that matches the best in the world in term of pollution prevention. As China accelerates the development of standards from one per year to two or three per year, the impact of Chinese programs are likely to grow as well.