Retrospective Review of the Equipment Energy Efficiency Program: Lessons Learnt From Two Reviews

Downloading the PDF Version

The full document is available as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view it. The Adobe Reader is a free product.

Download Retrospective Review of the Equipment Energy Efficiency Program: Lessons Learnt From Two Reviews (628 kB)

If you are unable to access this document, please contact the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency to organise a suitable alternative format.

Summary

This review was prepared by George Wilkenfeld and Associates Pty Ltd for the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE).

The year 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the start of energy rating labelling in Australia and over 12 years since Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) were applied to an appliance category: refrigerators and freezers in October 1999.

This study reviews the experience of the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) program and its predecessors in increasing the energy efficiency of two key product groups – domestic refrigerators/freezers and domestic air conditioners.

For refrigerators and freezers, average energy consumption per unit was 40% lower in 2008 than in 1993. Real average purchase prices declined by 20% to 50% over the same period, depending on product class.

It is estimated that national refrigerator and freezer energy use in 2010 was about 50% less than if measures were absent and national air conditioner use was 9% less. This represents a combined reduction of about 8.8 Mt CO2-e in 2010 and is projected to rise to 11.8 Mt CO2-e in 2020.

The specific MEPS measures evaluated were about twice as effective as projected prior to regulation. Further, the savings were realised without perceptible impact on product prices or any reduction in market choice.

This page last modified 18 July 2011