Regulatory Impact Statement: Revised Minimum Energy Performance Standards and Alternative Strategies for Small Electric Storage Water Heaters

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Download Regulatory Impact Statement: Revised Minimum Energy Performance Standards and Alternative Strategies for Small Electric Storage Water Heaters (ris-ewhsmall2001.pdf - 519 kB), June 2001.

Note that the Ministerial Council on Energy considered the recommendations of this RIS and these were rejected. Subsequently, further analysis and studies have been conducted and a revised RIS for small water heaters is expected in 2003.

If you are unable to access this document, please contact The Australian Greenhouse Office to organise a suitable alternative format.

Summary

Draft for public comment prepared for the Australian Greenhouse Office by George Wilkenfeld and Associates Pty Ltd, June 2001.

Small electric water heaters represent the most expensive way to heat water. Although they are cheapest to purchase, they incur the highest running costs, both for useful energy and to cover heat losses. There is still considerable technical scope for reducing heat losses below the 1999 MEPS levels, both through thicker insulation and other means. This document considers options for increasing the stringency of MEPS for small electric storage water heaters. Six MEPS options have been modelled:

Equivalent to 20% reduction in maximum standing heat loss. This is considered the least improvement for which it is worthwhile to change product design;
Equivalent to 30% reduction in maximum standing heat loss;
Equivalent to 40% reduction in maximum standing heat loss;
Equivalent to 50% reduction in maximum standing heat loss;
As for option 1, but with a further step to option 3 heat loss level in October 2007;
As for option 1, but with a further step to option 4 heat loss level in October 2007.

The two step options may offer more flexibility for manufacturers to address the issues of changing foaming agents.

This page last modified 02 February 2009