The relative importance of technical and behavioural trends in electricity consumption by domestic appliances

Panel: Panel 3: Market Transformation: Innovation, Development and Dissemination

Authors:
Mark J. Hinnels, Environmental Change Unit, University of Oxford
Kevin B. Lane, Environmental Change Unit, University of Oxford

Abstract

In the UK electricity consumption by domestic appliances has doubled in the last two decades. Appliances are the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide emissions outside the transport sector. Policy intervention aimed at market transformation is currently being designed at the EU and national levels to reduce electricity consumption and associated emissions.

The total energy consumption from a particular end-use is a combination of appliance ownership levels, technical efficiency and behavioural patterns. In most countries, changes in ownership levels over time are known. However, the underlying rates of technical improvement and changes in patterns of use are less well researched.

Understanding these trends is essential for policy aimed at market transformation. This understanding provides a baseline projection from which to assess the actual savings from policy intervention. In addition, it shows how some changes in use or purchasing patterns may wipe out savings made from improvements in technical efficiency. The major focus to date has been on the cold appliances (refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezers) and wet appliances (washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers), and these are the subject of this paper.