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Energy Consumption of Major Household Appliances Shipped in Canada, Summary Report –
Trends for 1990–2009

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Chapter 7: Energy Consumption and Savings for All Major Household Appliances

The significant reduction in unit energy consumption (UEC) of many major household appliances has meant that less energy has been consumed by these appliances than if energy efficiency had not improved. In this chapter, energy consumption and savings are quantified to illustrate the significance of energy efficiency improvements over the past two decades, on both a household and national scale.

7.1 Energy consumption of all appliances

The average annual UEC of new appliances decreased significantly between 1990 and 2009 (see Figure 13). A household operating a full set of appliances purchased in 2009 might expect them to consume a little less than 2800 kilowatt hours per year (kWh/yr) of electricity on average, roughly half as much as a set of appliances purchased in 1990 (assuming similar operating patterns17).

Figure 13 Average annual UEC of appliances, 1990 and 2009

Figure 13 Average annual UEC of appliances, 1990 and 2009.

Between 1990 and 2009, the decrease in average annual UEC was most significant for clothes washers (984 kWh/yr or 81 percent). This decrease is due both to energy efficiency improvements across all types of clothes washers and to the increasing popularity of front-loading units (which are more energy-efficient than top-loading units).

There were also significant improvements in average annual UEC for dishwashers during this same period (701 kWh/yr or 68 percent). However, part of this improvement is due to a change in how UEC is measured (the assumption about frequency of use was revised downward to more accurately reflect household usage patterns) and does not represent an actual improvement in energy efficiency. Using similar assumptions about frequency of use would reduce the average annual UEC of dishwashers to 836 kWh/yr in 1990, resulting in an energy efficiency improvement of 61 percent over the period (as opposed to 68 percent).

Meanwhile, the average annual UEC of refrigerators decreased by 526 kWh/yr (55 percent) between 1990 and 2009, partly because of more efficient compressors and better insulation. This reduction occurred despite an increase in the shipments’ share of larger refrigerators during the period, because greater efficiency gains occurred for larger units over the period. Consequently, even though the share of larger refrigerators increased, the average annual UEC of all refrigerators decreased. However, supplementary data received from refrigerator manufacturers in 2009 show an increase in their share of shipments of compact refrigerators (those with a volume of less than 10.4 cubic feet). The breakdown of refrigerators by volume is outlined in Table A.5 in Appendix A.

Electric ranges saw a reduction in average annual UEC of 254 kWh/yr (33 percent), but owing to the nature of this appliance, there is little potential to further reduce energy consumption with current technology. In addition, a portion of the observed reduction in UEC was due to a change in how it is measured and does not represent an actual improvement in energy efficiency (the assumption about frequency of use of the self-cleaning cycle was revised downward to more accurately reflect household usage patterns). The change reduced the average annual UEC of self-cleaning ranges by about 35 to 50 kWh/yr.

Freezers saw a relatively smaller reduction in UEC than did other appliances (89 kWh/yr or 20 percent) partly because of a switch away from chest freezers (Type 10) to less efficient upright units (Type 9). However, supplementary data received in 2009 from freezer manufacturers also show a considerable market share for compact chest freezers in that year. As previously noted, the data for freezers are less comprehensive than the data for other appliances and may not be fully representative of the trends in the Canadian market. Because of the greater effort invested by the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association (CAMA), this recent supplementary shipment data will help create a truer picture of the freezer market in the years ahead.

As with electric ranges, there is little potential to improve the energy efficiency of electric clothes dryers because of the nature of the appliance, although there has been a trend toward dryers with larger capacities. Between 1992 and 2009, the average annual UEC of electric clothes dryers decreased by 62 kWh/yr (6 percent). The increasing share of front-loading clothes washers helped reduce the energy consumption of clothes dryers because more moisture is removed before clothes reach the dryer (although this change is not incorporated into the data). In addition, moisture detectors in electric clothes dryers automatically shut off the unit when a load is sufficiently dry.

7.2 Electricity cost savings per household

The increased energy efficiency of major appliances should reduce energy costs for households, assuming usage patterns remain constant. Figure 14 shows the annual energy costs for an average set of appliances purchased in both 1990 and 2009. Assuming an electricity price of 9.7 cents/kWh,18 annual electricity costs for a set of appliances purchased in 1990 would be approximately $535, while costs for a set of appliances purchased in 2009 would be reduced by almost half, to about $270.

Figure 14 Average annual unit electricity cost for appliances purchased in 1990 and 2009

Figure 14 Average annual unit electricity cost for appliances purchased in 1990 and 2009.

The magnitude of the cost savings is directly proportional to the reduction in average UEC of each appliance. Annual energy costs decreased the most for clothes washers and dishwashers. Energy costs decreased the least for electric clothes dryers and freezers. Note that part of the reduction in energy costs for dishwashers and electric ranges is due to changes in usage patterns and methodology and not to energy efficiency.

7.3 Energy consumption and energy savings for all shipped appliances

In this section, total energy consumption and savings are quantified for all major household appliances shipped between 1990 and 2009. This analysis is not intended to be a comprehensive national assessment of energy use by all major household appliances. Rather, it conveys a sense of the magnitude and relative importance of energy savings obtained across the country from different appliances.

Figure 15 quantifies the energy savings that resulted from improvements in energy efficiency between 1992 and 2009, using the shipment data collected by Natural Resources Canada. The bottom line represents the total energy consumption of major household appliances shipped in Canada between 1992 and 2009, while the top line represents the total energy that would have been consumed if energy efficiency had not improved since 1992. The area between the two lines is therefore an estimate of the energy savings resulting from the increased energy efficiency of appliances shipped during this period.

Figure 15 Energy consumption from all shipped appliances, with and without improvements in energy efficiency, 1992–2009

Figure 15 Energy consumption from all shipped appliances, with and without improvements in energy efficiency, 1992–2009.

For example, the energy consumption of all appliances shipped between 1992 and 2009 is estimated to be just over 106 petajoules (PJ) (or 30 billion kWh), representing the energy consumed by all appliances shipped during that period, except for those that had reached the end of their service life. However, if energy efficiency had not improved since 1992, these appliances would have consumed over 160 PJ. The difference (54 PJ or the equivalent of one year’s energy for over 510 000 households) represents the energy savings resulting from the improvement in energy efficiency of major household appliances during the 1992-2009 period.19

Figure 16 attributes the energy savings identified above (i.e. the area between the two lines in Figure 15) to each appliance. Clothes washers, refrigerators and dishwashers account for much of the energy savings because of significant improvements in the energy efficiency of these appliances. Electric clothes dryers and electric ranges accounted for a much lower energy saving because of smaller energy efficiency improvements. However, freezers accounted for the lowest energy saving because of their low penetration rate and the fact that the available shipment data accounts for a smaller portion of the market than it does for other appliances.

Figure 16 Energy savings by shipped appliance, 1992–2009

Figure 16 Energy savings by shipped appliance, 1992–2009.

Limitations of the energy consumption and savings analysis

This analysis conveys a sense of the magnitude and relative importance of energy savings obtained across the country from different appliances. However, it is not a comprehensive national assessment of energy use by all major appliances for at least two reasons. First, the shipment data do not reflect the entire Canadian market. According to the (CAMA), the manufacturers represent more than 90 percent of the Canadian market. Second, we do not attempt to estimate the total Canadian stock for each appliance (although we do estimate stock directly associated with the shipment data from 1990 onwards).

In addition, with respect to energy savings, several factors, including the following, could affect the magnitude of the estimates presented here:

  • Appliance service life. Continued use of appliances for longer than their assumed average service life would contribute to ongoing energy savings obtained from that appliance. However, if that appliance were replaced by a newer and more energy efficient model, an earlier replacement would contribute to greater energy savings.

  • Secondary appliances. If new appliances are purchased to complement rather than replace existing appliances, no actual energy savings would result from their purchase (unless a secondary appliance is being replaced).

17 Except for dishwashers (whose rating is based on less frequent use after 2003) and self-cleaning electric ranges (whose rating is based on a lower number of cleaning cycles after 2002).

18 This was the average Canadian residential price in 2009, Natural Resources Canada, 2011, Energy Use Data Handbook, 1990 to 2009, Table 18, Residential Sector, oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/statistics/neud/dpa/tableshandbook2/res_00_18_e_4.cfm.

19 For details of the assumptions used in these calculations, refer to Appendix A.2 in Energy Consumption of Major Household Appliances Shipped in Canada, Trends for 1990–2008 (Ottawa: 2010), p. 50. Available at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/statistics/cama10/appendixa.cfm.

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