Economic and environmental impacts of efficient air conditioning in Thailand

摘要

The High Efficiency Air Conditioner Program was one of a number of DSM programs launched jointly by the Government of Thailand and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in the mid-1990s. To overcome information, behavioral and financial barriers in the market, the program included testing of air conditioner efficiency levels, a voluntary labeling program for manufacturers, purchaser and manufacturer financial incentives and marketing support. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the impact of the program on sales of efficient air conditioners, energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Sales of high efficiency air conditioners increased by some 340,000 units over the period of the evaluation. The duty cycle approach using on-site metering of air conditioners was used to estimate energy, demand and peak coincident savings. Energy savings were about 330 kWh per year and demand savings were about 0.336 kW for each Level 4 unit (9.610.6). The program resulted in a reduction of energy consumption of about 173.6 GWh per year with a reduction in system coincident peak of 17.8 MW. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 117 kilotonnes per year.