Better control over component-level electric motors could yield massive energy savings, and a two-pronged attack is yielding results across a range of products. IMPROVEMENTS to efficiency standards for small electric motors could easily outweigh the energy consumption reductions in computers and their displays from now until the end of 2035, according to a report published earlier this year by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). What's more, this does not include the motors built into other equipment, such as air conditioners and washing machines. Roland Gehrmann, manager industrial ICs and marketing at Toshiba Semiconductors in Europe, says: "The trend is also being driven by the European Community for higher efficiency and lower noise in motors."
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