Washing machines, driers and dishwashers. Background reports. Vol. 3: Long-term efficincy targets, technical and economical analyses

摘要

The average European washing machine is defined and it is attempted to identify design options that will be technically feasible and economically attractive to the consumer within the next 5 to 10 years. Two separate basecases were examined, both on the basis of the 60 deg. C cotton cycle without pre-wash: The Standard Basecase (SB), which defines performance, energy and water consumption according to EN 60456 at a fixed 4.5 kg load and 126 g/cycle IEC-A detergent, and the Real-life Basecase (RB), which defines performance, energy and water consumption according to real-life conditions, starting from a 3 kg load and 135 g/cycle IEC-A detergent. Loading efficiency, programme temperature setting, type and quantity of detergent are free variables in the Real-life Basecase. The SB is functional when implementing labelling and minimum efficiency standar. The RB supplies decision support when assessing policy measures, such as promotion of better consumer behaviour, retailer training programmes, subsidies, and technology procurement. Design options, their saving potential and costs were identified through literature research, patent research, engineering analysis, test data from commercially available machines, expert interviews with research institutes and manufactures of washing machines an detergents. A ranking of the options according to payback period and the total real costs over the life of the washing machine determines what is economically feasible for the consumer. Real-life Basecase offers both a wider range of design options than the Standard Basecase and a higher saving potential. The last chapters explore some interesting design and policy options that lie beyond the time-frame and system boundaries of the present project. (AB)