Plug Loads and Energy Efficiency Programs: Focusing on the U.S. and China

Ingrid Bran, Global Energy Partners
Jay Luo, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Carrie Webber and Jiang Lin, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Keywords

Abstract

This paper reviews the roles of the two major players in plug loads, the U.S. and China. In the U.S. residential sector, electronic equipment is proliferating, with chargers that may be plugged continuously. Recent research of the commercial sector has shown a wide range of electronic equipment densities. In the past decade, test-procedure development, labeling, standards, design competitions and federal procurement have been employed as energy efficiency approaches for plug loads.

Ownership of consumer appliances and electronic equipment has increased sharply in China over the last two decades. As consumer appliances proliferate, residential electricity use has grown at a much higher rate than the overall growth of electricity use. Energy labeling run by the China Standard Certification Center has incorporated a requirement for standby power loss and use for electronic equipment including color televisions, computers, and printers.

California has maintained its per-capita electricity consumption at about the 1973 level, with savings attributable to the state’s continuously rising codes and standards and its aggressive energy efficiency programs. The California Public Utility Commission has approved the largest energy efficiency programs ever for 2006-2008. The savings goals for these programs are very aggressive, compelling the California investor-owned utilities to search for all possible ways, including plug loads, to achieve savings.

Improvements in energy efficient chargers produced in China will benefit the U.S. and all other markets from access to more energy efficient chargers at lower costs. China’s capacity as a supplier of virtually all power supply production creates a centralized point for influence.