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EcoFamilies: evaluating and promoting energy savings

Panel: Panel 8. Dynamics of consumption

Authors:
Francisco Ferreira , Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza, Portugal
Ana Rita Antunes, Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza, Portugal
Filipa Alves, Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza, Portugal
Sara Ramos, Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza, Portugal

Abstract

In 2007 Quercus, a Portuguese environmental non-governmental organization, selected 225 out of 500 volunteer Portuguese families to analyse their energy saving potential. The main objective was to evaluate how changing families' consumption habits could have a significant impact on reducing electricity consumption. The project's main areas of action were lighting, standby and off-mode. Electricity saving potential was also calculated for washing and refrigeration equipment.

The ‘use of energy' evaluation consisted of a questionnaire on the usage of electrical equipment. The installation of Energy monitors in all households, with remote monitors (telemetry) being installed in 50 of the households.

The energy saving potential identified in reducing standby and off-mode usage represents 5.3% of the EcoFamilies electricity consumption. In the lighting sector, replacement of incandescent and halogen bulbs would result in an energy saving of 3.2%. Substituting refrigeration equipment (fridge/freezer), considering a 6-year return period, was viable only for 15 EcoFamilies, representing 1.9% of the EcoFamilies electricity consumption. No potential saving was identified with regard to dishwashers and washing machines as the return on investment period was more than 6 years.

Overall, by altering behaviour and substituting equipment each family had a potential saving of 348 kWh/year; 10.4% of total electricity consumption.

In this project a multiple adapter plug with power switch was given to each family to help reduce the energy consumption of standby and off-mode. With this measure it was possible to reduce this consumption by 80%.

This paper aims to describe the tools used to measure the energy consumption of various electrical equipment, the potential saving associated with the elimination of standby and off-mode use and the actual savings achieved by the EcoFamilies after the adoption of these measures.

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