Changing washing machines and driers: Let's have a look at the laundry room

Panel: 6. Innovations in buildings and appliances

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Barbara Josephy, Topten International Services TIS, Switzerland
Rita Werle, Topten International Services, Switzerland
Eric Bush, Topten International Services, Switzerland
Jürg Nipkow, Topten International Services, Switzerland
Sophie Attali, Topten International Services, Switzerland
Chris Granda, Grasteu Associates, USA

Abstract

In 2007, washing machines accounted for 6% of the residential electricity consumption of the European Union (EU-27). In 2010, the residential tumble drier stock was estimated at 62 million units, and is expected to grow. 80% of Canadian and American households already have a tumble drier, accounting for 7-8% of the electricity usage of these households. Both in Europe and North America, there is room for high efficiency improvements.

The scope of this paper is to highlight key developments in the markets for washing machines and driers in Europe and to show how the positive experience of a successful market transformation initiative has provided an impetus to start similar efforts in North America.

The most energy efficient driers currently available use an integrated heat pump and only consume about half of the electricity of conventional condensing driers. Heat pump driers are the only ones that reach the A class under the current EU energy label scheme.

In Switzerland, the first heat pump drier appeared on the market in 2000. In 2009, the market share of A class driers reached 25%. Their market share is increasing in other European countries as well (Italy, Germany). 2012, the Swiss government will require all driers sold in Switzerland to carry the A rating, effectively banning conventional driers from the market.

In North America the Super Efficient Dryer Initiative (SEDI) was recently formed to learn from the European experience on driers and to bring together energy efficiency programme providers, drier manufacturers, governments, utilities and other stakeholders to support large improvements in drier energy efficiency. The first tests of heat pump driers undertaken in the USA show an energy reduction potential of 40-50% compared to the average conventional North American model.

The paper outlines a successful market transformation focusing on the importance of appropriate policy tools and the fruitful cooperation of different stakeholders.