Benefits of the Appliance Standards and Labelling Programme
Appliance Standards and Labelling has significant benefits because of the role it plays in helping to reduce electricity demand. The three main areas of benefit are:
- Environmental: In South Africa most of the electricity is generated by coal-fired power stations. Reduced electricity use, results if less air pollution, lower Greenhouse Gas emissions and less water use.
- Financial: Reduced electricity use, results in lower electricity bills for appliance owners.
- National: Reduced electricity use lowers the pressure on the already stressed national electricity supply system and can contribute to a reduction in load shedding days.
The Appliance Standards and Labelling Programme is predicted to save 5,500,000 MWh of electricity by 2030 in South Africa using the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory BUENAS modeling tool. For more information read this document explaining the Energy Savings Estimates from the Standards and Labelling Programme.
This elevated level of savings is achieved by removing the most energy inefficient appliances from the market in South Africa and encouraging consumers to purchase the most efficient appliances by ensuring that consumers understand the likely energy consumption of appliances prior to purchasing. The annual benefits of saving 5,500,000 MhW are highlighted below:
Savings of R12,000,000,000 in annual energy bills
Reduction of 6,000,000 tons of CO2 emissions
Savings of 8,000,000,000 litres of water
Reduction of 3,000,000 tons of coal burned
Reduction of 2,000 tons of particulate emissions
Reduction of 50,000 tons of SOx emissions
Reduction of 24,000 tons of NOx emissions
Relative contribution to savings of the different appliances
The chart below shows how different appliances contribute to the savings of 5,500,000 MWh of electricity annually by 2030.