Gas Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency-Australia
Appliances and equipment both at the domestic and industrial levels, need to be as energy efficient as possible. Labels indicating the performance of such appliances and equipment have been used for some years, giving signals to the the consumer on the energy efficiency of the appliances and equipment, before they purchase them. Appliances and equipment for the domestic and industrial sectors, must now expand labeling beyond just energy efficiency, to include signals for global warming, energy security and CO2 emissions. Energy efficiency models are outdated and new models are required for the above task.
There are new appliances and equipment which are currently being manufactured in world around us. New gas equipment which does not combust the natural gas to produce electricity, and new appliances that do not need a power socket at all. Methodologies must address these new technologies. The Council for Australian Governments need real advice on these new technologies and their environmental impacts, beyond energy efficiency.
Electronic devices like mobile phones are measured currently at ~5-7million in Australia. They never existed ten(10) or so years ago at such numbers. They bring with them a power charger that consumes power station power from a power socket in a domestic situation ,at least once every week or so. Add all the other digital electronic devices, and the numbers could approach ~10 million with their respective chargers.
New micro-fuel cell technology will be globally released in year 2007 to power all portable electronic devices. Not needing a power socket will be very convenient, and correct labeling will indicate to the consumer how environmentally friendly these new micro-fuel cells are. Some will be based on methanol, others on hydrogen in metal hydride storage, and even some on butane with disposable units as well. Most micro-fuel cells are better than power station power, but some are clearly more environmentally friendly than others. So it is not just the appliance it is the device that recharges it. Future appliances and equipment will be self powered by year 2020.Whitegoods will start having fuel cell power source implantation by year 2012.
New natural gas powered solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and larger molten carbonate (MCFC), will by year 2008 start to power industrial settings and buildings in Australia. The new non-combustion process needs to be clearly stated on the new equipment, so consumers are fully aware of how significantly environmentally friendly this new technology is. There needs to be significant industry liaison so key decision makers get informed appropriately. New marketing and promotional campaigns need to be created along side the now swift progression taking place technologically. By year 2008, promotional and marketing campaigns for the new power source devices mentioned above, would have a significant greenhouse impact for the positive, ahead of any other singular and or collective strategies, for gas appliance and equipment energy efficiency.
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