Everyone knows that efficiency helps, but do you know how much it helps, and what the most important targets for efficiency improvement are? Well, now you can get some numbers on a big culprit: electric motors. ENDS Environment Daily reported in May about a study done by the European Copper Institute. The study shows that switching industry over to more efficient motors could save:
"The study recommends a four-year, &euro 400 million package of measures including audits of industrial energy systems, financial incentives for energy-saving projects, the possibility to claim emission credits for investment in energy saving, and an information campaign.Motor-driven systems used 614 billion KWh in the EU15 in 2000, the study says, representing 65% of industrial electricity consumption. Introducing energy-saving measures has a relatively short pay-back time, but shortages of capital, knowledge or motivation combine to create significant barriers.
Regulatory and financial measures, alongside better information and technical support, are identified as key elements that would help overcome these barriers."
In America, most electric motors in households are do to cooling of something. Fridges and AC units use motors to drive a compressor, computers have fans, and we use fans to cool our interiors (at least we do in Texas ;-) )
The only other use of motors is in washing machines and dryers and dish washers.
Am I missing any?
Posted by: Adam on 30 Jun 04
The study was referring to industry, where motors run conveyor belts, machines, etc. as well as HVAC stuff.
Overall (residential + industrial + commercial), motors use more like 40% of all electricity.
Posted by: Jer on 1 Jul 04
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