Impact of Implementation Energy Efficient Appliances in Palestinian Market ()
1. Introduction
This Energy efficiency standards and labels (EE S&L) are sets of procedures and regulations that, respectively, prescribe the minimum energy performance of manufactured products and the informative labels on these indicating products’ energy performance [1]. They are meant to help the market recognize energy efficiency and act on it. Without the information provided by labels, consumers and other end-users are often unable to make an informed decision about the true cost of a product, and manufacturers lack the incentive to improve the energy performance of it as there is no way for the market to recognize and value this aspect. Standards can be set to ensure that obsolete and inefficient technology does not continue to dominate the market, much more effectively than is possible by the actions of individual end-users [2].
Consumers in Palestine like in other countries are often inclined to buy the cheapest product on the market. This burdens them with much higher running cost for years to come, and countries with the need to invest much more in energy supply networks than would be needed if all products would comply with minimum energy performance requirements. Neither one customer nor one manufacturer alone can alter this situation. Governments, however, with technical support, can implement standards and labelling programmes that protect the population from such expensive “cheap products”, at a limited cost, and protect manufacturers of highly efficient products from competitors saturating the market with these expensive “cheap products” [3].
Standards and labels work best as a part of a holistic market transformation strategy [4]. Standards ensure that the worst performing products are removed from the market, while labels encourage consumers to purchase increasingly more efficient products. These can be further supported by direct incentives to support the introduction of leading-edge products through R&D support, subsidies, procurement, etc.
Palestine, with the highest electricity prices in the region, has made a good start by adopting its first national energy efficiency action plan NEEAP [3], the aim of the plan is to achieve the indicative target of 5% less electricity consumption in 2020 adopted in the Energy National Strategy. And by establishing a revolving fund for financing EE projects [5] [6] [7]. It should continue developing its regulatory framework and further explore options to use high efficient appliances in the market.
In Palestine, the electrical energy consumption in the residential sector is at the highest levels compared to the industrial and commercial sectors. The percentage of energy consumption in various sectors is 57% for residential, 6% for industrial, 18% for commercial and public services, and 1% for agriculture as shown in Figure 1 [3].
Recently, Palestine is attempting to improve its energy efficiency policies. As the demand for energy is increasing in Palestine, improving energy efficiency can be considered as an efficient way to achieve its sustainable development goals [8]. In this respect, government policies and program strategies must be designed to overcome persistent market barriers against energy efficient household appliances. Label and standard programs can be used as a strategy to improve energy efficient products. The aim of this paper is to provide a broad overview of appliance efficiency standards and labeling programs in Palestine. The paper deals with the estimation of the perception and willingness of Palestinian householders to shift towards more energy efficient choices, legal issues related
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Figure 1. Electrical energy consumption in Palestine per sector.
to energy efficiency will be discussed and the current situation and challenges related to labeling appliances will be analyzed.
Also, this paper will present the potential of implementing standards and labels on annual saving of electricity from different appliances in the residential sector according to field survey conducted in different cities in West Bank. The impact of implementing high efficient appliances will investigate and expect significant impact on electricity consumption in Palestine. Furthermore, a feasibility of implementing high efficient appliances and its environmental impact will be conducted.
2. Literature Review
The energy labels have been adopted by more than 90 countries in the world covering different appliances and equipment’s in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors. The energy efficiency of major appliances has improved at an average rate of 3% - 4% annually as compared to the rate of technology improvement between 0.5 - 1 percent annually. A trend of decline in long-term appliance purchase prices has been observed despite increase in energy efficiency (IEA, 2015) [9].
A number of studies have been published in this context, Özge Kama (2013) [10] provided a broad overview of current labeling and standard programs for Turkey and selected case countries. By doing so, we aim to present the extent of the coverage and the different methods used in such efficiency programs implemented in different countries. Alwiyah Abd Alfattah and others (2017) [11] concentrated on cold electrical appliances because it was found that cold appliances are about 32.7% of total household electrical energy consumption in Jordan. Four scenarios for replacing the old appliances have been suggested and analyzed. It was found that the net saving from 2011 to 2020 will be approximately 4451.17 GWh. The associated CO2 emission reduction during the 10 years is expected to reach 2,221,000 tons.
Abu Saleh Ahmed and others (2011) [12] conducted a series of experiment investigations on six clothes washers of varying capacities. The objectives are to develop the standards and labels.
Human life and his needs depend totally on electricity and this need can be in many forms and using household electrical appliances is one of these forms, in these days human need electrical appliances for transport, cooking, cooling and freezing food, cooling and heating spaces, clothes cleaning and ironing, houses cleaning, and entertainment [10].
In spite of technological innovations a decrease in electrical demand occurred but still substitute for electricity, therefore many countries started care as a priority about energy efficiency which improving it means doing the same activity or service with less energy consumed and the starting point of this improvement is the technical directives and standards and developing these directives and standards will lead to energy conservation and lowering the emitted to atmosphere.
In South Africa, for example, there are 9 million of electric ovens are in use and each consumes 702 kWh/year, and this result in total consumption of 6.3 TWh and the big transformation in energy efficiency will be achieved if old ovens are replaced by new ovens with the new technology [13].
In Figure 2, we can see the expected energy consumption difference when comparing the efficient scenario B with ordinary scenario.
From Figure 2, we can simply realize that in the year 2030 approximately the conserved electrical energy as a result of efficiency increased and in spite of stock increase will be 31% which approximately about 2.7 TWh, and also the environment will be protected from 1.82 Mt of CO2 to atmosphere [13].
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Figure 2. Electricity consumption Ovens, Baseline Scenario (A) vs. Efficiency Scenario (B). Source: Wuppertal Institute (2015).
Electrical appliances energy efficiency in most countries is priority in these days to lower the energy consumption and to conserve environment by lowering emitted gases to atmosphere [14].
Energy classification label of electrical appliances in some countries is mandatory and voluntary in other, and this label divided into two types, the first is endorsement label which indicates that this appliance belongs to most efficient category, the second is the comparative label and this type of label contains the important energy consumption information to give the consumer the ability to judge between the appliances in the same category and to take the proper buy decision accordingly, this label contains scale or indicator like 1, 2, 3 or 1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars or A, B, C, and both types of labels can coexist on the same appliance [14].
In 1992, the EU adopted the Energy Labeling Directive for household appliances. It compelled retailers to display a label to consumers. The label rated the energy efficiency of these appliances on a scale ranging from energy class A (most efficient) to energy class G (least efficient). The message was reinforced through an easy color coding, ranging from dark green for the most efficient class to red for the most inefficient class [14].
The EU comparative energy label is simple and clear for consumers to perform a full judgment between appliances and to buy the most efficient appliances, this label covers many types of appliances in EU like cooking, heating, TV’s, washing machine, and dishwashers [14].
In 2003 the EU opened the new opportunity for improving energy efficiency by letting the manufacturers to mark A+ and A++ but the positive sign negatively affect and weaken the market [15].
Many countries working on the efficiency programs of appliances to achieve energy conservation and one of these programs as detailed in Jerusalem post that Israeli ministry of energy and water will replace 10,000 units of old air conditioners that have been in use for 10 years and more and they expect this program to assist in energy conservation by 17 million kWh/year, and they invested 2.85 million $ in this program that the government will cover 40% of the appliance cost, transport, and installation of these appliances for the households who receive social security [16].
This program is one of many programs that will extend to replace old refrigerators and fluorescent light bulbs and these programs expected to save and conserve 1700 kWh/year for each type replacement and 228 - 242$ saving/year for each appliance replacement [16].
3. Methodology of Analysis
Statistics of imported electrical appliances, its energy classification and its quantities to Palestine are very weak as a result of non-control Palestinian government ministries on the boarders and the available records are general and partially.
Survey-based analyses were conducted on 2019 to estimate these data, and to study the urban residential energy and usage behavior. A total of 300 Palestinian households participated in the survey, answering questions about their family conservation behaviors, and reactions to specific energy conservation policies, electrical appliances labels and standards. The analysis was based on asking the households about the main appliances they have and did they buy it new or old, also about the energy label of these appliances and about the meaning of these labels.
The survey took the form of quantitative interviews and was carried out among target respondents using a face-to-face and online technique. Representativeness of the sample was ensured throughout the sampling process. Random sampling was used to select the respondents to include in this study.
4. Results of Survey
The results of survey regarding general information about used appliances in Palestine summarized in Table 1.
The results of survey regarding different appliances used in Palestinian market, was as the following:
1) Split Air conditioner
The demand increased on the split air conditioner in the last 15 years, as a result of climate changes, so the temperature and relative humidity are higher than the past and it reaches 40˚C and 90% respectively. In some Palestinian areas, the new and famous trademarks of air conditioner still costly and a sector of people still can’t own it so they buy the old one as its lower cost, (delete this sentences) Figure 3 shows that 79.8% of people from the beginning they purchased a new A/C comparing with 21.2% purchased old A/C.
Concerning awareness of people regarding energy classification label on Air conditions, the results illustrated in Figure 4.
According to the figure, we can summarize that high percentage of Palestinian
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Table 1. General questions regarding the used appliances.
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Figure 3. Percentage of people used new or old A/C.
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Figure 4. Percentage of energy label used for Split Air conditioner.
people 27% bought A/C not depends on energy classification label, in addition, 34% of selected people using class D of A/C, which is standard efficient.
2) Refrigerators
This appliance is essential and basic in almost every house of Palestinian people, Figure 5 shows that 98% of people purchased a new refrigerator from the beginning.
Concerning awareness of people about energy classification label, the results shown in Figure 6.
Most of people are prefer to pay lower initial price than to have high efficient refrigerator.
3) Washing Machines
The results are shown in Figure 7.
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Figure 5. Percentage of people purchased a new and old refrigerator.
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Figure 6. The results of energy label used in Palestinian market for refrigerators.
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Figure 7. Percentage of using new and old washing machine.
The data collected about the energy label used for washing machine, the results are shown in Figure 8.
4) Food Freezers
The data collected from the performed survey show that 17.5% of houses have separate food freezer, and 57% of them purchased a new appliance as shown in Figure 9.
Concerning energy label classification it can be illustrated in Figure 10.
5) Clothes Dryer
The results of survey show that 47.5% of houses have clothes dryer, and people prefer to purchase a new appliance as illustrated in Figure 11.
6) Dish Washer
Only 7.5% of the questioned people have a new dish washer appliance, and the results of survey regarding energy label are shown in Figure 12.
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Figure 8. Existing energy labels in Palestinian market for washing machine appliance.
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Figure 9. Percentage of purchasing new or old freezer.
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Figure 10. Percentage of using different energy label for food freezer.
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Figure 11. Percentage of using different energy labels in clothes dryer.
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Figure 12. Percentage of using different energy labels in dish washer appliance.
7) Electrical Oven
In Palestinian houses around 87.5% have electrical oven, and Figure 13 shows the energy label used.
8) Microwave Oven
Most of Palestinian houses, around 97.5% have microwave oven, the results of survey regarding energy labels are shown in Figure 14.
5. Labeling of Electrical Appliances in Palestine: Current Situation and Challenges
The electrical household appliances in Palestine are mainly imported from world countries and a small percentage and new industrial sectors are opened, Palestine area is under the occupation and since the coming of Palestine national authority its main goal is to support the people on the ground and to achieve their
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Figure 13. Percentage of using different energy labels in electrical oven.
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Figure 14. Percentage of using different energy labels for microwave oven in Palestinian market.
safety, Palestine standards institute is the body who responsible on legislating the standards and the technical regulations and its priority since the beginning is to legislate the technical directives and standards for the people safety, the energy calcification label and its related standards still voluntary, recently PSI working on preparing the technical directive for the electrical appliances energy label calcification but still not approved and published.
Palestine national authority responsible ministries haven’t any control on the boarders to regulate the import products to Palestine and the expired Paris protocol gave Israeli government’s ministries the authority to regulate and to control this process [17]. While also its important to mention that the Israeli authorities don’t restraints the transfer and trade of products from Israel areas to Palestine area so the Israeli manufactured products, and its famous for Palestinian the appliances statement (group B) which mostly factory defect or lower quality products and the used products there, are easy to be sold in the Palestine area and these activities are well known and people demand it because of its competitive price in comparison with the new appliances and some of these appliances are dumping the market like the used split air conditioner and others, this type of appliances deeply affect the residential and commercial energy consumption and its actually harm the consumer wallet instead of saving.
6. Impact of Utilization High Efficient Electrical Appliances
After Palestinian looking for lower price appliances and according to the performed study there are also factors can affect the Palestine consumer purchase decision like almost no guiding brochures, educating literatures, and Video & audio programs in broadcast and radio stations to educate and guide the Palestine consumer of H.E appliances advantages on his pocket and on the electrical energy stability on the national level instead of standard efficient or least efficient appliances disadvantages on his pocket firstly and then its bad effects on the grid and national electrical energy stability in spite of its lower price in comparison with H.E appliances, in addition study results of high doubts of the consumers on the stickered energy label truth and its effect on the energy consumption and money saving from the electrical consumption bill.
The average electrical appliances initial cost as per the Palestinian market is indicated in Table 2.
6.1. Energy Saving Impact
Using high efficient electrical appliances will save a lot of consumed energy when compared to standard electrical appliances and this will positively affect the total energy houses bills and consumption.
Table 3 shows some electrical types and consumption according to energy label classification.
From Table 3, it’s clear that a good reduction of energy consumption can be achieved by implementing H.E. Appliances in Palestinian market.
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Table 2. Comparison initial cost of some appliances types according to energy label.
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Table 3. Energy saving comparison when use H.E instead of standard appliances.
6.2. Economic Impact
Conserving energy will economically affect the consumer bill, also effect on lowering the demands on the grid and this will also lower the electrical losses in electrical network. The H.E appliances are more expensive than standard appliances, therefore life cycle cost analysis should be determined. The extra cost for H.E. Appliances was calculated for some appliances in Palestinian market and it’s shown in Table 4.
Table 5 shows the difference of consumption between H.E appliances and standard appliances and the annual saving.
The simple Payback Period (S.P.B.P) can be calculated to determine the feasibility of using H.E. appliances as in “Equation (1)”.
S.P.B.P = Investment/Saving (1)
According to Table 4 and Table 5, the S.P.B.P was calculated for different appliances and the results are shown in Table 6.
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Table 4. The needed extra investment to use H.E instead of standard appliances.
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Table 5. The Annual energy saving for different appliances.
Cost of 1 kWh is 0.16$.
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Table 6. The S.P.B.P of using H.E instead standard appliances.
The SPBP for most of H.E. Appliances is less than 3-year, therefore its very feasible in Palestinian market.
According to 2017 population statistics report issued by Palestine central bureau of statistics [18], it shows the number of families and number of using appliances, the results shown in Table 7.
According to the results of survey on 300 families, the percent of using non-efficient appliances in Palestinian above families is shown in Table 8.
If the mentioned quantities for these types of appliances replaced to H.E appliances then the energy conservation and the cost saved will be as mentioned in Table 9.
6.3. Environmental Impact
In addition to the evaluation economic impact of implementing H.E. appliances,
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Table 7. Number of families using different appliances.
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Table 8. Percentage of standard and low efficient appliances in Palestine.
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Table 9. The amount of energy and money saved if using H.E appliance instead of standard and non-efficient in Palestine.
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Table 10. The reduced amount of CO2 at national level if using H.E appliances instead of standard appliances.
the environmental impacts represented by CO2 emission, due to reduction of electricity generation, can be calculated and the results shown in Table 10.
7. Conclusion
The objective of this research was to investigate potential of energy saving through implementing high efficient appliances in order to reduce energy consumption in different sectors in Palestine. Typically, the household energy consumption in West Bank—Palestine varies from 2400 to 48,000 kWh/year with an average value of 3600 kWh/year, it was found that the most influence saving activities considerably decreased energy consumption in households and other commercial sectors are the use of high efficient appliances “category A of appliances”. Such activities are saving power demand, saving energy consumption and these appliances account for reduced energy bills in different sectors as well as having long operating hours. Also, this has enhanced consumers to maintain a clean environment. The initial installation of energy efficient appliances may be expensive, but the overall benefits of a consumer at large are feasible in the long run, the S.P.B.P for most of appliances around 3 years. The results of this preliminary study will be further used to encourage decision makers to implement new standards and H.E. Labels for Palestinian market, the national benefits will be very high economically and environmentally.