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Electricity use by domestic appliances in English households

Panel: 7. Appliances, product policy and the ICT supply chain

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Penny Dunbabin, Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), United Kingdom
Jason Palmer, Cambridge Architectural Research, United Kingdom
Nicola Terry, Cambridge Architectural Research, United Kingdom

Abstract

In 2010-11, the Department of Energy & Climate Change monitored the electricity demand of 250 owner-occupier households in England, on an appliance by appliance basis.

The study found that if all households in the UK were to replace their existing appliances by the most efficient appliances on the market, the potential savings would be around 15.4 TWh. A further 6.2 TWh could be saved if the level of low energy lighting were to increase from 30% to 80%. In total, these potential savings represent 19% of UK household electricity demand. However, these savings will only be realised if householders replace appliances by new appliances of the same size; the study notes that the average size of most domestic appliances is increasing, partially offsetting the benefits of increased efficiency.

The study found that most households are now washing clothes at lower temperatures than assumed in EU labelling calculations, perhaps indicating the success of the Energy Saving Trust’s “Wash at 30” campaign.

The study also investigated the potential savings from shifting demand at peak times. The potentially shiftable demand is around 9% of the total. A range of pilot studies indicate that consumers respond well to time of use tariffs but the greatest potential for reducing peak demand comes from increasing the efficiency of appliances.

An important component of peak electricity demand is the use of supplementary electric heating, in houses where the primary heating is gas (which is >85% of the UK stock). If the use of supplementary electric heating could be avoided at peak times, the peak electricity demand could be reduced by 0.68-0.82 GW (average winter evening) or by 2 GW in particularly cold periods.Daily electricity demand profiles are set to change as households adopt electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar PV. The study modelled the potential changes in demand profiles up to 2030 as these technologies become more widespread.

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