Realizing potential savings of energy and emissions from efficient household appliances in India

• Published in: Energy policy 2016-10, Vol.97, p.102-111
• Main Authors: Parikh, Kirit S., Parikh, Jyoti K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Appliance ownership in rural and urban income groups; Appliances; Carbon dioxide; Consumers; Consumption; Economic development; Economic growth; Electric appliances; Electricity; Electricity consumption; Emissions; Emissions control; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Energy policy; Greenhouse gases; Household appliances; Households; Incentives; India; Middle class; Policies for energy efficiency; Procurement policy; Ratings & rankings; Reduction; Refrigerators; Residential energy; Stock options; Studies
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.07.005

The paper projects households' stock of four major electricity consuming appliances till 2030 and explores policy options to accelerate adoption of more energy efficient appliances. India's rapid economic growth has enabled the growing middle class to buy household appliances in increasing numbers. The consequent rise in energy consumption and GHG emissions can be significantly reduced if consumers are motivated by awareness and options in the market to buy energy efficient appliances. India has introduced a star rating scheme for appliances, and even without incentives consumers purchase star-rated appliances. The stock of household appliances is projected using the data of a national sample survey of household consumption, observed sale of star-rated appliances and projected consumption distribution. Estimated savings in households' electricity consumption from just four appliances, ACs, refrigerators, TVs, and ceiling fans, for which data were available, range from 52 bKwh to 145 bkwh in 2030, reductions of 10–27%. The corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions will be between 42Mt and 116Mt in 2030. With policies of finance and bulk procurement to reduce costs, emissions reduction can be 128Mt in 2030, a reduction of 30%. •Estimates the stock of selected household appliances with 20 classes of rural and urban households in the years 2030 in India.•Assesses the economics of energy efficient appliances.•Estimates spread of selected energy efficient appliances.•Assesses savings in energy consumption and CO2 emissions in four alternative scenarios.•Suggests policies to promote energy efficient appliances.