Buildings consume 40% of US energy and produce 39% of US carbon dioxide. These numbers can be dramatically reduced with improved appliance efficiency. For example, energy use by the average new refrigerator dropped about 70% from 1974–2002, thanks to improved materials, technologies and designs. In this chapter, I review progress in gas furnaces, air conditioning and lighting, as well as the trends in refrigerators and freezers. The goal of zero net‐energy buildings appears possible. In the future, buildings might consume perhaps 70% less energy than today due to efficient building components, appliances, equipment and lighting; systems integration; better controls; and behavioral changes. The remaining 30% energy needs could be supplied by low‐or no‐carbon energy sources.
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12 September 2008
PHYSICS OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: Using Energy Efficiently and Producing It Renewably
1–2 March 2008
Berkeley (California)
Research Article|
September 12 2008
Appliances: Designs and Standards for Sustainability
James E. McMahon
James E. McMahon
Energy Analysis Department Environmental Energy Technologies Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA 94720
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AIP Conf. Proc. 1044, 124–140 (2008)
Citation
James E. McMahon; Appliances: Designs and Standards for Sustainability. AIP Conf. Proc. 12 September 2008; 1044 (1): 124–140. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2993714
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