TECHNICAL SUPPORT DOCUMENT: ENERGY 

CONSERVATION STANDARDS FOR CONSUMER 

PRODUCTS: REFRIGERATORS, FURNACES, 

AND TELEVISION SETS 

including 

Environmental Assessment (DOEIEA-0372) 

Regulatory Impact Analysis 

November 1988 

U.S. Department of Energy 

Assistant Secretary, Conservation 

and Renewable Energy 

Building Equipment Division 
DOE/EA-0372 

ONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PROPOSED ENERGY 

0NSERVATION STANDARDS FOR TWO TYPES OF 

CONSUMER PRODUCTS; REFRIGERATORS, 

REFRIGERATOR-FREEZERS, AND FREEZERS; 

SMALL GAS FURNACES; AND A PROPOSED 

'NO STANDARD" STANDARD FOR TELEVISION SETS 

TRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 

his environmental assessment (EA) evaluates the environmental impacts 

lting from new or amended energy-efficiency standards for refrigerators, 

igerator-freezers, freezers, small gas furnaces, and television sets as mandated 

he National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA, 1987). A 

complete description of the Engineering and Economic Analysis of the proposed 

standards may be found elsewhere in the Technical Support Document (TSD). 

Four of the 14 scenarios for product design changes described in the Engineering 

Analysis of the TSD are chosen for environmental assessment based on their relative importance as design measures. Values for energy savings that result from 

product design changes are also taken from the TSD. 

The two main environmental concerns addressed are emissions from fossil 

fuel-fired electricity generation and the chlorofluorocarbons used in the production of rigid insulation foam. Each of the 12 design options for refrigerators and 

freezers result in decreased electricity use and, therefore, reduced power piant 

emissions. Design changes that call for additional rigid foam insulation per appliance are of interest because they affect chlorofluorocarbon consumption. There is 

strong evidence that chlorofluorocarbons migrate to the stratosphere, break down, 

and catalyze the destruction of stratospheric ozone. 

The four scenarios analyzed are product design levels 3, 7, and 8 for refrigerators and freezers and a 78% annual fuel use efficiency (AFUE) requirement for 

small gas furnaces. Emission savings from the Level 3 scenario for television set 

efficiencies are also presented, although these results are not discussed in detail. 
In the Level 3 scenario, all refrigerator and freezer doors would be changed to 

include rigid foam insulation one and a half inches thick. In the Level 7 scenario, 

all refrigerator and freezer doors would be changed to include rigid foam insulation two inches thick. In the Level 8 scenario, the insulating value of the foam 

itself in the walls and doors of appliances would be improved from a conductivity 

factor, K, of 0.125 (~tu-inch)/(hr-ft2-OF) to a K value of 0.1. Levels 7 and 8 

refrigerators and freezers also include 5.3 EER compressors and more efficient 

fans. The design changes to small gas furnaces associated with an efficiency 

improvement to 78% are installing an intermittent ignition device and a fan for 

induced draft combustion. The 12 design changes for refrigerators and freezers 

and the three increased efficiency designs for small gas furnaces are described in 

greater detail in the TSD. 

Levels 1 and 2 designs for refrigerators and freezers are not analyzed because 

they do not call for changes in the quantity or nature of rigid foam insulatio 

used per unit; energy savings attributed to Levels 1 and 2 are achieved throug 

the use of 4.5 and 5.0 EER compressors, respectively. Power plant emissi 

would be abated as a result of Levels 1 and 2, but in smaller amounts than 

Levels 3-12, which result in greater energy savings. Levels 4, 5, and 6 are 

analyzed because they do not use more CFCs than the Level 3 scenario an 

reduction in emissions are between the those for the Level 3 and the 

scenarios. Levels 9 through 11 are not analyzed because they are not addre 

the TSD and therefore values for estimated energy savings and numbers o 

ances sold are not available for estimating environmental impacts. L~S 

excluded because it is a lower priority design measure than the levels ana 

The proposed efficiency standards will decrease air pollution b 

future energy demand. The greatest decreases in air pollution will 

oxides (listed in equivalent weight of sulfur dioxide, 

scenario in the year 2010, the estimated SO2 reduction will be 202, 

reduction represents 1.2% of the U.S. SO2 emissions expected to' 

power plants in that year if no appliance standards are established ' 

Although the quantity of raw materials used per appliance 

tively constant, increased energy efficiency is expected to sli 

number of appliances sold, resulting in small increases in r 

This demand increase is estimated by the Consumer Impact 

The main effect of increased appliance production is the S 

duction. The increase is small, however, in comparison to t 

2 

1 f l i

,:ri 
ing avoided at power plants. The contribution from steel production is 

in the estimates for net SO2 decreases resulting from design changes in 

tors and freezers. 

Level 8 decrease in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions for the year 2010 is 

ted at 134,000 tons. This decrease in NO2 emissions represents 1.3% of the 

NO2 emissions expected to be emitted by power plants in that year without 

:appliance standards. Emissions savings projected from Level 7 design 

ges are nearly as great as the Level 8 savings because the only applicable 

rence between the two scenarios is a slightly larger number of appliances sold 

e Level 8 scenario. Emissions savings from Level 3 design changes amount to 

t half those from the Level 8 design changes. 

Cumulative SO2 emissions reductions from increased efficiency of small gas 

rnaces is only about 3% of the reductions from Level 8 refrigerator and freezer 

esign changes, or about 110,000 tons cumulative between 1993 and 2015. For 

eve1 3 television set standards, the reduction of SO2 and NO, emissions amounts 

o 10% of that from the Level 8 standards for refrigerators and freezers. 

Another consequence of standards will be reduction of carbon dioxide (C02) 

emissions. C02 from fossil fuel burning is considered an environmental hazard 

because elevated C02 concentrations in the atmosphere are believed to trap heat 

from the sun that has been absorbed by the Earth and reradiated. This "greenhouse effect" is expected to gradually raise the mean global temperature. The 

Level 8 scenario is estimated to reduce worldwide C02 emissions, for each of the 

years 2010 through 2015, by an amount equivalent to 0.2% of the 1985 base 

figure for anthropogenic C02 emissions, which is 5.84 x loo tons of carbon per 

year (Harte, 1985). 

An additional effect of some design change scenarios is the increased consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The chlorofluorocarbon R-11 is contained in 

the rigid foam insulation used in the walls and doors of appliances. Use of R-11 

would increase if manufacturers increased the thickness of appliance insulation. 

Another CFC, R-12, is the heat exchange fluid used in refrigerators and freezers. 

The use of R-12 would increase if more refrigerators and freezers were produced 

in response to an increased demand for the more efficient appliances. During the 

year 2010, Level 8 increases in CFC consumption attributed to standards are 

estimated at 1.0% of the 1985 total U.S. R-11 and R-12 consumption (Hammitt, 

1986). 
Other environmental effects related to a standards-induced decrease in electri- 


city generation are relatively insignificant compared to the decreases in SO,, NO,, 


and CO,. 


An in-depth analysis of particulate emissions is not included in this assess- 


ment because they are insignificant compared to sulfur and nitrogen oxide emis- 


sions. Current electricity generating methods are far cleaner than those of the 


past. In 1984, power plants contributed only 7% of U.S. total particulate emis- 


sions as compared to contributions of 83% and 34% to total SO2 and NO2 emis- 


sions, respectively (EPA, 1986). 


More efficient small gas furnaces will decrease the amount of gas or oil burned 

within some homes, thereby decreasing combustion effect? on indoor air quality. 

Indoor air problems are usually due to a combination of factors, including a tight 

house envelope, cigarette smoke, ventilation methods, water use habits, and radon i.. 

diffusion from soil. In comparison to the above factors, i 

com bustion gases used have a small effect on indoor air quality. 

2 METHODS OF ESTIMATING ENVIRONMENT 

The greatest impacts of the proposed standards are 

less electricity. Power plants' main environmental effects 

from emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (N 

(CO,). The symbols SO, and NO, represent all emissions of SO, a 

expressed in the equivalent weights of SO, and NO,, respectively. Carb 

,emissions are commonly expressed in tons of carbon. 

The efficiencies of refrigerators and freezers can be i 

insulation in their doors. If 'this design option is cho 

response to standards, chlorofluorocarbon consumption 

estimated on the basis of refrigerator and freezer dime 

additional CFC required to increase the volume of rigid insulation 

the design options proposed requires the use of additio 

refrigerant) per appliance. A secondary effect, the ch 

from standards, is also considered. 
r and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions 

of the scenarios analyzed for their environmental impacts (Level 3, 

and Level 8 in refrigerators and freezers, 78% AFUE small gas furnaces, 

el 3 efficiencies for televisions), emissions abated from fossil fuel-burning 

s are considered. 

!analyzing the impacts of Level 3, 7, and 8 design changes to refrigerators 

eezers, increased sulfur emissions to come from increased steel production 

iso considered. As mentioned earlier in this report, these increases in steel 

ction result from slight increases in the number of appliances sold, equated 

increase in the number of appliances manufactured. No changes in the 

&t of steel used per refrigerator or freezer are expected. 

alysis of the impacts resulting from 78% AFUE small gas furnaces includes 

consideration of SO2 from in-home combustion of gas and oil. 

Figures for energy saved by reduced electric generation are taken from the 

TSD. Primary energy saved from electric generation is allocated among the 

categories of coal on the one hand, and gas plus oil on the other, in the ratios of 

0.53 and 0.47, respectively, as estimated in supporting material for the Electric 

'Utility Analysis, also in the TSD. This disaggregation into coal and oil-plus-gas is 

depicted in Figure I. In order to capture the effects of cleaner-burning power 

plants in future years, emission rates for power plant fuel burning are calculated 

from projected emissions data and the projected quantities of the corresponding 

fuels used, as described in Placet, et al. (1986). Gas and oil are combined 

because, from an electric utility perspective, they are interchangeable, Linear 

interpolation and extrapolation are used to derive emissions rates for years not 

covered in the report. 

Sulfur dioxide emissions from steel ~roductionare estimated assuming 100 

pounds of steel per refrigerator or freezer (Mooz, 1982). An SO2 emissions rate 

for steel production is calculated from the "National Air Pollutant Emission Estimates, 1940-1985," (EPA, 198~),along with its supporting materials, and a value 

for 1985 national steel production from the U.S. Department of Commerce (U.S. 

Department of Commerce, 1986)*. SO2 emissions from steel production are multi- -

plied by the tons of steel to be used in manufacturing the additional appliances in 

the Level 3, 7, and 8 scenarios. 

Uncertainty arises because EPA had to make assumptions about the furnace types used to produce steel and about the sulfur content of the coal burned to generate the electricity for steel production. 
Figure 1. 
values for SO2 savings from in-home gas and oil combustion are proby multiplying in-home fuel savings for gas and oil by corresponding emisfor furnace operation, taken from Surprenant, et al. (1979). 

&O~S and data sources for calculating changes in NO2 emissions are identiose for SO2 emissions with the exception of emissions from steel produc- 

; Unlike in the scenario for SO2, no significant NO2 emissions are expected 

increased steel production. 

Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

Values for COq abated are the sum of the C02 savings from coal-, gas-, and 

-fired power plants and, for the 78% AFUE ,small gas furnace scenario only, 

O2 emissions from in-home combustion of gas and oil. The energy saved from 

ectricity generation is apportioned between coal and gas or oil as in the calculaion of SO2 and NO2. In addition, gas and oil are disaggregated into relative 

shares of 0.70 and 0.30, respectively. These shares are the averages of the relative 

quantities of these fuels to be used for electrical generation in the years 1990 

through 1995, as estimated by the North American Electric Reliability Council 

(NERC, 1985). The energy values of the fuels saved are translated into tons of 

carbon using carbon/Btu values from the Carbon Dioxide Review, (Clark, 1982). 

The data for a more accurate method of estimated relative gas and oil shares concerning order of dispatch in the various NERC regions are not available. Thi,s 

disaggregation into fuel shares should therefore be taken only as a rough 

representation of power plant fuel choices on the margin. 

2.3 	Chlorofluorocarbon Consumption 

Design change level 3 involves adding foam to the doors of refrigeratorfreezers and freezers to a thickness of 1.5 inches. This would 1.equil.e additional 

foam in the doors of so~rle models and the use of foal11 to replace fiberglass in others. The Level 7 design change specifies increasing the thickness of the foam used 

in the appliance doors to 2.0 inches. Design change level 8 includes the 2.0 inch 

thick insulation in appliance doors called for by Level 7 and also specifies an 

increase in the insulating value of the foam itself. Because they called for adding 

foam insulation to the doors of refrigerators and freezers, all three design change 

scenarios for these appliances involve a change in the amount of CFCs used per 
appliance. The 78% AFUE small gas furnace scenario does not involve CFC production or consumption. 

Average refrigerator and freezer dimensions are used to estimate the dimen- 


sions of foamed areas, which in turn are used to estimate changes in CFC use. 


These estimated dimensions of foamed areas remain constant in all three scenarios 


while the thickness of door insulation varies; the only exception is an increase in 


the foamed area for refrigerator-freezers and freezers that have no door foam in 


the base case scenario. 


The volume of foam is estimated for each of ten product classes. The ten 

classes fit into six groups of height, width, and depth. For example, group D 

includes all side-by-side refrigerator-freezers. Appendix A specifies the classes 

included in each group and lists the estimated dimensions of foamed areas for &' 

groups A through F. -4 

-a,. 


The estimates of foamed areas for appliance groups C, Dl and E are based on ':": 

appliance dimensions as outlined in the Engineering Analysis in the TSD. ' J! 

4 

In order to estimate foamed areas for appliances in groups A, B, and F, aver,4'4

age adjusted volumes for the specified models are first obtained from the Associa:.& 

tion of Home Appliance Manufacturers. These average adjusted volumes are 

4, 

to identify the most appropriately sized models for which exterior dimension] 

listed by the California Energy Commission, (CEC, 1987). Appliance dime$ 

from the CEC report are then used to estimate dimensions of foamed areas. 

When interior appliance dimensions are used to estimated the size of ! 

i: 

areas, 1.0 inch is added where appropriate in order to account for extra foa 

around corners. When exterior appliance dimensions are used to estimatc 

of foamed areas, 1.0 inch is subtracted where appropriate to account for: 

lap of foamed areas around corners. It is assumed that the bottom ed,1 

lated areas begins 6.5 inches above floor level for each of the refrigera > 7 

and freezer models except freezers. The bottom edge of insulated 6:" 

freezers is estimated to begin 2 inches above floor level. 

Volumes of foam are converted into pounds of the CFC R-11 ui 

1.5 pounds of foam per cubic foot (Hammitt, 1986) and 0.2 poun F. 

pound of foam. The ratio of 0.2 pounds of R-11 per pound of & 

from the current annual quantity of R-11 used by manufactureq -

and freezers (14,835,000 pounds--AHAM, 1987) along with the.;& 

appliances manufactured (7,145,000 appliances--AHAM, 1087) 
volumes of foam calculated as outlined above and weighted by shipment (Roman, 

1987 and AHAM, 1986) 

The total change in CFCs is the sum of CFCs from increased foam use per 

appliance and increased CFCs from the production of a greater number of appliances. The former contribution to increased CFC use is the product of per unit 

R-11 increases and the base case number of appliances shipped. The latter contri51 	 bution to increased CFC use includes per unit R-11 in the foam insulation and 

R-12 refrigerant in the additional appliances shipped. Values for the amounts of 

the R-12 used in refrigerators and freezers are 210 grams and 280 grams, respectively (Hammitt, 1986). Where R-12 values are included in totals, they are listed 

in terms of their ozone damage potential (0.79) relative to R-11 (Mooz, 1982). 

G 	 3 REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS 

3.1 	Level Three Design Changes 

The Level 3 design changes are the addition of rigid insulating foam to the 

doors of refrigerators and freezers to a thickness of one and a half inches. 

1 

1 	 3.1.1 Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions 

h 

\ Changes in the amounts of SO2 and NO2 emitted result mainly from greater 

i 	 refrigerator and freezer efficiency and resulting decreases in the amount of electricity generated by fossil fuel-burning plants. SO2 emissions are also affected by 

increased steel production because of slightly increased demand for the more 

efficient appliances. No additional steel is expected to be used per appliance. 

Sulfur dioxide emissions would be decreased by a cumulative total of 

1,540,000 tons between 1993 and 2015 in the Level 3 scenario. Figures for changes 

in SO2 emissions are listed in Table 1. In the year 2000, decreases in sulfur dioxide will represent roughly 0.3% of the SO2 emissions estimated to come from 

power plants in that year. In the year 2010, decreases in SO2 emissions will 

represent about 0.6% of the SO2 emissions estimated to come from power plants 

in that year if standards are not established. 
There is evidence that decreases in sulfur emissions are followed by proportional decreases in acid deposition (Oppenheimer, 1983). Quantifying and qualifying the resulting abatement of environmental damage is considerably more 

difficult. An attempt is made in the section titled "Valuing Decreases in Acid 

Precipitation". 

Level 3 design changes to refrigerators would result in an estimated decrease 

in NO2 emissions of 096,000 tons between 1993 and 2015. Changes in NO2 emissions are also listed in Table 1. NO2 decreases would represent 0.4% and 0.6% of 

the NO2 emissions estimated to come from power plants in the years 2000 and 

2010, respectively. 

3.1.2 Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

The cumulative reduction in C02 emissions from Level 3 design changes is 88 

million tons of carbon. For the year 2000, the estimated CO, reduction is 2.6 M 

million tons of carbon. In 2010, the estimated C02 reduction is 5.8 million tons 

of carbon, or about 0.1% of estimated 1985 worldwide anthropogenic COz emissions. In other words, by 2010, Level 3 design changes will decrease annual global 

C02 emissions by one one-thousandth of current levels. 

3.1.3 	Chlorofluorocarbon Consumption 

The chlorofluorocarbon with the greatest ozone destruction potential, R-11 ,is 

used as a blowing agent in producing polyurethane foam, the insulation used in 

the walls of refrigerators and freezers. Most of the Level 3 increases in CFC use 

can be attributed to the R-11 used as more insulation is blown into the doors of 

refrigerators and freezers. Similar to the estimation of SO, emissions, estimations - of CFC use include the effects of increased demand for efficient appliances. In the 

case of CFCs, this includes the manufacturing of additional appliances including 

R-11 in their foam walls and R-12 as a heat exchange fluid. R-12 is estimated to 

be 0.79 times as damaging to the ozone as R-11 (Mooz, 1982). 

Level 3 design changes would result in an average CFC-11 consumption of 

2.71 pounds per refrigerator-freezer and 1.95 pounds per freezer, increases of 0.28 

pounds and 0.12 pounds of CFC-11, respectively. Adding in additional R-12 used 

in the Level 3 scenario and summing use between 1993 and 2015 yields a total 

increase of 66 million pounds of CFC-11 equivalent. In the year 2010, the 

estimated increase of 3.1 million pounds represents 0.7% of the 1985 U.S. 
emissions of R-11 and R-12. 

3.2 Level Seven Design Changes 

The Level 7 design changes are the addition of rigid insulating foam to the 

doors of refrigerators and freezers to thickness of two inches. 

3.2.1 	Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions 

Sulfur dioxide emissions would be decreased by a cumulative total of 

2,910,000 tons between 1993 and 2015. Figures for changes in SO2 emissions are 

listed in Table 3. In the year 2000, decreases in sulfur dioxide will represent 

roughly 0.6% of the SO2 emissions estimated to come from power plants in that 

year if no efficiency standards are established. In the year 2010, decreases in SO2 

emissions will represent about 1.1% of the SO2 emissions estimated to come from 

power plants in that year. 

Level 7 design changes to refrigerators and freezers would result in an 

estimated decrease in NO2 emissions of 1,880,000 tons between 1893 and 2015 (see 

Table 3.). NO2 decreases would represent 0.7% and 1.2% of the NO2 emissions 

estimated to come from power plants in the years 2000 and 2010, respectively. 

3.2.2 Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

The cumulative reduction in C02 emissions from Level 7 design changes is 

166 million tons of carbon. For the year 2000, the estimated C02 reduction is 4.9 

million tons of carbon. In 2010, the estimated GO2 reduction is 11million tons of 

carbon, or about 0.2% of estimated 1985 worldwide anthropogenic C02 emissions 

expected if no appliance efficiency standards are established. 

3.2.3 Chlorofluorocarbon Consumption 

The production of refrigerator-freezers would require 2.84 pounds of R-11 for 

wall and door insulation in the Level 7 scenario, an increase of 0.41 pounds over 

the base case scenario. Freezers would require the use of 2.06 pounds of R-11 for 

rigid insulation, an increase of 0.24 pounds per unit. Level 7 increase in the 

chlorofluorocarbons R-11 and R-12, listed in equivalent amounts of R-11, sums to 

102 million pounds of R-11 equivalent for the years 1993 and 2015. In the year 
2010, the estimated increase of 4.8 million pounds represents 1.0% of the 1985 

U.S. emissions of R-11 and R-12. 

3.3 Level Eight Design Changes 

The Level 8 design change includes the Level 7 increase in foam insulation to 

two inches in appliances doors as well as increasing the insulating quality of the 

foam itself. The current insulation conductivity factor for the foam used in appliance walls and doors is K =0.125 (~tu-inch)/(hr-ft2- OF). Level 8 design changes 

would require a change in the K factor from 0.125 to 0.10. Level 8 refrigerators 

and freezers also include 5.3 EER compressors and more efficient fans. Better 

insulation for refrigerators and freezers would result in decreased electricity consumption and a corresponding decrease in the burning of fossil fuels. 

The effects of Level 8 design changes include the two contributions. SO, 

changes will result from decreased fossil fuel burning in power plants as well as an 

from increased steel production. Increased steel production is a result of greater 

demand for the more efficient appliances. 

3.3.1 Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions 

Net SO2 emissions abated between 1993 and 2015 sum to 3.2 million tons. 

During the year 2000, 113,000 tons of SO2 will be abated, representing roughly 

0.6% of the SO2 emissions estimated to come from power plants in that year. By 

the year 2010, SO, emissions abated will be about 1.2% of the estimated annual 

SO2 emissions from power plants if no new appliance efficiency standards are 

established. 

Avoided NO, emissions resulting from Level 8 design changes are estimated as 

those emissions saved from decreases in fossil fuel burning in electric power 

plants. No significant NO, contribution is expected from the increases in steel 

production associated with increases in product demand. The cumulative NO, 

emissions avoided for the 23-year period studied are 2.1 million tons. Annual 

quantities of NO2 avoided are 66,000 tons (0.7% of estimated power plant emissions) and 134,000 tons (1.3%) for the years 2000 and 2010, respectively. 
3.3.2 	Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

Level 8 changes in C02 emissions add up to 185 million tons of carbon for the 

years 1893 through 2015. C02 savings are listed in Table 6. The quantity of 

C02 saved increases each year through the period studied, reaching 14.3 million 

tons of carbon in the year 2015. These savings represent 0.2% of estimated 1985 

worldwide C02 emissions. 

3.3.3 	Chlorofluorocarbon Consumption 

A change from a K factor from 0.125 to 0.10 involves changing the amount of 

C02 and water used, and does not affect the amount of R-11 used. In other 

words, the amount of R-11 used per appliance does not change from the Level 7 

to the Level 8 scenario. The only difference between values for increased CFC 

consumption between these two scenarios results from the difference in the 

number of appliances sold. Values for CFC increases in the Level 8 scenario are 

listed in Table 6. 

4 SMALL G A S F U R N A C E S 

The effects considered in determining the environmental impacts of more 

efficient small gas furnaces are a decrease in electricity generated at fossil fuelburning power plants and decreases in gas and oil burned in homes. Small 

decreases in electricity consumption will occur as some households shift from electric heating to small gas furnaces. 

Although slight increases in shipments of small gas furnaces are expected, 

increases in the materials used in producing these furnaces will be offset by 

decreases in the the materials used in producing the larger furnaces and the electric heating devices that the small gas furnaces will replace. 

A change in furnace efficiency to 78% does not affect the emissions from gas 

or oil burned in these furnaces. Although changes in emissions rates may occur 

along with condensation of some of the vapor in the flue gases, this condensation 

does not occur until efficiencies in the range of 82-84% are reached (DeWerth, 

lS88). 
4.0.1 Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions 

The decrease in SO2 emissions resulting from the 78% AFUE standard 

amounts to 110,000 tons between 1993 and 2015, as shown in Table 7. Annual 

decreases in SO2 emissions amount to 2.4% and 4.2% of the emissions estimated 

to come from residential fuel combustion during the years 2000 and 2010, respectively if no new efficiency standards are adopted. 

NO2 emissions avoided between 1993 and 2010 amount to 80,000 tons. Annual 

percent decreases for the years 2000 and 2010 are 0.6% and 1.3% of U.S. NO2 

emissions from residential fuel combustion, respectively assuming no new appliance standards are established. 

4.0.2 	Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

Decreases in C02 emissions resulting from increased small gas furnace 

efficiencies add up to 8.5 tons of carbon through the year 2015. The greatest 

annual savings, achieved in the later years of the period studied, are about one 

ten-thousandth of 1985 global C02 emissions. 

5 TELEVISION SETS 

The television efficiency Level 3 scenario, which offers the greatest energy savings for televisions, decreases electricity use by about 0.73 quadrillion Btus for the 

years 1992 through 2015. These electricity savings translate into cumulative savings of 309,000 tons of SO, and 193,000 tons of NO2. These reductions are each 

about 10% of the corresponding reductions from Level 8 refrigerator-freezer and 

freezer efficiencies. 

However, the proposed no standard for televisions results in no impact on the 

environment since it will not change the status quo. DOE is unaware of any state 

or local energy conservation standard concerning television sets that would be 

preempted by the "no standard" standard. The only state standard of which 

DOE is aware is the New York State standard that bans the "instant on" feature 

of tube type televisions. However, since tube type television sets are no longer 

manufactured, such standards currently have no effect. 
1 

6 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 

I 


1 


f 


r 

i 

6.1 Valuing Decreases in Acid Precipitation 

Sulfur dioxide is the major contributor to acid precipitation in the U.S. After 

a series of reactions with atmospheric gases and water, SO2 forms sulfuric acid. 

More than half of the domestic SO2 emitted as a result of human activities comes 

from coal burned in power plants. The next greatest contributor to acid precipitation is nitrogen dioxide. One-third of the domestic NO2 emitted from human 

activities comes from electricity generating facilities (Placet, 1986). 

Attaching values to incremental changes in acid precipitation is difficult. The 

effects of acid deposition on a given lake or forest depend on a variety of factors, 

including distance from pollutant source, buffering capacity, surrounding topography, rate of snow melt, soil or sediment type, etc. Acid precipitation can have 

negligible effects in buffered natural systems-those containing substances that 

take up or react with acids-until the buffering capacity is used up. Continued 

acid precipitation brings water and forest ecosystems closer to their buffering 

capacity limits, which can greatly affect living systems. Allowing a body of water 

to return to its natural state of alkalinity (buffering capacity) may require tens to 

thousands of years. In attempting to quantify the effects of acid precipitation, it 

is therefore important to consider cumulative effects that may not currently be 

obvious. 

Some effects on humans resulting from adding acid to ecosystems are: 

decreases in fishing productivity, forest productivity, farming productivity, 

recreational opportunities, and the degradation of susceptible buildings and 

monuments. 

6.2 Perspectives on Changes in Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

Atmospheric C02 is relatively transparent to incoming solar energy (shortwave radiation) but impedes outgoing solar energy, which is in the form of heat 

(long-wave radiation). The net result of elevated C02 concentrations is a trapping of heat near the Earth's surface. This trapping of heat, referred to as the 

"greenhouse effect", raises the mean global temperature. Because of human 

activity, the C02 concentrations in the atmosphere have increased from 290 parts 

per million (ppm) before the industrial era to about 335 ppm in 1979. Expected 
results of a global temperature change are: perturbed air and ocean currents, perturbed precipitation patterns, changes in the gaseous equilibrium between the 

atmosphere and the biosphere, and the melting of some of the ice now covering 

polar lands and oceans followed by a rise in sea level (Council on Environmental 

Quality, 1981). 

A doubling of the pre-industrial levels of C02 is projected to occur in the late 

part of the next century. The process of controlling C02 concentrations is dependent on two time determinants: lead times involved in changing current trends in 

fossil fuel use and lag times in environmental systems. If the goal were to keep 

C02 concentrations from exceeding 500 ppm, even a growth rate in fossil fuel use 

of 1.5% per year (compared to a growth rate of 2.3% in 1980) could not continue 

much beyond the end of this century (Clark, 1982). 

6.3 Perspectives on Changes in Chlorofluorocarbon Consumption 

Chlorofluorocarbon use could upset the atmospheric equilibrium of ozone, a 

compound that partially screens ultraviolet radiation entering the Earth's atme 

sphere. Increases in UV radiation translate into increased risks of skin cancer in 

humans, varied adverse effects on marine and terrestrial organisms and ecosystems, and a greater threat of altering global climatic patterns by contributing to 

the greenhouse effect. 
i 

L 

7 REFERENCES 

NAECA 1987. National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, Public Law 100-12 

U.S. Department of Energy. 1988. "Technical Support Document for the 

Analysis of Efficiency Standards on Small Gas Furnaces, Television Sets, Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezersn. 

Placet M., D.G. Streets, E.R. Williams. 1986. "Environmental Trends Associated 

with the Fifth National Energy Policy Plan," Argonne National Lab. 


Harte, John. 1985. Consider a Spherical Cow, William Kaufmann, Inc., Los Altos 


CA. p. 258. 


Hammitt James K, Kathleen A. Wolf, Frank Camm, William E. Mooz, Timothy 

H. Quinn, Anil Bamezai. 1986. "Product Uses and Market Trends for Potential 

Ozone-Depleting Substances, 1985-2000," Rand, Santa Monica CA, R-3386-EPA. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1086. "National Air Pollutant Emission 

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Table 1. Refrigerators and Freezers -Level Three 

Changes in Sulfur and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions 

Abated Abated .From Net Percent of 


From From Increased Change Annual 


Coal Gas & Oil Steel U.S. SO, 


Generation Generation Production Power Plant 


Year (tons) (tons) (tons) (tons) Emissions 

Cumulative SO2 reduction, 1993-2015 = 1,540,000 tons. 

Abated Abated From Net Percent of 

.From From Increased Change Annual ' 

Coal Gas & Oil Steel U.S. NO, 

Generation Generation Production Power Plant 

Year (tons) (tons) (tons) (tons) Emissions 

Cumulative NO, reduction, 1993-2015 = 996,000 tons. 
Table 2. Refrigerators and Freezers -Level Three 

Changes in Carbon Dioxide and Chlorofluorocarbon Emissions 

co2 

Thousands of Tons of Carbon 

Year 

Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

Abated 

From 

Gas 

Generation 

Abated 

From 

Oil 

Generation 

Net 

Change Percent of 

1985 World 

Emissions 

Cumulative C02 reduction, 1993-2015 =88 million tons of carbon. 

CFC 

All CFC values expressed in pounds of R-11 equivalent. 

Increase Increase Net Percent of 

From From Change U.S. 1985 

Design Increased R-11 

Year Changes Shipments & R-12* 

Cumulative CFC increase, 1993-2015 =66 million pounds of R-11 equivalent. 

* Sum of estimated U.S. use of R-11 and R-12 (Hammitt, 1986). 
Table 3. Refrigerators and Freezers -Level Seven 


Changes in Sulfur and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions 


Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

Year (tons) 

Abated 


From 


Gas & Oil 


Generation 


(tons) 


From 

Increased 

Steel 

Production 

(tons) 

Cumulative SO, reduction, 1993-2015 = 

Abated 


From 


Coal 


Generation 


Year (tons) 

Abated 


From 


Gas & Oil 


Generation 


(tons) 


From 

Increased 

Steel 

Production 

(tons) 

Net Percent of 

Change Annual 

U.S. SO, 

Power Plant 

(tons) Emissions 

2,910,000 tons. 

Net Percent of 

Change Annual 

U.S. NO, 

Power Plant 

(tons) Emissions 

Cumulative NO, reduction, 1993-2015 = 1,880,000 tons. 
Table 4. Refrigerators and Freezers -Level Seven 

Changes in Carbon Dioxide and Chlorofluorocarbon Emissions 

co2 

Thousands of Tons of Carbon 

Year 

Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

Abated 

From 

Gas 

Generation 

Abated 

From 

Oil 

Generation 

Net 

Change Percent of 

1985 World 

Emissions 

Cumulative C02 reduction, 1993-2015 = 166 million tons of carbon. 

UL' u 


All CFC values expressed in pounds of R-11 equivalent. 

Increase Increase Net Percent of 

From From Change U.S. 1985 

Design Increased R-11 

Year Changes Shipments & R-12* 

Cumulative CFC increase, 1993-2015 = 102 million pounds of R-11 equivalent. 

* Sum of estimated U.S. use of R-11 and R-12 (Hammitt, 1986). 
Table 5. Refrigerators and Freezers -Level Eight 

Changes in Sulfur and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions 

so2 

L Year 

Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

(tons) 

Abated 

From 

Gas & Oil 

Generation 

(tons) 

From 

Increased 

Steel 

Production 

(tons) 

Net 

Change 

(tons) 

Percent of 

Annual 

U.S. SO, 

Power Plant 

Emissions 

h Cumulative SO, reduction, 1993-2015 =3,240,000 tons. 

Abated Abated From Net Percent of 


From From Increased Change Annual 


Coal Gas & Oil Steel U.S. NO, 


Generation Generation Production Power Plant 


Year (tons) (tons) (tons) (tons) Emissions 

Cumulative NO, reduction, 1993-2015 =2,000,000 tons. 
Table 6. Refrigerators and Freezers -Level Eight 

Changes in Carbon Dioxide and Chlorofluorocarbon Emissions 

c02 

Thousands of Tons of Carbon 

Year 

Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

Abated 

From 

Gas 

Generation 

Abated 

From 

Oil 

Generation 

Net 

Change Percent of 

1985 World 

Emissions 

Cumulative C02 reduction, 1993-2015 = 185 million tons of carbon. 

b r b - -

All CFC values expressed in pounds of R-11 equivalent. 

Increase Increase Net Percent of 

From From Change U.S. 1985 

Design Increased R-11 

Year Changes Shipments & R-12* 

Cumulative CFC increase, 1993-2015 = 103 million pounds of R-11 equivalent. 

* Sum of estimated U.S. use of R-11 and R-12 (Hammitt, 1986). 
Table 7. 78% Efficient Small Gas Furnaces 

Changes in Sulfur and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions 

so2 

Year 

Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

(tons) 

Abated 

From 

Gas & Oil 

Generation 

(tons) 

Abated 

From 

In- home 

Combustion 

(tons) 

Net 

Change 

U.S. SO, 

Residential 

(tons) 

Percent of 

Annual 

Emissions 

Cumulative SO, reduction, 1993-2015 = 110,000 tons. 

Year 

Abated 

From 

Coal 

Generation 

(tons) 

Abated 

From 

Gas & Oil 

Generation 

(tons) 

Abated 

From 

In- home 

Combustion 

(tons) 

Net 

Change 

U.S. NO, 

Residential 

(tons) 

Percent of 

Annual 

Emissions 

Cumulative NO2 reduction, 1903-2015 =80,000 tons. 
Table 8. 78% AFUE Small Gas Furnaces 


Changes in Carbon Dioxide Emissions 


Thousands of Tons of Carbon 


Abated Abated Abated Net 

From From From Change Percent of 

Coal Gas Oil 1985 World 

Year Generation Generation Generation Emissions 

Cumulative C02 reduction, 1993-2015 =8.5 million tons of carbon. 
Appendix A. Estimated Dimensions of Foamed Areas 

in Refrigerator-Freezers and Freezers 

Foamed Dim ension Product Class* 

Area 

A B C D E F

Measurement .in inches 

Refrigerator height 39.5 36 3 8 60.5 - -

Door width 24 28 28 20 - -

Freezer height 11 19 16 60.5 16 28 

Door width 24 28 28 12 28 36 

Refrigerator height 38 35 40 58.5 - -

Cabinet width 22 26 30 20 - -

depth 26 23 2 4 24 - -

Freezer height 12 19 18 58.5 55 32 

Cabinet width 22 26 30 12 26 24 

depth 26 23 24 24 21 26 

* Product Class 

A: Manual Defrost 

B: Partially Automatic Defrost 

C: Top Mounted Freezer, Automatic Defrost 

Top Mounted Freezer, Automatic Defrost, Through-the-Door Ice 

Bottom Mounted Freezer, Automatic Defrost 

D: Side-by-Side Refrigerator-Freezers 

Side-by-Side Refrigerator-Freezers, Through-the-Door Ice 

E: Upright Freezer, Manual Defrost 

Upright Freezer, Automatic Defrost 

F: Chest Freezer