Viewpoint Energy efficiency standards for refrigerators in Brazil: A methodology for impact evaluation Conrado Augustus de Melo a,n , Gilberto de Martino Jannuzzi b,1 a Nu ´cleo Interdisciplinar de Planejamento Energe´tico (NIPE), University of Campinas, Rua Mendeleyev, 200 Campinas, CEP: 13083-860 S ~ ao Paulo, Brazil b Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Rua Mendeleyev, 200 Campinas, CEP: 13083-860 S ~ ao Paulo, Brazil article info Article history: Received 25 February 2010 Accepted 19 July 2010 Available online 1 August 2010 Keywords: Energy efficiency Refrigerators Impacts evaluation abstract In Brazil energy efficiency standards for cold appliances was established in 2007. A specified single set of MEPS (minimum energy performance standards) for refrigerators, freezers and freezer refrigerators was implemented without evaluating its impacts and estimation of potential electricity savings. This paper presents a methodology for assessing the impacts of the Brazilian MEPS for cold appliances. It uses a bottom-up approach to estimate residential end-use consumption and to evaluate the energy saving potential for refrigerators. The household electricity consumption is projected by modeling appliance ownership using an econometric approach based on the recent household survey data. A cost–benefit analysis for more stringent standards is presented from the perspective of the society and electricity customers. The results showed that even considering the current market conditions (high discount rate for financing new efficient equipment) some MEPS options are advantageous for customers. The analysis also demonstrates significant cost-effective saving potential from the society perspective that could reach 21 TWh throughout the period of 2010–2030—about 25% of current residential consumption. & 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) are mechan- isms of public policy that prohibits the commercialization of products which do not comply with specific limits of energy consumption. MEPS have been implemented in many countries (Harrington and Damnics, 2004) and are an effective mechanism to promote energy savings and market transformation (Rosen- quist et al., 2006; Schiellerup, 2002). The international experience shows that the adoption of these energy standards requires the implementation of some steps such as technology assessment, market assessment, price-efficiency relationship, life-cycle costs and also a prospective evaluation of impacts is required. As an example, McMahon (2004) compares the establishment of MEPS in the USA and Australia. This comparative analysis shows the existence of similar steps in the processes adopted and an evident concern with impacts of the adoption of the standards under the perspective of the consumers (the life-cycle costs), of the society (national benefits and costs), and also considering the views of trader’s associations and manufacturers (industry, competition and commercial issues). In Brazil energy efficiency standards policy formally begins with the ‘‘Energy Efficient Act’’ enacted in 2001 (Brazil, 2001). The specified set of MEPS for refrigerators, freezers and fridge freezers and air conditioning devices was adopted only 6 years after the Law (MME—Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2007). Criteria to specify the first MEPS for residential refrigerators were based on the experience of the Brazilian Labeling Program (PBE). Through the PBE, Brazilian manufacturers, CEPEL 2 and INMETRO 3 decided to eliminate the last label classes on a voluntary basis. The standard prohibits manufacturers and importers from placing F and G rated appliances on the Brazilian market. Table 1 shows the equations used for estimating the MEPS for the existing refrigerator models in the country. Nevertheless, estimates of energy savings potential by adopt- ing the proposed standards were not made. The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy justified that there was not enough information about replacements of old appliances by new equipments (MME—Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2006a, 2006b). The lack of this type of analysis makes a precise Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol Energy Policy 0301-4215/$ - see front matter & 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.07.032 n Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 61 98151877. E-mail addresses: conrado@fem.unicamp.br, conradoaugustusmelo@gmail.com (C. Augustus de Melo), jannuzzi@fem.unicamp.br (G. de Martino Jannuzzi). 1 Tel.: + 55 19 3289 3125. 2 Electric Power Research Center—http://www.cepel.br. 3 INMETRO—Institute of the Ministry of Science and Technology, which is responsible for the labeling program. Energy Policy 38 (2010) 6545–6550