‘Fridges consume max power’

Refrigerators consume the maximum amount of energy from the electricity grid among all major household appliances in the city, according to a study by the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI), Worli.

Refrigerators consume the maximum amount of energy from the electricity grid among all major household appliances in the city, according to a study by the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI), Worli.

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The study released this week revealed that in the non-slum areas, refrigerators consume 43% electricity, followed by ceiling fans and televisions (14% each).

Rakesh Kumar, head of NEERI’s Mumbai zonal centre, said that though an air-conditioner could consume more electricity than a refrigerator, the latter was found in more households and thus consumed more energy.

In slum areas, the ceiling fans topped the list at 23.1% consumption, followed by light bulbs that use 15.4% energy in the same category.

Geysers and irons ranked first and second in the consumption of electricity by minor appliances in both non-slum and slum areas.

As per the study, there will be a six-fold increase in the total energy demand from the housing sector in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by 2051. The present demand of 1,931 megawatt (MW) per day is expected to go up to 6,680MW per day in 2051.

The Worli-based research body conducted the study from 2009-10 for the housing and transport sector for the Mumbai Transformation Support Unit, created through a tripartite agreement between the World Bank, state government and the All India Institute of Local Self Government. The results and the recommendations of the study were shared with various stakeholders in the government and civic body on February 21.

Of the 595MW energy consumed per day by all appliances in non-slum areas, the fridge and television use 260MW and 90MW, respectively. Energy consumption from appliances in slum areas comprises 247MW per day — 82MW by fridge and 57MW by the ceiling fan.

“The cost of generating new energy is thrice the cost of saving energy. An improvement in energy efficiency measures would save the country almost $1,200 million”, the study states.