ET4407 Problem 2 Presentation

1. ET4407 Problem 2 Presentation Sean Goldrick 10105751 Paper Reviewed: Evaluating the sustainability potential of a white goods refurbishment program Authors: Maurice W. O’Connell, Stewart W. Hickey & Colin Fitzpatrick

2. Contents • What are White Goods • EOL decision and Case study • Social Issues • Sustainability of Re-use scheme • Questions

3. What are White Goods? • ‘Large household appliances, as ovens and refrigerators, formerly finished with white enamel, but now often colored’ • 0.6% unable to afford a washing machine • 6.5% unable to afford clothes dryer • 8.6% unable to afford dishwasher • A white goods refurbishment program can • Greatly reduce prices and make necessary • White goods available to all. • For example: • A standard new Bosch washing machine • sells for ~479.99 (D.I.D. electrical) [2]. • A refurbished Bosch washing machine • sells for 160euro from Budget Appliances • in Dublin [3].

4. EOL Decision • Re-use the product (no increase in energy usage for manufacture). • Purchase a new product (note the rise in energy due to manufacture). • Throw it away • The amortization period is the time taken from • when the decision is made to change or re- • use the product (1 or 2) until the energy usage • for purchasing a new product becomes less • than that of a reused product (3).

5. Case Study - Environmental • 60˚c wash with 6kg load • Manufacturing energy, 3508MJ • 220 cycles per year • Recommended amortization period 6years • Results: • For ‘A’ and ‘B’ rated washing machines re-use would be the preferred EOL strategy • ‘C’ rated machines, when used at a medium or low intensity, re-use is best strategy

6. Case Study - Economic • New machine 300euro, refurbished 100euro • 20c per kWh • No water charges • Results: • From an economic standpoint, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ as well as medium/low intensity ‘D’ and even low intensity ‘E’ would be suitable for reuse

7. Social Issues • The US EPA has estimated that 10,000 tonnes of material creates 1 job at an incinerator plant, 6 at a landfill, 36 at recycling centres and 28-296 in the re-use industry. • At a refurbishment plant in Northern Ireland 16 people were responsible for processing 6395 machines, of which, 4605 were reused. • 2009 almost 25% of Irish households were in arrears on bills compared to 10% in 2008

8. Sustainability of a re-use scheme • A constant supply of parts, sometimes no longer in production would be needed. • 42% of the Irish population and 46% of the UK would be willing to purchase second hand electronics. • Previous case study shows how ‘A’ and ‘B’ are favoured for re-use, currently 90% of washing machines are ‘A’ rating so re-use of low rated machines would not be a massive issue.

9. Questions? • Resources: • http://et4407.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/1-evaluating-the-sustainability-potential-of-a-white-goods-refurbishment-program.pdf • http://www.did.ie/bosch-7kg-1200-spin-washing-machine-wae24369gb-prd • https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=564746450251534&set=pb.404723932920454.-2207520000.1381705494.&type=3&theater