The Economic and Environmental Impact of Applying Minimum Energy Performance Standards to the Residential Refrigerators in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to present the results of an investigation on the economic and environmental impacts of applying Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) to the residential refrigerators in Saudi Arabia. The results are based on literature and market surveys conducted for this purpose. The energy consumption of different types of refrigerators in common use in Saudi Arabia were calculated and compared with those pertinent to the most energy efficient refrigerators that comply with the MEPS proposed by the Saudi Standards Organization (SASO) as well as that comply with Energy Star Standards. The possible energy savings over the next 20 years are estimated to range between 36.6 and 70.74 TWh depending on the scenario adopted to implement and enforce a MEPS program in Saudi Arabia. The associated possible reduction in carbon dioxide emission ranged between 22.24 and 42.97 million tonnes and results from avoiding burning an equivalent amount of crude oil that would have been burned to produce the saved energy. The amount of saved oil ranged between 61 and 117.92 million barrels of oil which worth an amount ranges between $ 6.77 and $ 13.09 billion.