Sean Goldrick10105751Paper Reviewed: Evaluating the sustainability potential of a white goods refurbishment programAuthors: Maurice W. O’Connell, Stewart W. Hickey & Colin Fitzpatrick

ET4407 Problem 2 Presentation

1. What are White Goods

2. EOL decision and Case study

3. Social Issues

4. Sustainability of Re-use scheme

5. Questions

Contents

‘Large household appliances, as ovens and refrigerators, formerly finished with white enamel, but now often

colored’

What are White Goods?

• 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 necessaryWhite 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].

EOL Decision1. Re-use the product (no increase in energy usage for manufacture).2. Purchase a new product (note the rise in energy due to manufacture).3. 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).

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

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

• 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

Social Issues

• 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.

Sustainability of a re-use scheme

Resources:1. http://et4407.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/1-evaluating-the-

sustainability-potential-of-a-white-goods-refurbishment-program.pdf

2. http://www.did.ie/bosch-7kg-1200-spin-washing-machine-wae24369gb-prd

3. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=564746450251534&set=pb.404723932920454.-2207520000.1381705494.&type=3&theater

Questions?