Fans use too much electricity
From our kitchens to industrial buildings, we cannot do without fans - even if we are only seldom aware of them. They cool the processor in our home computers, or rotate in the cooling towers of large power stations. But they need electricity to be able to do their job. For Europe, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Germany, estimated the energy consumption for fans to be well above 200 billion kilowatt hours. The Institute analysed the European market for fans. The researchers concentrated on fans with capacities between 750 watt and 750 kilowatt which are predominantly used in industry as well as for ventilating and air conditioning in buildings. However, the results are applicable to other appliances as well. According to the calculations of the Fraunhofer researchers, energy savings of 10 to 20 per cent are achievable in fans use. Industry could save approx. 2.6 billion euro per year in energy costs, mainly in Germany, France, Italy and Great Britain, which are also home to some of the leading fan manufacturers in Europe. Through the energy conservation effect, industrial CO2 emissions can be reduced at the same time by 19 million tons annually. The results of the study have been summarised by Fraunhofer ISI in the report "Market Study for Improving Energy Efficiency for Fans". The report is published by Fraunhofer IRB, Stuttgart (ISBN 3-8167-6137-2), costs 40 Euro and can be ordered from the Fraunhofer ISI. A non-printable version of the study and an order form can be found on the internet under www.isi.fhg.de/e/publikation/fans/fans.htm. Notes to editor: The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI com-plements the techno-scientific spectrum of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft with economic and societal aspects, analysing technological develop-ments, their market potentials and their impacts on economy, state and society. The Institute's interdisciplinary teams focus their work especially on the fields of energy, environment, production, communication and biotechnology, as well as regional research and research policy.
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Germany