SLSEA supporting households to replace energy-guzzling old refrigerators

The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has initiated a programme on the replacement of old inefficient refrigerators with new energy-efficient MEP-labelled refrigerators. A pilot project is implemented in the Western Province to replace 1,000 inefficient old refrigerators with new efficient MEP-labelled refrigerators, covering districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, with on-site measurements of households that are willing to test their refrigerators on energy consumption. Domestic household-type refrigerators in the capacities of 190L to 250L single-door and double-door capacities are considered for the project.

Saman Elvitigala, Director (Surveys and Research) Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority said,” The main stakeholders of the project are SLSEA, refrigerator vendors – Singer, Damro and Abans, National Ozone Unit, German TEC, waste management companies (Recotel) and INSEE for polyurethane disposal. SLSEA measures the 7-day energy consumption of old and newly replaced efficient MEP-labelled refrigerators, calculates the actual savings and provides the analysis in the reporting format.

Singer, Abans and Damro have done mass media campaigns/social media campaigns to attract such customers. Based on such lists SLSEA officers have shortlisted the households based on their willingness to change the old refrigerator and their willingness to take on-site measurements which take up to 7 days. SLSEA plans to visit interested households to measure the energy consumption of the old refrigerator, and if it is changed later, the new refrigerator will also be checked. Interested households are requested to contact Eng. Ravini Karunaratne and Sachini Wickramasinghe at SLSEA on 011 2575030 – extension: 412.