HeatWavesuspectedcauseof deathsAIRCONDITIONINGBLAMEDFORENERGY CRISISDuringFebruary,mostofthecountryexperiencedhigherthanaveragetemperaturesandaccordingtotheBureauofMeteorology,QueenslandandSouthAustraliainparticularenduredrecordheatwaves.TheQueenslandCoronerisexpectedtoinvestigatesevendeathsthathavebeenblamedontheextremeweatherconditions,whichinasingledayresultedinover600callsbeingmadetothestate'sambulanceservicebypeopleaffectedbytheweatherconditions.AccordingtotheNationalElectricityMarketManagementCompany,combinedelectricitydemandfromNewSouthWales,Victoria,QueenslandandSouthAustraliapeakedat29,773MWonFebruary20-over1000MWgreaterthanthepreviousrecordfromJanuary,2003.Suchlargedemandsarenoteasyto fill,andtherehavebeenvariousconsequencesbothfortheenergyandairconditioningindustries.Powerequipmentisbeingrunharderforlongerhourstomeetdemandandsomeinterruptionstosupplyasaresultareinevitable.Onone44.3CdayinSouthAustralia,60powertransmissiontransformersblewfusesandelectricitywascuttoabout600homesforuptothreehours.PowerwasalsocuttoWesternAustraliahomes(upto15hours,insomeareas)duringFebruary,resultinginemergencyproceduresbeingputintoplace.Theseemergencyproceduresincludedabanontheuseofairconditionersfortheentirestate,with
finesofupto$1000forresidentswhoignoretheorderandupto$10,000forcompanies.WesternAustralianpowerutilityWesternPowerhasestimatedthatupto40%ofitsbaseloadpowergenerationonhotdaysistosupplyairconditioningdemand.Thefailuretomeetthisdemandhasresultedintheresignationofthecompany'schairman,MalcolmMacpherson,andchiefexecutiveofficer,
StephenvanderMye. Thelargegrowthinairconditionerusagehascreatedahugestrainonthesystem,saysIanlsraelsohn,deputychiefexecutiveoftheElectricitySupplyAssociationofAustralia(ESAA).Onepossiblesolutionistheintroductionoftime-of-usetariffsforresidentialcustomersforpeakperiods,sayslsraelsohn.Underasystemsuchasthis,airconditioninguserswouldpayapremiumforelectricityconsumedduringpeakloadperiods.Accordingtolsraelsohn,Itcostsmoretosupplyenergyduringthosepeakperiods.Thosethatuseitatpeaktimesshouldbearthatcostwhichdoesnotoccuratpresent.Thiswouldprovideanincentiveforconsumerstouseelectricitymoreefficiently.AirConditioningandRefrigerationEquipmentManufacturersAssociation(AREMA)presidentRodKing,however,statesthatwhilegrowthinthepopularityofdomesticairconditioningiscertainlyafactor,thesituationisfarmorecomplex.Weneedtoconsiderthewholespectrumofenergyuse,andimportantlyhowthisinteractswithbuildingdesign.Planningandbuildingdesignissuesareanessentialpartoftheequation,andthisisnowbeingrecognisedbypoliticiansandcommunityleaderssaysKing.Wealsoneedtobemoreintelligentaboutotherdesignelements.AccordingtoAustralianGreenhouseOffice(AGO)data,10%ofdomesticpoweruseisgeneratedbyhouseholdappliancesinstandbymode-weneedtoentirelyrethinkthewaywedesignequipmentandthewayweuseenergy.InAustralia,theairconditioningindustryhasbeenmovingdownthispathforsometime.Underminimumenergyperformancestandards(MEPS),industryhasbeenworkingwiththeAGOtointroducemoreenergyefficientequipment,whilewithdrawinglessenergyefficientequipmentfromthemarketplace.Whilealotofprogresshasbeenmadeinthisarea,itisobviouslyanareawhereweneedtofostercontinuingimprovement,andseekhigherandhigherefficiencies,saysKing.Aswellassmarter,moreefficientequipment,weneedtobeagreatdealsmarterabouthowweusethatequipmentandweneedtoworkcloselywithenergysuppliersonissueslikesensibledemandsidemanagement.Theissueofdemandsupplymanagementisanincrediblyimportantone,bothtoenergyandairconditioningindustries,affirmsAIRAHchiefexecutiveJenniferPelvin.We'rehopefulthatasatisfactorysolutioncanbereachedbetweenallthepartiesinvolvedandarecommittedtoworkingthroughthecomplexissuestoachievethis.ManagementofthepowerdemandcreatedbyairconditionerswillbeoneofthecoveredattheAirconditioning,energyperformanceandtestingconferencebeingorganisedbyAIRAHinconjunctionwithAustralianGreenhouseOfficeandheldinSydneyonJune7-9.Asia-PacificEconomicCooperation(APEC)andindustryrepresentativeswillbepresentattheconference,keepaneyeonwww.airah.org.auandEcoLibriumTMformoreinformation.IanIsrealsohnEcoLibrium (ISSN)1447-042)ispublishedbytheAustralianInstituteofRefridgeration,AirConditioningandHeating(Inc).ABN81004082928.7/1ElizabethStreet,MelbourneVIC3000,Australian.Ph:0396148868Fax:0396148949NewsandPressreleases-email:news@airah.org.au-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Temperatures reached record highs in a number of areas across Australia during February.These weren't the only records broken though - electricity demand has also reached record levels,and a large portion of the blame is being aimed at air conditioning units. Stuart West reports.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MORE NEWS ITEMS