Social Life Cycle Assessment of production of energy efficient household fans for a developing nation: A case study based on UNDP-GEF's BRESL project

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) have jointly launched Barrier removal to the cost-effective development and Implementation of Energy efficiency Standards and Labeling (BRESL)... [ view full abstract ]

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) have jointly launched Barrier removal to the cost-effective development and Implementation of Energy efficiency Standards and Labeling (BRESL) project for five developing Asian countries, including Pakistan. The project aims to aid the manufacture, sales and usage of energy efficient electrical appliances through regional cooperation. Also, it provides assistance to each participating country, for establishing or expanding its Energy Standards and Labeling (ES&L) programs. Pakistan has a substantial electric fan manufacturing industry for both local and export market, hence it has prioritized to develop and implement ES&L for electric fans through BRESL program. The goal of the present investigation was to compare the social barriers and impacts of design and manufacture of energy efficient (class I, for which BRESL program underway) versus non-energy efficient (class II) fans. The study was conducted using guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment (SCLA) of products, developed by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Household ceiling fan (for both classes, I and II) manufactured in fan industry hub of the country, Gujarat, was selected as the functional unit. The positive social impact of energy efficient fans was reflected as their contribution towards reducing the national electricity shortfalls and enhancing development. However, some negative impacts were also revealed during production of both classes of fans, i.e. health and safety, socio-economic issues and human rights. The fan industry was found divided over manufacturing the energy efficient fans due to economical consideration, i.e. small enterprises reluctant towards producing the efficient equipment due to its expensive raw material. Nevertheless, the National Energy Conservation center, ENERCON, a federal government entity responsible for implementing BRESL program, promulgated Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and has initially introduced voluntary labelling on electric fans to be sold in the country. An Environmental Life Cycle Assessment in parallel with SCLA should also be conducted due to few negative environmental impacts of this industry.