mercury reduction in thermostats presented by michael bender mercury policy project/zero mercury...
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Mercury Reduction in Thermostats
Presented by Michael Bender Mercury Policy Project/Zero Mercury Working Group
www.mercurypolicy.orgwww.zeromercury.org
UNEP Mercury Products Meeting
Bangkok, Thailand17 May 2007
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Summary of Presentation
• Overview of Mercury Thermostats
• Disposal issues• Availability of mercury-
free alternatives• Recommendations
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Mechanical Thermostats with Mercury Switches
•
Thermostat switch contains 3 grams of mercury; some have multiple switches
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Estimated Annual U.S.A. Consumption of Mercury in Products
Thermostats -218%
Measuring Devices - 69
28%
Lamps - 218%
Batteries - 10%
Switches and Relays - 103
42%
Dental Amalgam - 34
14%
Source: EPA 2004 International Mercury Market Study and the Role and Impact of US Environmental Policy.
Total Annual Consumption = 276 tons
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Mechanical Thermostats with Mercury Switches, Cont.
• Thermostats have life span of 20-30 years
• In the US, 83% of thermostats presently in use contain mercury
• Some governments, institutions only purchase mercury-free alternatives
• Many states in the US now ban the sale of mercury-containing thermostats
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Switches and Relays - 57129%
Lamps - 593%
Thermometers - 412%
Dental Amalgam - 108855%
Thermostats -20911%
Source: EPA 2004 International Mercury Market Study and the Role and Impact of US Environmental Policy.
Estimated U.S. Mercury Reservoirs in Products
Total =1968 tons
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Disposal Issues
• Once glass bulb breaks, this can occur through leaks, spills or evaporation
• This results in contamination of local area
• Also, releases to the air, especially through incineration, but also when bulbs are landfilled or otherwise disposed of
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Purpose of University of Lowell Study for State of Maine, USA
• Evaluate the energy efficiency and pricing of mercury and non-mercury thermostats used for residential and commercial applications.
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Lowell Study Scope: Technologies
• Electromechanical with mercury switches• Electromechanical without mercury switches• Electronic non-programmable• Electronic programmable• Out of scope: pneumatic, direct digital control, other
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Lowell Study ResultsFactor Electro-
mechanical with Mercury Switch
Electro- mechanical
without Mercury Switch
Electronic Non- programmable
Electronic Programmable
Number of energy efficient models included
5 6 6 10
Number of manufacturers of energy efficient models included
3 4 5 5
Price range $17.97 to 34.15 $15.21 to $38.84
$18.00 to $76.75 $29.00 to $151.45
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Mercury-free Thermostats
• Studies, including Lowell, show non-mercury thermostats accurate and reliable
• Programmable thermostats provide energy savings
• Reduce heating and cooling costs by 8%
• For more information, see: www.maine.gov/dep/mercury/lcspfinal.pdf or contact: [email protected]
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How to foster conversion?
• Governments and institutions can create demand for mercury free alternatives
• Procurement standards dictate specifications
• When alternatives are
available and cost
comparable, mercury
products can be phased out
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Mercury Product Laws in the United States - 2006
Fever Thermometers, Dairy Manometers
Thermostats
Fever Thermometers
Comprehensive Laws
Switches, Relays, Fever Thermometers
Thermostats, Blood Pressure Cuffs, Bougie Tubes, Fever Thermometers
Thermostats, Fever Thermometers
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Recommendations
• Encourage production, availability of mercury-free alternatives
• Foster competitive pricing through government, institutional purchases of non-mercury thermostat
• Phase out sale of mercury thermostats• Promote use of energy efficient non-mercury
thermostats• Encourage incentives for collection of discards
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to the following organizations and individuals for sharing ideas and/or slides for this presentation:
-David Lennett, NRDCwww.nrdc.org-Peter Maxson, ConcordeEast/West, Inc.-Greg Morose, University of Lowell, Massachusetts