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Mercury Reduction in Thermostats

This presentation provides an overview of mercury thermostats, disposal issues, availability of mercury-free alternatives, and recommendations for reducing mercury consumption. It discusses the impact of mechanical thermostats with mercury switches and the need for mercury-free alternatives. The presentation also highlights the disposal issues associated with mercury-containing thermostats and the results of the University of Lowell Study on the energy efficiency and pricing of mercury and non-mercury thermostats. Recommendations for fostering conversion to mercury-free alternatives are provided, along with information on mercury product laws in the United States.

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Mercury Reduction in Thermostats

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  1. Mercury Reduction in Thermostats Presented by Michael Bender Mercury Policy Project/Zero Mercury Working Group www.mercurypolicy.org www.zeromercury.org UNEP Mercury Products Meeting Bangkok, Thailand 17 May 2007

  2. Summary of Presentation • Overview of Mercury Thermostats • Disposal issues • Availability of mercury-free alternatives • Recommendations

  3. Mechanical Thermostats with Mercury Switches Thermostat switch contains 3 grams of mercury; some have multiple switches

  4. Estimated Annual U.S.A. Consumption of Mercury in Products Total Annual Consumption = 276 tons

  5. 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

  6. Estimated U.S. Mercury Reservoirs in Products Total =1968 tons

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. Lowell Study Results

  11. 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: Gregory_Morose@uml.edu

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Acknowledgements Thanks to the following organizations and individuals for sharing ideas and/or slides for this presentation: -David Lennett, NRDC www.nrdc.org -Peter Maxson, Concorde East/West, Inc. -Greg Morose, University of Lowell, Massachusetts

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