LG Electronics has filed with the UN a proposal under which the company would be awarded CDM credits to the provision of new high-efficient household refrigerators in India. However, unlike the case of a project by BSH in Brazil which has been eligible for CDM credits since early 2009 and which has been replacing old appliances with energy efficient ones that use natural refrigerant R600a, the refrigerant to be used for the project appliances will be R134a while the foam blowing agent will be R141b.

Calculating the CDM credits

“The power consumption of LG’s brand new high-efficiency refrigerators will be compared to 2008 models to determine the company’s carbon credits. In the case of India, the United Nations is offering 0.8kgs of carbon emission rights in exchange for a reduction in consumption equivalent to 1KWh of electricity”, reads the company’s press release.

This compares to the “BSH Refrigerator Exchange Program” in Brazil for which the accounting framework for calculating CDM credits accounted both for the energy efficiency gains and the elimination of f-gases, while it also incorporated a methodology for creating recycling standards.

Raising the household refrigeration energy efficiency standards in India

Despite the refrigerant of choice, LG has set a goal to raise the energy efficiency of refrigerators produced in India by an average of five percent annually over the next ten years. According to the company, even as of now, LG refrigerators have the highest energy efficiency ratings in India.

The project timeline

The CDM methodology regarding the production and sale of high-efficiency refrigerators was registered with the UN in September 2008. Following approval of the business proposal first by the Indian government within this summer and then by the UN, LG will start securing carbon emission rights.

New eco-friendly, “side-by-side” door refrigerator available in Europe

In the meantime, the company also announced it was launching its new large-capacity, eco-friendly, “side-by-side” door refrigerator Europe including France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Hungary, Austria and the United Kingdom starting in July 2009. According to LG, the new refrigerator, which boasts a capacity of 617 litres, requires 20 percent less energy than conventional refrigerators which was enough to earn it an A+ class rating in the European Union. The appliance further boasts reduced noise thanks to the “Linear Compressor” that the company has developed.