According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric motors are responsible for 53% of the world’s total electricity consumption. In light of this, initiated by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy policy, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is expanding its Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (S&L) Programme to study the energy use of motors available in South Africa, and suggest new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).
Dr Theo Covary, a consultant for SANEDI who is leading the study, explains, “Electric motors are everywhere. They are in our laptops, pool and pond pumps, escalators, lifts, mines, paper mills, power tools etc. They are used in factories and industrial settings, and are kept running for hours at a time, every day. Just a 1% reduction in ener
