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

Summary of Presentation

• Overview of Mercury Thermostats

• Disposal issues• Availability of mercury-

free alternatives• Recommendations

Mechanical Thermostats with Mercury Switches

•

Thermostat switch contains 3 grams of mercury; some have multiple switches

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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