Energy&Appliances 2015 project:a new approach for testing appliances with respect to end-users behaviour

The paper will deal with the characterization of the market of household appliances with particular attention to the role of the consumer in selecting the greatest eco-efficient products and to new requirements related to electronics. Characteristic user profiles have been defined, based on literature data, laboratory experience and ad hoc investigations at national and local level with deep analysis of the main parameters such as dimensions and type of families, type of house, appliances in use, use habits, consciousness and sensitiveness about aspects concerning the environment protection and the rational use of energy, perception of the user about economic aspects, information for improving the service given by appliances. New testing procedures have been determined and tests have been performed on "standard" appliances and they are in progress on the improved, more efficient ones. The paper will show in particular the testing results for refrigerator-freezers.