Welcome to the new issue of ‘The Latest from UBA’!
Should older household appliances be replaced by more efficient— and thus climate-friendlier— new ones? That’s what the UBA set out to investigate. We present our findings in this edition of our newsletter. Other topics include both trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a concerning chemical whose release into the environment should be reduced at all costs, and the results of the UBA’s latest survey on the environmental awareness of people in Germany.
We hope you find it an interesting read
Your UBA Press and Public Relations team
Using your appliances for longer and having them repaired is worth it –for the climate and your wallet
Dish washers: replacing only makes sense in the case of very inefficient and heavily used models.
Source: lightpoet / Fotolia.com
Household appliances have gotten progressively more efficient over the past few decades. So, does it make sense to replace older appliances with newer ones just for their lower energy consumption? A new study by the UBA on dishwashers, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners, fridges and freezers shows that in most cases, it makes sense, both financially and for the climate, to continue using and repairing older household appliances instead of buying new ones. From a climate perspective, manufacturing a new appliance would, on average, emit more greenhouse gases than what would be saved by switching to a more energy-efficient model. Additionally, thanks to renewable energy sources, electricity in Germany has become more climate-friendly in recent years — and the efficiency gains of new appliances remain relatively small. Only in cases of extremely frequent use of highly inefficient appliances would such a replacement make sense. Our infographics show exactly when.
For dishwashers and tumble dryers, you can compare models based on their energy labels and how frequently they are used. When comparing vacuum cleaners, you should consider how much power (in watts) you typically use and for how long you vacuum. For fridges and freezers, you can measure your appliance’s current electricity consumption yourself using a plug-in meter, which is often available to borrow free of charge from libraries, energy providers, or local consumer organisations.
For more helpful information on the topic, take a look at our UBA environmental tips!
Technical interventions to mitigate the climate crisis are increasingly being discussed internationally. One frequently mentioned intervention is solar radiation modification (SRM). There are several approaches to this, all of which the UBA believes are highly risky and do not represent a practicable solution to the climate crisis. The UBA has now published its findings in a brochure.
The GermanEnvironment Agency initiateda project to promote nature-based solutions (NbS) in the Alpine region. The aim is to highlight the importance of NbSfor biodiversity, climate protectionand adaptation, and to analyze political and cross-sectoral governance mechanisms for the AlpineConvention (AC) region. Eight pilot projects from seven ACcountries were examined to identify success…
TFA belongs to the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). German authorities demand new hazard classification of the substance considered toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment.
Polyquaternium (PQ) compounds are water soluble polymers which are widely used in high volumes, e.g. in body care products. They are assumed to be persistent in the environment and to be toxic to aquatic organisms. Information on their occurrence and environmental concentrations is essential to assess the risk these chemicals may pose and determine if regulatory action is required. In this study…
This publication provides an overview about data of the German PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register). For each pollutant, the number of reported facilities and their releases to air, water and land and their off-site transfer in waste water are clearly displayed. Data for industrial sectors of the current reporting year 2023 are summarized in tables while their developments since 2007 are…
This report summarizes the findings of the research project "Cost allocation and incentive mechanisms for environmental, climate protection and resource conservation along global supply chains" and investigates four selected supply chain management instruments which have a high potential to increase incentives for environmental protection in global supply chains:
Since 2024, manufacturers of certain single-use plastic products have been required to bear certain costs for waste disposal and the cleanup of public spaces. Such efforts were previously funded by the general public. The costs for manufacturers are calculated based on the quantity of their products placed on the market annually.
Analysis and discussion of current status and outlook
In addition to the air pollutants nitrogen oxide (NOX) and sulphur oxide (SOX), seagoing vessels emit considerable quantities of particulate matter (PM). These emissions are not yet regulated either internationally or regionally.
The report provides an overview of PM measurement methods and limit values in other transport sectors. It also describes ship-specific measures to reduce PM emissions…
The analysis of decades of data series on the occurrence of penguins and seabirds in Maxwell Bay contributes to the understanding of the effects of climate change on the marine ecosystems in the area of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The species spectrum of penguins is shifting further in unfavour of the "true" Antarctic species, while sub-Antarctic penguins continue to increase in population…
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Sustainability / Strategies / International matters
The majority of people in Germany continue to perceive both the environmental protection and climate change mitigation efforts as important. However, the topic continues to decline in relative perceived significance for the public
Extension of legal information requirements for products and digital implementation by the example of energy-related products and textiles
The project lays the groundwork for a European digital product passport by expanding legal information requirements, developed in collaboration with stakeholders using textiles and energy-related products as examples. It explores how key product data can be digitally tracked, combined, and made accessible across the life cycle. Existing tracking approaches and information flows are identified and…
The 2025 German Prize for Nature Writing is to be awarded to Franziska Füchsl. Elgin Hertel and Laura Vogt are each to receive a scholarship to attend the Art and Nature Foundation’s 2025 Nature Writing Seminar, south of Munich. The award ceremony will be held as part of the international literaturfestival berlin on Sept. 17, at 6 pm on the Small Stage of the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
