Life Cycle Inventories for Washing Machines

A comparative study of CO₂ emissions within the life cycle of water-saving type and conventional type washing machines

Abstract

Life cycle inventories for two types of washing machines (water-saving type and conventional type) were developed to investigate the total CO₂ emissions during the life cycle. Additional life cycle inventories for detergent and city water consumed during the use of the washing machines were calculated. CO₂ emissions attributable to treatment of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) which is contained in washing machine waste water was also added to the life cycle inventories. It was concluded that the watersaving type washing machine can reduce the total amount of CO₂ emissions during the life cycle by 5.3% compared to conventional washing machines.