ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report - Draft
Residential Humidifiers
October 2012
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consistently looks for new opportunities to expand
ENERGY STAR to new product categories that will deliver significant benefits to consumers and
the environment in the form of energy and dollar savings plus greenhouse gas reductions. A key
step in this evaluation is the development of a scoping report that provides a snapshot of the
product market, energy use, and savings potential associated with an ENERGY STAR program
for the scoped product type. EPA uses scoping findings to prioritize product specification
development work. While scoping reports are drafted primarily for internal evaluation purposes,
and are not intended to be exhaustive but rather a guidepost for the ENERGY STAR program,
EPA makes the reports available with the interest of benefiting other efficiency programs
evaluating similar opportunities. For more information about the ENERGY STAR specification
development process, go to: www.energystar.gov/productdevelopment.
1. Executive Summary and Recommendation
This report examines the U.S. market and national energy savings potential of residential
humidifiers, which include portable and whole-house devices. Humidifiers have two main
purposes in a residence: (1) to increase or maintain the amount of humidity in a given area
and/or, (2) to ease the symptoms of an illness. According to manufacturers, energy
consumption is generally not a purchase consideration for consumers.
To ascertain a clear picture of the residential humidifier market, manufacturers of portable and
whole-house humidifiers were engaged to gather information about humidifier shipments,
energy consumption, product characteristics, test methods, the present state of the industry,
and their interest in an ENERGY STAR specification for residential humidifiers. Each humidifier
manufacturer expressed guarded optimism for a new ENERGY STAR program for residential
humidifiers. One portable humidifier manufacturer pointed out that consumers make purchase
decisions based on the price point, the immediate need (illness or lack of humidification), and/or
the size of the room that needs greater humidification. Any skepticism from manufacturers is
derived from consumers' perceived lack of interest in energy savings from a humidifier. All
manufacturers contacted were in favor of an ENERGY STAR specification for humidifiers as
long as the process is collaborative.
In the U.S., humidifiers use approximately 0.11% of the total electricity consumed by
households each year.1 The portable humidifier category is composed of three subcategories,
each with their own benefits and characteristics: ultrasonic, cool mist, and warm mist. Whole-
house humidifiers consist of bypass, fan-powered, and steam technologies. According to
manufacturers, in 2011 the annual shipments of portable humidifiers is estimated at 8,000,000
1 EIA (2008). 2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Table US-3, Total Consumption by Fuels Used, 2005, Physical Units
(PDF) (4 pp, 50K, About PDF). EPA (2009). eGRID2007 Version 1.1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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and whole-house humidifiers is estimated at 350,000, resulting in an annual market share of
96% portable and 4% whole house humidifiers of the entire residential humidifier market.2 As
these devices are not covered by DOE, energy consumption reporting is inconsistent and there
is no industry-accepted test method to determine efficacy. As a result, this report consists of
energy savings calculations based on estimated market penetration, technology type, and
manufacturer-provided power ratings. There is very little, if any, correlation between
humidification capacity (in square feet) and watt rating.
A numerical value for the uncertainty of the national savings estimate cannot be ascertained
because the variables contained in the calculations are derived from estimates provided by the
manufacturers. For example, the estimated 8 million annual shipments of portable humidifiers
and 350,000 annual shipments of whole-house humidifiers are a collective estimate among
humidifier manufacturers.3 Also, the wattage ratings published by manufacturers are not verified
or validated by a third party.
Table 1 below illustrates the average energy and cost savings of efficient portable humidifiers.
Estimated savings in this table are based on a comparison of hypothetical humidifiers that
consume energy at the 25th quartile of the market to a baseline of energy consumption at the
75th quartile of the market. The baseline for the inefficient product assumes a watt rating of 44.5
for ultrasonic, 81 for cool mist, and 220 for warm mist.
Table 1: Estimated Household Savings of Portable Humidifiers
Ultrasonic
Cool Mist
Warm Mist
Kwh Savings Per
Year
11.8 kwh
36.2 kwh
80.1 kwh
$ Savings Per
Year4
$1.36
$4.17
$9.22
Kwh Savings per
Lifetime (4 yrs)
47 kwh
145 kwh
320 kwh
$ Savings per
Lifetime (4 yrs)
$5.44
$16.68
$36.88
National kwh
Savings (4 yrs)5
155.9 Mwh6
1,197 Mwh7
1,587 Mwh8
National $ Savings
(4 yrs)9
$17.9 Million10
$137.7 Million11
$182.7 Million12
2 Conversations with manufacturers and 2009 RECS data.
3 Ibid.
4 $0.1151 perkwh.
5 96% of 17.2 million households - 2009 RECS data - Weighted based upon the following estimated market penetration: 50% Cool
Mist, 30% Warm Mist, and 20% Ultrasonic.
6 3,302,400 estimated homes.
7 8,256,000 estimated homes.
8 4,953,600 estimated homes.
9
96% of 17.2 million households - 2009 RECS data - Weighted based upon the following estimated market penetration: 50% Cool
Mist, 30% Warm Mist, and 20% Ultrasonic.
10
3,302,400 estimated homes.
11 8,256,000 estimated homes.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Table 2 below illustrates the average energy and cost savings of efficient whole-house
humidifiers. Estimated savings are based on a comparison of hypothetical humidifiers that
consume energy at the 25th quartile of the market to a baseline of energy consumption at the
75th quartile of the market. The baseline for the inefficient product assumes a watt rating 108 for
fan powered, and 1,916 for steam. Note that an energy savings estimate is not calculated for
bypass humidifiers. Unlike fan powered, and steam models, there is little differentiation among
bypass humidifier models as all models have similar wattage ratings.
Ta
ble 2: Estimated Household Savings of Whole-
House Humidifiers
Bypass1,3
Fan Powered
Steam
Kwh Savings
Per Year
N/A
15.2 kwh
426.7 kwh
$ Savings Per
Year
N/A
$1.75
$49.11
Kwh Savings
per Lifetime (10
yrs)
N/A
151 kwh
4267 kwh
$ Savings per
Lifetime (10 yrs)
N/A
$17.47
$491.11
National kwh
Savings (10
yrs)14
N/A
31.3 Mwh15
293.5 Mwh16
National $
Savings (10 yrs)
17
N/A
$3.6 Million18
$33.7 Million19
Based on the savings in Tables 1 and 2, by purchasing energy efficient humidifiers, consumers
can collectively save an estimated 3.4 terawatts of electricity in the US over the course of the
lifetimes of all portable and whole-house residential humidifiers.20 That amounts to a national
estimated lifetime savings of $391,340,000.21
12
4,953,600 estimated homes.
13
Bypass humidifiers have extremely similar capacities and watt ratings. Therefore, the national savings estimate can't be
estimated.
14
4% of 17.2 million households - 2009 RECS data - Weighted based upon the following estimated market penetration: 60%
bypass, 30% Fan Powered, and 10% Steam.
15
206,400 estimated homes.
16 68,800 estimated homes.
17 Ibid.
18 206,400 estimated homes.
19
68,800 estimated homes.
20 Conversations with manufacturers and 2009 RECS data. Assumes a lifetime installed base of 35.5 million homes (32 million
portable over 4 years and 3,500,000 whole-house over 10 years).
21
Conversations with manufacturers, 2009 RECS data, ten year whole-house lifetime, 4 year portable lifetime, and $0.1151/kwh.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Note that while warm mist portable humidifiers are useful for easing the symptoms of illnesses,
there are no significant use case differences between portable Cool Mist and Ultrasonic models.
Given the fact that Cool Mist models consume, on average about 136% more energy than
ultrasonic models, EPA may wish to explore associated technology-based savings
opportunities. Thus, while ultrasonic and cool mist technologies differ in energy consumption,
they are effectively interchangeable technologies from a functional perspective.
Similarly, while all whole house humidifier models perform an essentially identical humidification
function, steam models consume, on average, 14,835% more energy than bypass models and
1,637% more than fan-powered models.
2. Product & Technology Overview
For the purposes of this scoping report, a humidifier is defined as a device intended to introduce
moisture within a dwelling to maintain or increase humidity levels. Common variations of
humidifiers in the residential space are as follows:
Portable
A portable humidifier is intended to increase the humidity in one room, multiple rooms, or, in
rare circumstances, a small home (up to 2,500 square feet). In portable applications, a
humidistat (small rotary or digital controller) is built-in to the device to allow the user to either
select a relative humidity target or to select a "low", "medium", or "high" setting. Portable
humidifiers have a water tank, and come equipped with a standby mode which activates only
when it runs out of water. Product safety is the major purpose of the standby feature. Certain
portable humidifiers have hybrid ultrasonic and warm mist functionality, which can be switched
back and forth manually by the user. All portable units plug directly into a 120V outlet and use
at least one of the three following major types of humidification technologies:
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Warm Mist - Water is heated by an
element within a reservoir and is released
into the surrounding area in vapor form.
Cool Mist - A fan blows water towards a
diffuser or wick which may create a fine
mist.
m:w "
Ultrasonic - A piezo-electric device is
placed inside a basin of water. The high-
frequency vibrations create water vapor
without the need for heating and a fan
propels the vapor outward.
~
Ctatm
o
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Whole-House
Unlike a portable humidifier, a whole-house humidifier is usually installed by a HVAC
professional in the ductwork of a forced warm air HVAC system. These products may use the
HVAC system fan to deliver humidified air throughout the house using the existing ductwork.
Generally, whole-house humidifiers are chosen based upon the size of the home and can
effectively humidify up to 6,000 square feet. Maintenance of these devices includes filter
replacement approximately once every six months. Whole-house humidifiers usually connect
directly to a water source and provide a desired amount of humidity using a manually-controlled
humidistat. The humidistat is typically powered by 24 VAC. Whole-house humidifiers may be
powered either from 230, 120, or 24 VAC power sources. Whole-house units are typically
installed by a contractor, who makes size and type recommendations to the homeowner, largely
based on the square footage of the home. The following types of built-in humidifiers are being
installed today:
Bypass - Flow-through humidifiers
utilize a pad that is periodically sprayed
JL
with water and then exposed to the
airflow in the HVAC system.
w
Fan Powered - A reservoir of water is
exposed to the air flowing through the
HVAC system. These devices also use
their own fan if the HVAC system is
inactive.
Steam - A container of water is heated
using a heating element and a fine mist
of water is sprayed directly into the air
flowing through the HVAC system.
Such systems are used in humid areas
of the country.
An average steam humidifier uses over 14 times the energy of a bypass humidifier for 1-hour of
usage. In rare circumstances, a steam mist humidifier may require 208V power.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Product Components
The basic components of a humidifier are described in Table 3.
Table 3: Humidifier Main Product Components
Portable
Component
Description
Distribution Tray
A reservoir-like container that holds a reserve of water that is intended to be dispersed into
conditioned space.
Evaporative Wick
The evaporative wick is soaked with water and moisture is added to the conditioned space.
Electric Motor
A small motor is used to vaporize, boil, or disperse water mechanically.
Fan
The fan is used to propel moisture from the wick or distribution tray into the conditioned space.
Whole-House
Component
Description
Drain
In most models, unused water in a distribution tray will be flushed down a drain to impede mold
growth.
Distribution Tray
An open container of water which allows the water contained therein to evaporate as air
passes through.
Fan
Non-bypass models can use an internal fan to increase airflow over an evaporative wick or a
distributive tray to aid in evaporation.
Evaporative Wick
In models with a fan, a wick is soaked with water and moisture is added to the conditioned
space.
Steam Generator
In steam-producing models, electrodes are placed into a cylinder of water that increases its
temperature to produce steam.
3. Market Assessment and Usage Assumptions
U.S. Market Analysis and Usage Patterns
Major manufacturers of portable humidifiers include Crane, Jarden, Essick, Sunpentown (SPT),
and Air-O-Swiss. On an annual basis, roughly 8,000,00022 portable humidifiers are sold into the
U.S. market. Generally speaking, the U.S. market breakdown of ultrasonic, cool mist, and warm
mist humidifiers comprise approximately 20%, 50% and 30% of the market, respectively.23 As a
percentage of the entire humidifier market, portable devices encompass approximately 96% of
the total number of humidifiers sold and 92% of the total annual energy consumed by all
humidifiers.24
Major manufacturers of whole-house manufacturers include Aprilaire, Honeywell,, and
GeneralAire. On an annual basis, approximately 350,00025 whole-house humidifiers are sold
into the residential market. The market breakdown of bypass, fan powered, and steam
humidifiers composes approximately 60%, 30%, and 10% of the market, respectively.26 As a
percentage of the entire humidifier market, whole-house devices comprise approximately 4% of
22 Determined in conversations with manufacturers.
23 Ibid
24
Calculated based on weighted energy consumption of 8,000,000 portable units and 350,000 HVAC units.
25 Manufacturer-reported annual shipments.
26 Determined in conversations with manufacturers.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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the total number of humidifiers sold and 8% of the total annual energy consumed by all
humidifiers.27
Existing Stock of Humidifiers
From 1993 to 2009, the residential humidifier market penetration as a percentage of total
households in the U.S. has only marginally increased. In 1993, 14.2% of households claimed to
use a humidifier, whereas market penetration only increased to 15.1% in 2009 (Figure 1). In
that same timespan (Figure 2), the total amount of humidifiers used in U.S. households
increased by slightly over 25%.28
Figure 1. Humidifier Usage as a Percentage
% of Households That Use a
Humidifier
15.5
£ 14.0
0)
o
14.5
13.0
15.0
Installed Humidifiers
(Percentage of Total
U.S. Households)
12.5
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
29
DOE- EIA. Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2005-2009 Public Use Data Files.
DOE- EIA. Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1993-2009 - Excluding 1997 Data (not collected)
Ibid.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Figure 2. Humidifier Market Size
18.0
17.0
c/>
"E
16.0
3
c
15.0
O
14.0
i
13.0
12.0
Number of Humidifiers in Use
(Millions)
1990
¦Total Installed
Humidifiers (Millions)
1995
2000
Year
2005
2010
30
Usage Patterns
Based on usage patterns from 2005-2009, shown below in Table 4, approximately 88% of
homeowners that own a humidifier use them 1-6 months of the year.31 The Energy Information
Administration's (EIA) Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) does not differentiate
between whole-house and portable humidifiers on its survey request form, and therefore this
report assumes these usage patterns apply to all residential humidifiers in the U.S.32
Table 4: Household Humidifier Usage Patterns33
Humidifier Monthly Usage
Patterns
2005
2009
U.S. Households
(millions)
Percentage of All
Households
U.S. Households
(millions)
Percentage of All
Households
Use a Humidifier at Some
Point During the Year
14.2
13%
17.2
15%
-1 to 3 Months Each Year
7.1
6%
9.2
8%
- 4 to 6 Months Each Year
5.6
5%
5.7
5%
- 7 to 9 Months Each Year
.4
<1%
.9
1%
-10 to 11 months
N/A
N/A
.2
<1%
- Turned on All Year Long
1.1
1%
1.2
1%
Do Not Use a Humidifier At
Home
96.9
87%
96.5
85%
DOE- EIA. Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2005-2009 Public Use Data Files.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers Page 9 of 21
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This scoping report assumes that the average humidifier owner will use a humidifier no more
than 2,500 hours per year (approximately 29% of the year).34 Of the 17.2 million households in
the U.S that use a humidifier, 9.2 million use it for at least one month per year, and based on
average monthly usage, the weighted annual average hourly usage of a humidifier is
approximately 843 hours per year.
Humidifier Lifetime
The average lifetime of portable humidifiers is generally estimated in the range of 3-535 years.
Regular maintenance and cleaning these devices can have a large impact on their performance
and lifespan. If cool mist or ultrasonic portable devices are not cleaned regularly (every 2-3
weeks), mold and other bacteria can grow, which can enter into the vaporized water and
eventually into the conditioned space. In warm mist applications, the water is heated to create
steam, which kills most bacteria. Calcium and lime build up over time and can cause a
decrease in the amount of steam delivered or change the trajectory of the heated vapor. This
mineral buildup can be removed with a vinegar-based solution. Manufacturers recommend that
maintenance measures should be taken on a weekly basis for such products.
Whole-house humidifiers generally require much less maintenance than portable devices and
have much longer lifetimes. For example, the basin of a bypass humidifier can be easily
replaced by a resourceful homeowner or an HVAC professional. Ducted/HVAC-installed parts
are usually easily replaceable. On an annual basis, a homeowner should clean the evaporation
pad and its housing with a vinegar-based solution.
The average lifetime of whole-house humidifiers is generally estimated in the range of 1036
years. Anecdotally, a whole-house humidifier can outlast the HVAC system to which it is
connected and be placed into an entirely new system if proper annual maintenance is
observed.37
Pricing
Within the humidifier market, there is generally no tradeoff in initial price point for guaranteed
energy savings. Features such as a heating element increase the device's energy consumption
and price point. High efficiency technologies, such as ultrasonic humidifiers usually cost less
than their less efficient counterparts, such as cool mist humidifiers. Given that, consumer
payback scenarios in this report cannot compare efficiency vs. cost-per-unit annual payback.
As of the completion of this report, no utilities in the U.S. have incentivized humidifiers.
However, in Ontario, Canada, significant rebates are available for certain bypass or fan
powered whole-house models due to their water savings potential.38 Table 5 below shows the
average price for portable and whole-house humidifiers in the U.S. retail market.
34 Ibid
35 Ibid
36 Ibid
37 Determined in conversations with manufacturers.
38 http://www.waterfortomorrow.ca/en/athome/humidifierrebates.asp
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Table 5: Average Price Points of Residential
Humidifiers
Portable
Ultrasonic
$121
Cool Mist
$70
Warm Mist
$135
Whole House
Bypass
$148
Fan Powered
$189
Steam
$640
4. Humidifier Test Procedures and Standards
U.S. Federal Energy Conservation Standards
As of the completion of this scoping report, there are no federal minimum energy standards or
test methods available for portable or whole-house humidifiers. Industry organizations such as
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE), and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) have developed
voluntary standards to quantify humidifier performance based on humidification capacity. There
are no known required test methods that must be used prior to making water output capacity
claims on packaging or brochures in the residential humidifier market. Though AHAM and AHRI
carry out certification programs for many other types of residential appliances and/or HVAC
equipment, neither organization has implemented a certification program for residential
humidifiers.
Method of Test for Residential Central-System Humidifiers - ANSI/ASHRAE 164.1 - 200839
ANSI/ASHRAE standard 164.1 delineates the proper test setup, air pressure, and relative
humidity levels which allow the humidification capacity of a residential whole-house humidifier to
be properly measured.
Portable Household Humidifiers - AHAM HU-1-2006 (Revised 2011)AO
AHAM's HU-1 standard contains water output capacity calculations for evaporative and non-
evaporative models, a humidifier-sizing method, numerous definitions, and a standardized setup
for testing portable humidifiers. Notably, this test method does not take into consideration the
watt rating of the device being tested. HU-1 is the only known residential portable humidifier
standard and it is not required to be used by manufacturers prior to testing.
39
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 164.1, Method of Test for Central System Humidifiers for Residential Applications
40 Portable Household Humidifiers - AHAM HU-1-2006 (Revised 2011)
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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ANSI/AHRI Standard 620 - Performance Rating Of Self-Contained Humidifiers For
Residential Applications (2004)41
ANSI/AHRI Standard 620 establishes definitions, proper data claims, test setup and
humidification method of test for self-contained whole-house humidifiers.
ANSI/AHRI Standard 610 - Performance Rating Of Central System Humidifiers (2004)42
ANSI/AHRI Standard 620 establishes definitions, proper data claims, energy consumption
calculations, test setup and method of test for self-contained whole-house humidifiers. Unlike
standard 620, standard 610 contains a calculation to quantify the combined energy consumption
of the HVAC system and humidifier.
5. Energy Assessment
Portable and whole-house humidifiers enter a standby mode only when the device runs out of
water or when the desired humidity level has been achieved. This report necessarily assumes
that all technologies have similar run times across different technologies, as the DOE RECS
does not discern between types of products in the survey. Portable humidifiers that do not have
a humidistat will run continuously until they run out of water. AHAM HU-1 2006 reflects this
characteristic in the scope of its recommended use guidelines: "The measured output of a
portable humidifier is based upon continuous operation at standard rating conditions. With
normal variations of indoor and outdoor conditions, the humidistat-controlled humidifier will not
run continuously, at maximum output, unless the controls are set to do so." Further, portable
humidifiers are rated for capacity and square footage in retailer and manufacturer websites.
Whole-house humidifiers function when a command is sent from a humidistat. Upon evaluation
of the watt ratings of different whole-house technologies, there is a great disparity in energy
consumption between the most and least consumptive devices. As the industry does not report
watt ratings for standby mode, estimated savings only consist of On Mode power in this report.
Within both portable and whole-house estimates, energy consumption comparisons can only be
made against interchangeable technology types.
Tables 6 and 7 below illustrate the average energy consumption and cost of one household
depending upon the type of humidifier in use. These estimates are weighted by each
subcategory's estimated market penetration based on annual sales as provided by
manufacturers.
41
ANSI/AHRI Standard 620 - Performance Rating Of Self-Contained Humidifiers For Residential Applications
42
ANSI/AHRI Standard 610- Performance Rating Of Central System Humidifiers
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Table 6: Average Annual Portable Humidifier Energy Use Per Household43
Type
Watt
Rating in
Operatin
g Mode
Kilowatt
Rating in
Operatin
g Mode
Total
Annual
Energy
Consumed
per
Household
(kWh)
Total
Annual
Operating
Cost per
Household
IS)"
Total
Lifetime
National
Energy
Consumed
per
household
(kWh)1"
Total
Lifetime
National
Operating
Cost per
Household
(S)"
Total
Annual
National
Energy
Consumed
(MkWh)
Total
Annual
National
Operating
Cost per
Household
(SMillion)
Ultrasonic
36.06
0.03606
30.41
$3.50
121.63
$14.00
100.4
$11.5
Cool Mist
85.46
0.08546
72.06
$8.29
288.26
$33.16
594.9
$68.4
Warm Mist
193.55
0.19355
163.21
$18.79
652.84
$75.16
808.4
$93.0
Weighted
Total (or
Average)
-
-
91.08
$10.48
364.32
$41.92
1,503.8
$173.0
Table 7: Average Annual Whole-House Humidifier Energy Use Per Household47
Type
Watts in
Operatin
g Mode
Kilowatts
in
Operatin
g Mode
Total
Annual
Energy
Consumed
per
Household
(kWh)
Total
Annual
Operating
Cost per
Household
(S)
Total
Lifetime
National
Energy
Consumed
per
Household
(kWh)"
Total
Lifetime
National
Operating
Cost per
Household
(S)"
Total
Annual
National
Energy
Consumed
per
Household
(MkWh)
Total Annual
National
Operating
Cost per
Household
(SMillion)
Bypass
11.63
0.01163
9.81
$1.13
98
$11
4.0
$0.5
Fan
Powered
100
0.1
84.33
$9.71
843
$97
17.4
$2
Steam
1,737
1.73733
1465.00
$168.62
14650
$1,686
100.8
$11.7
Weighted
Total (or
Average)
-
-
177.68
$20.45
1777
$204.50
122.2
$14.1
Savings Opportunities
This report assumes the average household uses 12,773 kwh per year.51 At a conversion rate
of $0.1151 per kwh, the average U.S. household pays approximately $1,470 in electricity costs
43 Figures weighted based upon market penetration and average annual hourly usage (843.25 hours per year).
44 Cost of electricity = $0.1151 /kWh
45 Lifetime assumed to be 4 years.
46 ifj
Ibid
47 Figures weighted based upon market penetration and average annual hourly usage (843.25 hours per year).
48 Cost of electricity = $0.1151 /kWh
49 Lifetime assumed to be 10 years.
50 Ibid
51 Note: This figure is based on the annual electricity consumed by an average single family household.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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per year. To acquire the most realistic picture of the energy savings potential for humidifiers,
dissimilar products are not compared to one another. For example, whole-house humidifiers,
which have a large water output capacity and are installed in the HVAC system of a home are
not compared to any kind of portable humidifier. Similarly, the main purpose of a warm mist
portable humidifier may be to disperse warm humidity and medicine within a flu patient's room.
Cool mist and ultrasonic humidifiers are generally not used for this purpose.
Given that, Tables 11 and 15 illustrate the savings potential of switching from one inefficient
humidifier technology to a more efficient technology. In both cases, the compared products are
interchangeable and serve nearly identical purposes.
Portable Savings Opportunities
The estimated savings figures in this report compare hypothetical humidifiers that consume
energy at the 75th quartile of the market to comparable hypothetical humidifiers that consume
energy at the 25th quartile of the market. The baseline for the inefficient product assumes a watt
rating of 44.5 for ultrasonic, 81 for cool mist, and 220 for warm mist. Tables 8 and 9 illustrate the
national energy savings potential of portable humidifiers when comparing efficient and inefficient
products.
Table 8: Assumptions: National Efficient vs. Inefficient Portable Humidifier
Savings Potential
Product Type
& Efficiency
Level
Watt
Rating v
Average Cost of
Units
W Converted to
KWH
S per
KWH
Annual Hours of
Operation
Electricity Cost
Per Year S
Ultrasonic
Inefficient
(baseline)
75th
Percentile
44.5
151
0.0445
0.1151
843.25
4.32
Ultrasonic
Efficient 25th
Percentile
30.5
100
0.0305
0.1151
843.25
2.96
Cool Mist
Inefficient
(baseline)
75th
Percentile
81
72.99
0.081
0.1151
843.25
7.86
Cool Mist
Efficient 25th
Percentile
38
36.11
0.038
0.1151
843.25
3.69
Warm Mist
Inefficient
(baseline)
75th
Percentile
220
189.99
0.22
0.1151
843.25
21.35
Warm Mist
Efficient 25th
Percentile
125
55.97
0.125
0.1151
843.25
12.13
Sources: EIA (2008). 2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Table US-3, Total Consumption by Fuels Used, 2005, Physical
Units (PDF) (4 pp, 50K, About PDF). EPA (2009). eGRID2007 Version 1.1. U.S. EPA.
52 Watt ratings are 25th and 75th quartile of all of the available watt ratings for a given subcategory.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Table 9: Comparison: National Efficient vs. Inefficient Portable Humidifier Savings
Potential53
Type
75'" and
25'"
Quartile of
Energy
Consumpt
ion
Amount
of
Househo
Ids
Within
Each
Category
54
Total
National
Lifetime
Electricity
Consumption
(Mkwh)
Total National
Lifetime
Operating Cost'''
(SMillions)
Payback
Period
(years)
National
Lifetime
Savings
Potential
(Mkwh)
National
Lifetime
Savings
Potential
(SMillions)
Ultrasonic
Inefficient
(75th)
3,302,400
495.6
$57.0
N/A
155.9, a
decrease of
32%
$17.9 a
decrease of
32%
Efficient
(25th)
339.7
$39.1
N/A
Cool Mist
Inefficient
(75th)
8,256,000
2,255.6
$259.5
N/A
1,197.4, a
decrease of
53%
$137.7 a
decrease of
53%
Efficient
(25th)
1,058.2
$121.8
N/A
Warm Mist
Inefficient
(75th)
4,953,600
3,675.8
$423.0
5 years57
1,587.3, a
decrease of
43%
$182.6,a
decrease of
43%
Efficient
(25th)
2,088.5
$240.3
Lifetime
Total
Combined
National
Savings
Estimate58
Savings of 2,940.6 Mkwh and $359.5M (4,528.6 Mlbs of C02)59
Over the course of the estimated lifetime of each product (four years), and if all portable
humidifiers meet the 25th quartile of energy consumption of their respective subcategory, the
energy consumption calculation results in a savings of approximately 2.9 terawatts of electricity
and $360 million. That reduction in energy consumption would also prevent approximately 4.5
billion pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere. On a per-household basis, switching
53 Figures weighted based upon weighted annual hourly usage.
54
Weighted based upon market penetration of each subcategory of each technology and a total of 17.2 million households with a
humidifier.
55 Cost of electricity = $0.1151 /kWh
56 Efficient ultrasonic and cool mist portables cost less than their inefficient counterparts, which means there is no payback period
for these products.
57 The cost difference between an efficient vs inefficient warm mist humidifier is approximately $45. That is to say that efficient warm
mist humidifiers cost roughly $45 more initially than their inefficient counterparts.
58 If 100% of currently installed portable humidifiers meet the 25th quartile of energy consumption over 4 years.
591 kwh = 1.54 lbs of C02
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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from an inefficient ultrasonic, cool mist, or warm mist humidifier to an efficient model will save
approximately $5.44, $16.68, and $36.68, respectively, over the estimated four year lifetime.
Table 10: Portable Humidifiers: Household Energy Savings Potential By
Switching to Efficient Product60
Type
Estimated Savings
Ultrasonic
$5.44
Cool Mist
$16.68
Warm Mist
$36.68
Of the three major technology types within the portable category, ultrasonic devices use the
least amount of energy. Assuming near-identical usage patterns, the average ultrasonic
humidifier uses approximately 58% less energy per year than the average cool mist humidifier.
Since consumers may be inclined to use these comparable humidifiers for the same purpose,
table 11 shows the energy savings potential if every consumer that owns a cool mist humidifier
instead purchased an ultrasonic humidifier.
Table 11: Comparison: National Portable Humidifier Savings Potential - All Cool Mist
Humidifiers Switched for Ultrasonic Humidifiers61
Amount of U.S.
Homes with
Humidifier (50%
Cool, 30% Warm,
20% Ultrasonic)
Annual National Energy
Savings Estimate
($Millions)
Weighted Total Annual
Energy Consumption
U.S. Total Mkwh (# of
units x annual kwh
usage)
Ultrasonic
3,302,400
$11.5
100.4
Cool Mist
8,256,000
$68.4
594.9
Assuming
8,256,000
cool mist
purchases
switched to
ultrasonic
11,558,400
$40.4
$351.4
Total kwh
and $
Savings
Potential
$39.5M and 343.9 Mkwh (522.8 Mlbs of C02)62
If every ultrasonic and cool mist humidifier purchase in the U.S. were comprised of only
ultrasonic humidifiers, the total present energy cost per year for both subcategories would
decrease by approximately 49%.
60 Based on figures in table 10.
61 This table assumes one year of use.
621 kwh = 1.54 lbs of C02
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Whole-House Savings Opportunities
Though the whole-house humidifier market consists of bypass, fan powered, and steam
technologies, only the latter two categories have a wide range of watt ratings. Of the watt-
ratings found in the marketplace, the difference in energy consumption between the 25th and
75th quartile of bypass devices is effectively zero. Therefore, table 12 consists of a comparison
of the energy savings potential of efficient fan powered and steam humidifiers. Similar to table 7,
table 12 assumes certain baselines to compare any potential energy savings. The baseline for
the inefficient product assumes a watt rating of 108 for fan powered, and 1,916 for steam.
Tables 12 and 13 illustrate the national energy savings potential of whole-house humidifiers
when comparing hypothetical efficient and inefficient products.
Table 12: Assumptions: National Efficient vs. Inefficient Whole-House Humidifier
Savings Potential
Product Type
& Efficiency
Level
Watt
Rating
Average Cost of
Units
W Converted to
KWH
S per
KWH
Annual Hours of
Operation
Electricity Cost
Per Year S
Fan Powered
Inefficient
(baseline)
75th
Percentile
108
229.41
0.108
0.1151
843.25
10.48
Fan Powered
Efficient 25th
Percentile
90
164.68
0.09
0.1151
843.25
8.74
Steam
Inefficient
(baseline)
75th
Percentile
1916
699.95
1.916
0.1151
843.25
185.96
Steam
Efficient 25th
Percentile
1410
609.95
1.41
0.1151
843.25
136.85
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Table 13: Comparison: National Efficient vs. Inefficient Whole-House Humidifier
Savings Potential63
Type
75tn and 25tn
Quartile of
Energy
Consumption
Amount
of
Househol
ds Within
Each
Category
64
Total
National
Lifetime
Electricity
Consumptio
n (Mkwh)
Total
National
Lifetime
Operating
Cost65
($Millions)
Payback
Period
(years)
National
Lifetime
Savings
Potential
(Mkwh)
National
Lifetime
Savings
Potential
($Million
s)
Fan Powered
Inefficient (75th)
206,400
187.9
21.6
N/A*
31.3, a
decrease
of 17%
$3.6, a
decrease
of 17%
Efficient (25th)
156.6
18.0
Steam
Inefficient (75tn)
68,800
1,111.5
127.9
N/A*
293.5, a
decrease
of 26%
$33.7, a
decrease
of 26%
Efficient (25th)
818.0
94.1
Lifetime Total
Combined
National
Savings
Estimate66
Savings of approximately 450.2 Mkwh and $51.8M (693.3 Mlbs of C02)67
*More efficient Fan Powered products are generally cheaper than inefficient products. With regards to Steam
products, there are very few data points available, which do not allow determining the payback period.
Over the course of the estimated lifetime of each product (ten years), and if all fan powered and
steam humidifiers meet the 25th quartile of energy consumption of their respective subcategory,
the energy consumption calculation results in a savings of approximately 450.2 gigawatts of
electricity and $52 million. That reduction in energy consumption would also prevent
approximately 693 million pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere. On a per-household
basis, switching from an inefficient fan powered or steam humidifier to an efficient model will
save approximately $17.47 and $491.11, respectively, over the estimated ten year lifetime.
Table 14: Whole-House Humidifiers: Household Energy Savings Potential By
Switching to Efficient Products
Type
Estimated Savings
Fan Powered
$17.47
Steam
$491.11
63 Figures weighted based upon market penetration and average annual hourly usage.
64 Weighted based upon market penetration of each subcategory of each technology and a total of 17.2 million households with a
humidifier.
65 Cost of electricity = $0.1151 /kWh
66 Assumes a 10 year lifetime.
671 kwh = 1.54 lbs of C02
68 Cost of electricity = $0.1151/kWh, 206,400 fan powered and 68,800 steam units.
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Table 15 contains a comparison of national savings potential if every consumer that owns a fan
powered humidifier and/or steam humidifier instead owned a bypass humidifier.
Table 15: Comparison: National Whole-House Humidifier Savings Potential - All Installed
Fan Powered and/or Steam Humidifiers Switched for Bypass Humidifiers69
Amount of U.S.
Homes with
Humidifier (60%
Bypass, 30%
Powered Fan,
10% Steam)
Weighted Total
Annual Energy
Consumption U.S.
Total $ Millions (#
of units x $ cost of
kwh use per unit)
Weighted Total Annual
Energy Consumption U.S.
Total Mkwh (# of units x
annual kwh usage)
Bypass
412,800
$0.5
4.0
Fan Powered
206,400
$2.0
17.4
Assuming 206,400
fan powered
purchases
switched to bypass
619,200
$1.7 savings & 72%
decrease
15.3 savings & 72%
decrease
Steam
68,800
$11
100.7
Assuming 68,800
steam purchases
switched to bypass
481,600
$11.5 savings &
95% decrease
100.1 savings & 95%
decrease
Total kwh and $
Savings Potential
by switching all
Fan Powered and
Steam to Bypass
Savings of approximately 115.4 Mkwh, $13.2 Million and a
decrease of 178 Million lbs of CO270
If every bypass and fan powered whole-house humidifier in the U.S. used the equivalent amount
of energy as the average bypass humidifier, the total energy cost per year would decrease by
approximately 72%.
If every bypass and steam whole-house humidifier in the U.S. used the equivalent amount of
energy as the average bypass humidifier, the total national energy cost per year would
decrease by approximately 95% and save homeowners approximately $11.5 million on an
annual basis. Collectively, this scenario would prevent approximately 178 million lbs. of C02
from entering the atmosphere.
69 This table assumes one year of use.
70 1 kwh = 1.54 lbs of C02
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HVAC Effects
Whole-house humidifier manufacturers claim that a properly humidified house can reduce a
homeowner's heating costs. Though no peer-reviewed scientific studies have been carried out
to quantify this effect specifically for the whole-house humidifier market, a major manufacturer
claims71 that maintaining proper relative humidity within the home can save a homeowner
approximately 1,500 - 2,100 kwh per year. This figure is based on an analysis of a case study
performed in three homes in varying climates across the country. Further, only the HVAC
system as a whole was evaluated for energy savings - not the humidifier by itself. More
research is needed to determine the veracity of these claims.
6. Key Market Players
Industry Associations
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is a trade association of HVAC
product manufacturers. AHRI collects shipments of whole-house humidifiers on an annual basis.
AHRI does not currently offer a certification program for humidifiers.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is a trade association of home
appliance manufacturers. Similar to AHRI, AHAM collects shipment data, administers
certification programs on behalf of its members, and does not currently offer a certification
program for humidifiers.
Product Manufacturers
Table 16: Product Manufacturers
Manufacturer
Brand(s)
Air-O-Swiss
Air-O-Swiss
Aprilaire
Aprilaire, Lennox
Crane
Crane
Essick
Essick
Jarden
Sunbeam
Hunter
Hunter
Honeywell
Honeywell (Whole-House)
71
Brodsky, Eric - Aprilaire - The Need for Humidifiers in Energy Efficient Homes - Presentation 2/2/2011
ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report: Humidifiers
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Idylis
Idylis
Kaz
Honeywell (Portable), Vicks
Pureguardian
Germ Guardian
Sunpentown
SPT
VentaSonic
Ventasonic
7. Industry Contacts
Humidifier Industrv Associations
Jennifer Geary, Director of Regulatory Affairs at AHAM
Laura Petrillo-Groh, Senior Certification Engineer at AHRI
Portable Humidifier Manufacturers
Dirk Niedermann, Vice President of Operations at Crane USA
Jamie Libregts, Senior Marketing Manager at Jarden
Allen Huang, Marketing at Sunpentown
Whole-House Humidifier Manufacturers
John Bloemer, Director of Engineering at Aprilaire
Dr, Sanjeev Hingorani, Engineer at Lennox
Dan O'Donnell, Director at Honeywell
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