The students will analyze (the supposed) increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact of induction cooking technology versus the other two technologies via a lifecycle analysis (LCA). Induction ranges, while assumed to be more efficient during the “in use” phase, are also much more material / manufacturing intensive than the relatively simple radiant and gas technologies. The proposed LCA will cover all three phases of the product life cycle. 

UPDATE

The goal of this project is to conduct a life cycle analysis (LCA) on three different types of Whirlpool cooktop technologies including gas, electric radiant, and electric induction. In order to accomplish this, the GaBi LCA software is being used to build a model for each of the three types of cooktops. The LCA includes all life-cycle phases: extraction/manufacturing, use, and disposal/recycling. The in-use data is important to the project because each of the three cooktops use a different amount of energy during a typical use and induction is believed to use the least amount. The amount of energy used was tested at Whirlpool using a three-pronged test including boiling water, making pancakes, and melting chocolate to represent the three different cooking phases of low heat, medium heat, and high heat.  

The team wants to determine the most environmentally friendly cooktop considering its entire life cycle. To do this, the team will be conducting different types of analyses to see which cooktop has the greatest environmental impact. The team wants to compare between the life cycle stages and the processes that are contributing the most to the environmental impact. As a deliverable, the team will produce consumer relevant conclusions so that consumers can make informed decisions about which cooktop to purchase.  

Currently we are working on finishing the LCA models for each of the cooktops in GaBi as well as translating the in-use data and recycling coefficients into GaBi useable information. After that is accomplished, we will start the analysis to determine the environmental impact of each cooktop. Recently we have also begun contact with a Whirlpool employee in Italy to create an economic comparison of the cooktops as part of the class-deliverable portion of our project. We are using economic data from the United Kingdom and Italy to represent pricing of these technologies. The incorporation of induction technology into cooktops is more common in Europe, where laws and regulation regarding energy usage are stricter and where induction technology is more reasonably priced than the United States.