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According to McKinsey & Company's latest report, how much $$$ did appliance standards save consumers and businesses between 1987 and 2000?
5 billion?
10 billion?
50 billion?
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| Did you know... |
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The new lighting standards will save up to 1.2 trillion kilowatt hours over 30 years - an amount equal to the total consumption of all homes in the U.S. for one year.
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How many people does it take to screw in a more efficient light bulb?
Many, including President Obama, Secretary Steven Chu, the Department of Energy, and the thousands of people who voiced their opinion that strong lighting efficiency standards matter.
President Obama and Secretary Chu signalled both a change in lighting efficiency and a change in outlook when they announced the new lighting standards on June 29th. The Obama administration strengthened the lighting rule proposed by the Bush administration, thereby capturing significant savings for the nation. The new standards will cover 4 foot and 8 foot linear fluorescent light bulbs and incandescent reflector light bulbs (In 2007, Congress set standards for conventional incandescent light bulbs that will phase-in beginning in 2012).
According to DOE, the new standards will save up to 1.2 trillion kilowatt-hours over thirty years, an amount about equal to the total consumption of all homes in the U.S. in one year. Businesses and consumers will gain between $35 and $71 billion in net savings, and global warming carbon dioxide emissions will be cut by up to 594 million metric tons, an amount equal to the annual emissions of nearly 110 million cars.
In terms of energy and cost savings, this is one of the most significant rulemakings in DOE's history. To read the ASAP press release, click here. To read the DOE's final rule, click here. |
Ka-BOOM! The Power of Appliance Standards
On July 22nd, ACEEE and ASAP released a major new report entitled "Ka-BOOM! The Power of Appliance Standards." It contains national and state-by-state data on the potential impact of the 26 appliance standards due to be set during the current presidential term, including estimates of energy, money, and CO2 savings.
Strong new national appliance standards could slash total U.S. electricity use by over 1,900 terawatt-hours (1.9 trillion kilowatt-hours) cumulatively by 2030 while saving consumers and businesses over $123 billion. The new standards also could make a big contribution to U.S. efforts to cut global warming carbon dioxide pollution, eliminating 158 million tons per year by 2030, roughly the amount emitted by 63 large conventional coal-fired power plants. Click to view the Press Release or Report. Clike to view a Graphic showing how much CO2 will be eliminated through existing and future standards." |
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Up Next: Water Heaters and Commercial Clothes Washers
Water Heaters are the next big impact standard, with a proposed rule expected in September. Water heating represents 20% percent of total annual household energy consumption in the U.S. New efficiency standards recommended by ASAP would potentially:
- Save 158 billion kilowatt hours cumulatively by 2030 or nearly enough to meet the electricity needs of all the homes in the northeast for one year;
- Save 920 billion cubic feet of natural gas by 2030 or enough to heat all the homes in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin for one year;
- Save consumers $14.4 billion in net present value savings.
The proposed rule is expected in September 2009 with a final rule by March 2010. Click to view the ASAP Water Heater Q&A or DOE Water Heater page. Commercial Clothes Washers - DOE deferred action on commercial clothes washers in April but is expected to issue a supplemental proposed rule later this summer with a final rule due by January 1, 2010. Estimates from the Ka-BOOM report show that a standard set at 2007 Energy Star levels would save 20-30% of energy consumption relative to the current federal standards and water savings would reach 15%. Water savings are estimated to equal 13 billion gallons of water annually by 2030. Substantially more stringent standards are likely to be cost-effective and produce even larger savings. For more info, see DOE page
Heat up the pressure for efficient water heaters and commercial clothes washers - tell us if you'd like to be informed about future advocacy alerts for these products. |
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DOE rulemaking update
*see box below for Rulemaking 101
Commercial Boiler Final Rule
July 2009 DOE published revised standards for commercial boilers, based on levels agreed to several years ago by efficiency advocates and the boiler manufacturers. The new standards take effect in 2012. Unfortunately, in the same rule, DOE chose not to adopt a multi-part standard for commercial warm air furnaces, based on the Bush administration's interpertation that multi-part standards are not permitted. Final rule
Battery Charger/External Power Supply Framework
June 2009
These products are ubiquitous and their use is climbing - 600 million external ac-dc power supplies were sold in the U.S. in 2008 alone and over 1.7 billion battery chargers are currently in use in U.S. homes, offices, and industrial facilities. However, DOE's proposed analysis includes data from only a small fraction (approximately 6%) of the total number of consumer battery chargers in use in the U.S. DOE should ensure it analysis incorporates all types of consumer battery chargers. For external power supplies (EPS), DOE should consider existing standards proposals such as Energy Star v. 2.0 for which a large number of existing EPS already qualify. Framework Document Vending Machine Proposed Rule
The proposed new standards released by DOE would cut the average energy use of the most common new cold beverage vending machines by about 42%. With the proposed standards, per unit energy use will be no more than about 1,400 to 1,800 kilowatt hours per year (as opposed to 3000 to 5000 in the mid-90's). At the proposed level, each typical new machine would save about $320 per year compared to an older machine. DOE chose not to pursue energy-saving smart controls which would have saved even more money and energy. The final rule is due in August and new standards will take effect in three years. Proposed ruleCooking products Final Rule
April 2009 The final rule is limited in coverage to the elimination of standing pilot lights in gas cooktops and ovens. These affect roughly 6% and 12%, respectively, of such products now shipped. DOE elected to defer setting a standby power requirement on microwave ovens, citing the interest in harmonizing definitions of standby mode and off mode. The rulemaking will be deferred until after the international standard is revised, expected this summer. Final Rule
Commercial Refrigeration Final RuleJanuary 2009
Although DOE chose the strongest efficiency standards for some types of supermarket refrigerators, it elected to go with weaker standards for several major types, leaving significant energy savings on the table. One controversial point is that DOE assumed that the cost of more efficient LED lighting would remain the same, not decrease as is the case with most new technologies. Had the cost reflected declining prices, a higher standard may have been warranted. Final Rule
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| What's up at the state level? |
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Arizona Enacts New State Standards
In its second attempt, the Arizona legislature passed a bill enacting state standards for swimming pool pumps and portable electric spas based on the California standards. The bill, HB 2337, was sponsored by Representative Lucy Mason and supported by the efforts of SWEEP, the regional energy efficiency organization. This adds to Arizona's list of state standards, with the last bill for 10 products being passed in 2005. The same two standards were considered in Texas this year. The bill, SB 16, passed the Senate and was left pending in the House Environmental Regulation Committee when the legislature adjourned in May. |
| What's a proposed rule? A final rule? |
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Rulemaking 101 Here's an attempt to demystify the DOE standard-setting process with a quick review of the four steps involved. After each document is published, there is an open public comment period (usually between 30 and 75 days) and a public hearing*. Times between each step can vary but are generally as stated:
Framework Document - beginning step; DOE casts a broad net over the many issues which the rulemaking might encompass and asks for feedback from stakeholders to help steer them in the appropriate direction.
1 1/2 years later......
Preliminary Technical Support Document - DOE discusses methodologies and results of the preliminary technical analyses and indicates the scope and type of rule it might propose.
1 year later......
Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) - DOE proposes standard levels, provides completed technical analyses, and requests final comments.
6 months later.....
Final Rule - The final step. The rule is published and, usually, the standard goes into effect three years later (sometimes shorter, sometimes longer).
*The hearings are held in Washington, DC. DOE is experimenting with providing webinar access to allow stakeholders to follow the hearings more closely.
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"From 1987 to 2000, appliance standards saved consumers approximately $50 billion in reduced energy bills at an incremental appliance cost of $15 billion."
From McKinsey & Company, "Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy", July 2009
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| Take Action - Support Standards |
To take action - check our website for alerts or send an e-mail to the address below.
Marianne DiMascio, Outreach Director
Appliance Standards Awareness Project
781-293-6309 |
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