News

Department of Energy Transformer Standards Are a Mixed Bag (4/10/2013)

Significant efficiency gains for one major class of products but outdated technology for the other major class

Washington, D.C. (April 10, 2013): Late yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued new energy efficiency standards for electric distribution transformers. In the final rule, relative to a draft standard issued a year ago, DOE improved the standard for "dry-type" transformers (those primarily used in buildings) but left the proposed standard for "liquid-immersed" transformers (those most commonly owned by utilities) unchanged.

"The new standard for dry-type transformers is a good step forward and represents a compromise between the positions of the transformer industry and energy efficiency advocates," stated Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). "However, the final standard for liquid-immersed transformers....read more

 

Distribution Transformers: Liquid-Immersed
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Distribution Transformers: Low-Voltage Dry-Type
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Distribution Transformers: Medium-Voltage Dry-Type

The Cost of Overdue Energy Efficiency Standards (1/30/2013)

The Cost of Overdue Energy Efficiency Standards

Appliance Standards Awareness Project and American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

January 31, 2013

The Obama administration has missed deadlines for completing eight new appliance, lighting, and equipment energy efficiency standards. Because each month of delay also delays the effective date of any new standard, millions of additional inefficient products will be sold and remain in use, wasting energy for many years. This energy waste will cost consumers billions of dollars and result in millions of tons of long-lasting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that should have been avoided. 

The delays to date will cost consumers and businesses about $3.7 billion in lost savings (net present value, 2011$) and will result in nearly 40 million...read more.

Read the BLOG by Andrew deLaski

Why DOE's Cave on Furnace Standards Is Such a Big Deal (1/15/2013)

In a dose of bad news yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed to settle a lawsuit brought by the American Public Gas Association (APGA) that seeks to roll back gas furnace efficiency standards. As a result, the new standards, completed in 2011 and slated to take effect this May, would be eliminated in favor of yet another round of DOE hearings and studies. The losers: consumers and the environment. The bill: more than $10 billion in lost savings and an extra 80 to 130 million metric tons of completely unnecessary global warming emissions, according to DOE’s analysis.

With new evidence piling up confirming that we need to be seriously ramping up efforts to stave off the worst effects of climate change, now is a lousy time to go backwards on simple steps like improved home heating energy efficiency. Space heating remains the single largest home energy use. The standards would have required that gas furnaces installed in the northern half of the country reach......

Read the blog

Furnaces

NEMA and Efficiency Advocates Petition for New Energy-Saving Standards for Electric Motors (8/21/2012)

Washington, DC, August 21, 2012—The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), its members who manufacture electric motors, and energy efficiency and environmental groups filed a petition August 15 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommending both new and more robust energy efficiency standards for the types of electric motors used in commercial and industrial applications such as pumps, conveyors, and fans. It asks that the standards, if adopted by the end of this year, be effective January 1, 2015.

In addition to NEMA, petitioners include the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, and Northwest Power and Conservation Council,

The petition is the culmination of two years of discussions among the groups. DOE was mandated to review motor efficiency to make a determination on increased efficiency requirements by the end of this year.

more...

Electric Motors

Clothes Washers Final Rule News (5/16/2012)

New Clothes Washer and Dishwasher Standards Will Save Consumers Loads of Money, Protect the Environment
Most Efficient Products Also Best at Cleaning

Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2012): Energy and water efficiency standards released today by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will deliver clothes washers that use as much as 35 percent less energy and water and dishwashers that use about 14 percent less energy and 23 percent less water.

That means lower utility bills for consumers and big environmental benefits for us all - without sacrificing any of the cleaning performance consumers count on, according to a coalition of consumer, energy and environmental groups.

“Consumers and the environment both come up big winners with these new national standards,” said Steven Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  “These common-sense standards will save loads of energy, water, and money.”

Read the full Press Release

View the graph of energy and water use trends

Clothes Washers

Dishwashers Final Rule News (5/16/2012)

New Clothes Washer and Dishwasher Standards Will Save Consumers Loads of Money, Protect the Environment
Most Efficient Products Also Best at Cleaning

Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2012): Energy and water efficiency standards released today by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will deliver clothes washers that use as much as 35 percent less energy and water and dishwashers that use about 14 percent less energy and 23 percent less water.

That means lower utility bills for consumers and big environmental benefits for us all - without sacrificing any of the cleaning performance consumers count on, according to a coalition of consumer, energy and environmental groups.

“Consumers and the environment both come up big winners with these new national standards,” said Steven Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  “These common-sense standards will save loads of energy, water, and money.”

Read the full press release

View the graph of energy and water trends

Dishwashers

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