EPA Climate Choice: Promoting Emerging Technologies That Protect the Climate

Kristen Taddonio and Peter Banwell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Abstract

Emerging technologies are critical to achieving the greenhouse gas emission reductions necessary to protect the climate, but often have to overcome important barriers, such as achieving economies of scale to reduce high initial costs, in order to gain wider use. The U.S. government manages a number of market-based programs designed to lower barriers to generally cost-effective technologies and practices (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). Experience suggests that there are opportunities to expand on the experience and lessons learned from these programs and to make greater progress. The U.S. EPA is therefore launching a new climate technology initiative called Climate Choice focusing on emerging technologies. This program is open to technologies that are commercially available, yet not widely adopted; that have demonstrated environmental performance; and that are likely to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions at competitive costs in the future.

This program is different from ENERGY STAR, which focuses on established, costeffective technologies. This program will target unique market segments with important and different consumer preferences than the broad consumer market that ENERGY STAR serves. Two such market segments targeted by the new EPA initiative are environmentally-motivated consumers willing to do more to help protect the environment and fight global warming, and early adopters who routinely seek out advanced technologies. EPA welcomes discussions with organizations such as ACEEE and others with established programs promoting emerging technology to avoid duplication of effort and speed products to market. This paper provides the latest information on this new EPA initiative.