Abstract

To facilitate greater market transformation, DOE and EPA work continually to develop new initiatives that lead to increased sales of ENERGY STAR qualified products. Targeting purchasers that buy in bulk is an efficient way to spur sales of energy-efficient products and save more energy.

During 2006 and 2007, DOE funded the development of ENERGY STAR Quantity Quotes, an online marketplace that brings together purchasers and suppliers of energy-efficient products. Developed initially for the Weatherization community, it soon spread to the public and HUD-assisted housing communities, and is now being used by many types of organizations and businesses. As of May 1, 2008, the Quantity Quotes community included over 1200 purchasers, representing schools, apartment building owners and managers, public housing agencies, other government agencies, manufacturers, and others. Almost 150 suppliers of ENERGY STAR products stood ready to respond to purchasers' requests. To date, purchasers have submitted over 500 requests for 4.3 million CFLs, 31,000 room air conditioners, 10,000 light fixtures, 10,000 refrigerators, 2300 clothes washers, 2500 dishwashers, and 80 dehumidifiers.

An organization looking to buy ENERGY STAR products in bulk can easily and quickly submit a purchase request to multiple suppliers while also preserving the purchaser's privacy. Suppliers respond with their best offers, knowing that they are competing against one another for the business. By making it easy for purchasers to find ENERGY STAR products at low prices, Quantity Quotes is increasing demand for energy-efficient products among institutional purchasers.

This paper describes the results achieved by this tool, outreach efforts to promote it, lessons learned, and future plans.

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Panels of

Market Transformation: Taking Efficiency Mainstream

Utility Regulation, Strategies, and Policies

Residential Buildings: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Visions of the Future: Big New Ideas for Energy Efficiency

Energy and Environmental Policy: Planning for Greater Impacts

Sustainable Communities: Systems Integration at the Community Scale

Residential Buildings: Technologies, Design, Performance Analysis, and Building Industry Trends

Commercial Buildings: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Human and Social Dimensions of Energy Use: Trends and their Implications

Strategies for Appliances, Lighting, Electronics, and Miscellaneous End–Uses

Commercial Buildings: Technologies, Design, Performance Analysis, and Building Industry Trends