International Comparison of Energy Efficiency Standard and Labels: Development Process and Implementation Phase

Panel: Energy and Environmental Policy: Planning for Greater Impacts

Authors:
Sho Hirayama, Jyukankyo Research Institute, Inc.
Hidetoshi Nakagami, Jyukankyo Research Institute, Inc.
Chiharu Murakoshi, Jyukankyo Research Institute, Inc.
Mikiko Nakamura, Jyukankyo Research Institute, Inc.
Suguru Mizutani, Jyukankyo Research Institute, Inc.
Shuji Okuda, Stanford University

Abstract

Energy-efficiency standards and labeling programs for household appliances, equipment and lighting have been adopted not only in developed countries but also in the developing countries. They are contributing greatly to the achievement of energy conservation. Many countries have mandatory minimum energy-efficiency standards and labeling programs. Meanwhile some countries have voluntary programs. Japan has established and adopted her own Top-Runner program. Although the key elements of standard and labeling programs are available on the web or documents, there are few sources that document comprehensively the development process and implementation phase of standard and labeling programs.

For many countries, in particular the developing Asian nations whose energy demand is expected to experience continues rapid growth in the near future, it is one of the crucial issues of energy efficiency promotion to provide policymakers with comprehensive information on implementation phase of standard programs.

We surveyed the development process and implementation phase of standards and labeling programs in the U.S.A., Canada, the European Union (European Council, UK, Germany and France), China, Korea and Japan. We obtained information about designing, developing, implementing, enforcing, monitoring and maintaining standards and labeling programs. In this paper, we present an international comparison framework of the standards-setting processes and labeling implementation in these countries. This comparative analysis will help policymakers to introduce and revise energy efficiency standards and labeling programs.