The Role of State Programs in Promoting New Energy Efficient Technologies

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

Authors:
Nick Hall, TecMarket Works
Jim Mapp, Wisconsin Division of Energy Services
Don Hynek, Wisconsin Division of Energy Services
Barbara Smith, Wisconsin Division of Energy Services
Cheryl Rezabek, Wisconsin Division of State Facilities

Abstract

State government can play a decisive role in the adoption of new energy efficient technologies by requiring, encouraging, or assisting organizations to make the change. This paper will review examples of recent state government activities in Wisconsin that promoted energy efficient technologies. Some activities targeted state agencies operations directly, such as overhaul of building design specifications for state agency projects, procurement innovations in contracts and purchases, and early discretionary adoption of high efficiency technologies by facility managers at state agencies and land-grant universities. State government also had influence beyond their own operations by sponsoring cooperative purchasing agreements with local governments, procurement assistance for private non-profits operating government-funded programs, new technology requirements and preferences in government-assisted housing programs, and training and demonstrations.

Technologies with an existing foothold in the market, such as ENERGY STAR-labeled products, have gained market share through high volume state purchasing and other efforts. For example, low-income weatherization and other government and utility programs played an important role in the transformation of the market for condensing furnaces in Wisconsin. Less mature technologies with very low market penetration such as LEDs also benefited from state efforts such as demonstration or pilot projects. State commitments to these technologies helped bridge the " valley of death " in technology commercialization. Authors review results of Wisconsin's state efforts to date to promote condensing boilers, direct vent water heaters, residential furnace ECMs and ventilation fans, ENERGY STAR freezers, LCD or flat-screen monitors, high performance T-8 lighting, high color temperature lighting, specialty CFL lighting and recycling of CFLs, and LED holiday lights. Lessons learned are widely transferable to other states.