Appliance & equipment efficiency standards in the U.S.: accomplishments, next steps and lessons learned

Panel: Panel 1. Energy efficiency – a strategic choice for Europe

Author:
Steven Nadel, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Abstract

Appliance and equipment efficiency standards are one of the most successful energy-saving policies adopted by the U.S. government. Standards began at the state level in the early 1980’s and then expanded nationally with the passage of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987. Subsequent legislation in 1988 and 1992 expanded the list of products, and a further expansion is likely in the fall of 2003 if now pending legislation is finalized. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy periodically updates standards through a rulemaking process. As of 2000, appliance and equipment efficiency standards in the U.S. displaced the need for approximately 21 000 MW of electric generating capacity and reduced U.S. carbon emissions by about 25 MMT annually. By 2020, due to standards already in place, these figures will grow to 120 000 MW and 73 MMT. The standards in the pending legislation and planned standards updates will increase these savings further.

This paper briefly summarizes the history and accomplishments of the U.S. standards program. Subsequent sections describe opportunities and activities to set new and updated standards in the U.S. and lessons learned from the U.S. standards programs (what has worked, what hasn’t). The final section explores how these results and lessons may apply to other countries.