New California Energy
Efficiency Standards will Save Consumers Money and Reduce Pollution, Says NRDC
December 15, 2004 — By Natural Resources Defense Council
Statement by Noah Horowitz, NRDC Senior Scientist
SAN FRANCISCO (December 15, 2004) — The California Energy Commission (CEC)
today unanimously approved new appliance efficiency standards that will save
energy, cut consumers' power bills and reduce air pollution. The standards will
cover new products sold in California in 24 categories, including consumer
electronics, swimming pool pumps and external power supplies. Upon full turnover
of existing appliances, the standards will save more than 5,000 gigawatt/hours
of energy per year, more than the amount of electricity used by all San
Francisco residences.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) played a leading role in developing the
new standards. Following is a statement by NRDC Senior Scientist Noah Horowitz.
"Once again, California is leading the way. It continues to have the
world's most stringent and comprehensive energy efficiency standards. The
appliance standards approved today will accelerate the adoption of commonly
available technologies to help consumers and businesses save money and to
protect the environment.
"Through its aggressive energy saving policies, California's electricity
demand is growing at half the rate of the rest of the nation. During the 1990s
demand grew by about 1 percent per year, matching the state's population growth
and lagging far behind the 2.8 percent average annual growth of the state's
economy.
"California's leadership is especially important because the federal
government has been asleep at the switch when it comes to setting minimum
efficiency standards for new appliances. Fortunately, California standards often
become future state and federal standards. NRDC is working to promote the
adoption of many of California's new appliance standards in other states in the
Northeast and Northwest."
Background
The CEC approved the new appliance standards under its Title 20 code. The
standards cover the sale of new products in California in 24 consumer and
industrial product categories and have varying effective dates beginning on
January 1, 2006. Upon full turnover of existing appliances, the state will
reduce its peak power demand by about 1,000 megawatts, which is the equivalent
of two large power plants. Full turnover also will result in reduced power plant
emissions of the global warming pollutant carbon dioxide by about 2 million
metric tons per year. That is equivalent to taking 320,000 cars off the road.
According to CEC estimates, the regulations will save about $2 billion by 2020.
Some of the product categories that the standards will cover include:
External power supplies — These are the little black boxes or "AC
adapters" that are used in consumer and office electronics to convert
incoming AC (alternating current) power from the outlet to the DC (direct
current) power needed to operate the product. The standard will cover
wide-ranging products such as cordless and cellular phones, laptop computers and
iPods.
Swimming pool pumps — The more than 1 million residential swimming pools in
California collectively represent a sizable percentage of peak power use. Most
installed pumps are relatively inefficient. The new standard will force a shift
toward more efficient, two-speed pumps and the use of controls.
Consumer electronics products — Devices like TVs, DVD players, VCRs and
compact audio systems continue to draw power even when they are turned off (as
long as they are still plugged in). The new standard will greatly reduce the
amount of power used by these devices when they are in the standby mode.
Television set top boxes — The new standard sets limits for the power used by
digital-to-analog set top boxes, which will be needed in 2008 and beyond to
convert digital signals for viewing on older TVs.
Commercial refrigeration — Efficiency standards were updated for several
product categories including walk-in refrigeration and freezers, reach-in
refrigerators and ice makers.
Certain lighting products — The new standards set efficiency levels for
certain classes of light bulbs, including incandescent light bulbs.
NRDC was the lone environmental advocate to participate in the year long Title
20 proceeding. The organization provided key technical support for several of
the product categories, including external power supplies, ceiling fans,
beverage vending machines and set top boxes.
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of
scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public
health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1 million
members and e-activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington,
Santa Monica and San Francisco.
For more information contact: Craig Noble, 415-875-6103, cnoble@nrdc.org
www.nrdc.org
Visit NRDC’s Media Center:
www.nrdc.org/media/