President Obama yesterday ordered the Department of Energy (DOE) to move quicker in establishing higher energy
efficiency standards for common household appliances.
In a presidential memorandum, he instructed the DOE to set rules by August for nine appliances, among them: ovens (including microwave ones), lamps, beverage vending machines, residential dishwashers, commercial boilers and commercial air conditioners.
The DOE
also must issue new standards for fluorescent tube light bulbs and reflector
light bulbs by June 30. If strong, these standards could save about 60
billion kilowatt hours per year by 2020–enough to meet the annual needs
of about 5 million households. These standards would in turn save consumers
between 30 and 67 billion dollars net over 30 years, according to DOE
analysis.
Unfortunately, the proposed standards released by DOE shortly before
President Obama took office fall well short of the mark, according to the American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
However, the ACEEE applauded the president’s action, which for the first time endorses efficiency standards as a top
priority in his domestic energy policy.
"We further endorse President
Obama’s directive to meet the legal deadlines for standards, an important
break from his predecessors who fell behind on updates for some 22
standards," the ACEEE said in a release.
Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement: "In the last eight years, the Department of Energy has set or updated four new standards, and the new administration will set or update at least six times this amount."
The ACEEE said that standards for furnaces and lamps need particular attention.
While not an appliance mentioned directly by
President Obama, home furnace efficiency offers another opportunity for
tremendous energy savings. Former President Bush’s standard, issued in fall
2007, saves almost no energy since 99% of appliances on the market already
comply.
States and consumer and environmental groups have sued to force
reconsideration, and the president should acknowledge the need to revisit
this standard by settling that suit, the ACEEE said.
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