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New Appliance Standards Bill Introduced by Alliance Honorary Vice-Chairs

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Date: Mar 04, 2010

Efficient Air Conditioner

On March 3, 2010, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), introduced the National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010 (100 kB PDF) (NEEE), or S. 3059, bill to expand and improve appliance energy efficiency standards. The Alliance has worked hard with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and a large number of other Associates and Board members to develop and build consensus around a number of the bill's provisions.

Among the bill's important provisions:

  • NEEE would set higher standards for residential furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. These would be the first standards that differ by climate region (following authorization in 2007), and specify higher efficiency levels for new construction that could be adopted in building codes. These standards are based on an agreement made last October among energy efficiency advocates and manufacturers, including the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). Read more about the agreement.
  • NEEE would set initial standards for outdoor lighting fixtures, including street and parking lot lights. These standards are also based on a consensus agreement among energy efficiency advocates and manufacturers, including the National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and Philips Lighting. Read more about the agreement.
  • NEEE would revise the process by which the U.S. Department of Energy sets appliance standards, including consideration of climate change and energy price impacts; a strengthened “rebuttable presumption” floor for standards; incorporation of smart grid capabilities; better information collection from manufacturers; and other improvements. These revisions were the subject of a consensus agreement between advocates and manufacturers, including the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

The bill also includes a standard for heat pump and gas-fired pool heaters, and addresses a concern of alarm system manufacturers on the external power supply standard, also based on consensus agreements. The bill is expected to be incorporated with the committee’s American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA) in any Senate consideration of comprehensive climate and energy or energy-only legislation. Read the bill or the Committee’s bill summary (100 kB PDF).