The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy reports that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted a petition for a new standard for home refrigerators.
The petition was submitted by a diverse coalition of state governments, utilities, consumer and low-income advocacy groups, and environmental and energy efficiency organizations. It requests the DOE commence rulemaking to strengthen the existing national standard.
By law, the agency must set national standards at the most energy efficient level that is cost-effective for consumers. The petition cited a recent DOE analysis which estimates that new refrigerator standards could save 5.78 quadrillion Btus of energy over the 2010 to 2035 period, which is enough to meet the total electricity needs of 4 out of 10 U.S. homes for one year. According to the petition, a 30% improvement in the standard could net consumers about $10 billion in savings.
The Department must now initiate a public rulemaking to determine the appropriate level for the new standard. DOE’s determination of a future standard will likely turn on analysis of what standard level is cost-effective for consumers.
DOE has ongoing rulemakings for several other product standards, all of which are years behind schedule.
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