In addition to phasing out inefficient incandescent lights, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed into law on December 19th, imposes improved energy efficiency standards on a wide variety of products.
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the energy act sets new minimum efficiency standards for external power supplies, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, residential boilers, electric motors, and walk-in coolers and freezers.
It also directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct new rulemakings on residential refrigerators and clothes washers, and allows DOE to expedite rulemakings in cases where a broad consensus exists (a measure requested by DOE last year). It also allows DOE to establish a regional standard for heating products and two regional standards for cooling products, in addition to the national standard. Such regional standards will allow DOE to account for significant climate differences throughout the United States. The act also calls for DOE to create a national media campaign to promote the benefits of increased energy efficiency.
For federal buildings, the energy act sets a goal to cut their energy use by 30% by 2015, and requires new and renovated federal buildings to significantly reduce their reliance on energy from fossil fuels. Compared with existing federal buildings, federal buildings built or renovated in 2010 must cut their fossil-fuel dependency by 55%, and by 2030, new or renovated federal buildings must eliminate their use of fossil fuel energy.
The law also permanently authorizes the use of Energy Saving Performance Contracts, updates the authorization for DOE’s Industrial Technologies Program, authorizes a Commercial Building Initiative, and contains new provisions to promote combined heat and power, recycled energy, and district energy systems.
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