Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday announced it has finalized new efficiency standards for electric motors that the agency estimates will save consumers up to $8.8 billion over a 30-year period. The new standards, which will go into effect in 2027, are the result of an agreement among manufacturers, efficiency advocates and utilities.
- Electric motor efficiency standards were last updated in 2014, according to the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Bringing motor efficiency up to the levels required in Europe is going to help American manufacturers keep their costs competitive,” ASAP Executive Director Andrew deLaski said in a statement.
- DOE also announced proposed standards for new dishwashers and beverage vending machines, which the agency estimates will save consumers more than $3 billion over the same period.
Dive Insight:
DOE is still behind on efforts to update energy efficiency standards, but is making progress — the agency said that so far this year it has issued proposed or final efficiency standards for 16 product categories.
“DOE is making rapid progress to strengthen outdated energy efficiency standards,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
The federal government’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program reviews efficiency requirements every six years, but it has been more than a decade since rules for some appliances were last updated.
The finalized and proposed standards DOE announced last week will save consumers $652 million annually on energy and water bills, the department said.
New standards for electric motors will save American businesses about $464 million annually, while the dishwasher rule will save consumers approximately $168 million a year. New rules for beverage vending machines will reduce energy costs for American businesses by $20 million annually, the department added.
According to DOE, the final electric motor rule builds on joint recommendations from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ASAP, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison.
“The technology has gotten better and better, and these standards are going to help companies that use these motors meaningfully reduce their electric bills,” deLaski said in a statement.
Over a 30-year period, the electric motor standards will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 92 million metric tons, DOE said, roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of 20 million gas-powered cars.
Dishwasher standards were last set in 2012, ASAP noted.
“All the major manufacturers already make models that meet these proposed levels, and they’d be the first to tell you they’re good products,” deLaski said.
