Commercial Buildings and Technology Initiative

Appliance Efficiency Standards

Appliance efficiency standards remove from the marketplace the most wasteful products in selected categories, ensuring significant and permanent energy savings for all. These standards have served to:

• Provide economic benefits to individual consumers, the state and the region.
• Improve the reliability of the electricity grid.
• Mitigate causes and effects of global climate change.
• Improve air and water quality by reducing emissions of pollutants that form smog and acid rain.

State efficiency standards DO NOT conflict with existing federal standards. Although each proposes the same standards, each northeast state's bill faces its own legislative process. NEEP coordinates the project at the regional level to maximize momentum and the potential benefits of such legislation.
Activities are also coordinated with those participating at the federal level to bring the Northeast regional perspective and influence, and to provide key inputs to the technical rulemaking process.

Strong national efficiency standards is the ultimate goal of NEEP's Standards Project.

A new generation of consumer electronics - particularly televisions - has presented the opportunity for significant new savings through appliance standards. Television and set-top box energy use, which today accounts for approximately 6.5 percent of residential electricity use, is projected to grow to nearly 10 percent of residential energy use by 2030.

Yet, televisions also are one of the few major energy using products in the home not subject to any federal standards. NEEP believes that Northeast states should follow the example of the California Energy Commission and set new television efficiency standards. If such a standard was adopted by Massachusetts, for example, energy use in the state would be reduced by nearly 360gWh per year, or a roughly 2 percent reduction in overall residential energy use.

TV Standards Media Coverage


With renewed commitments at the federal level to setting effective new standards through Department of Energy rulemakings, NEEP represents the Northeast states' interest in these proceedings and helps translate these developments so they can inform the evolution of the NEEP Regional Initiatives that relate to them.

With the underwriting support of most of the energy efficiency program administrators in the region, from support provided by our supporting foundations, and in concert with key allies, NEEP's Appliance Standards Project has been a model for regional partnerships to advance energy efficiency policy.


2010 Recommended State Appliance Efficiency Standards

A new television efficiency standard, which was recently adopted unanimously by the California Energy Commission forms the backbone of NEEP's proposed new state energy efficiency standards package for 2010. NEEP is working with our national partners, including the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), to develop solid analysis illustrating the benefits of these proposed appliance standards.

Other standards recommended for state adoption include:
  • portable light fixtures
  • bottle type water dispensers
  • commercial hot food holding cabinets

  • portable electric spas


Appliance Efficiency Standards Across the Nation

In addition to Massachusetts, Connecticutt and Maryland are also currently deliberating over propsosed TV efficiency standards.  NEEP has been very active in advocating for passing such standards providing testimony at related hearings.  See NEEP's comments below.

Testimony of David Lis, Appliance Efficiency Standards Project Manager NEEP

Marlyand -To the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee Regarding House Bill 349 March 4, 2010

Connecticut -To the Connecticut General Assembly's Energy and Technology Committee regarding House Bill 5217 February 23, 2010

Massachusetts - To the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy regarding House Bill 3124 and Senate Bill 1524 in support of appliance efficiency standards for TVs. October 7, 2009

Federal Standards

NEEP is working with our national partners and allies to see strong new standards set at the federal level through rulemakings that are in progress at the U.S. Department of Energy.

A summary of the federal rulemakings NEEP plans to actively participate in, is included in a memo distributed by NEEP in the beginning of 2010.

Click here for a summary of products in the rulemaking process between now and 2014, along with estimated energy savings.


Additional Resources

See RESOURCES tab above for more information about California's standard, additional reports, analysis, etc. demonstrating standards benefits. State specific benefits available on request. Contact Project Manager David Lis at 781-860-9177, ext. 127 or at djlis@neep.org.

 ResourceDescription 
 2009 Appliance Efficiency Rulemaking -Phase I, Part C Staff PresentationProposed Television Regulations and Draft Negative Declaration Report for Television Efficiency Standards
Energy Efficiency Committee Hearing, October 13, 2009
 2010 Federal Rulemaking PreviewIn order to enable broader participation from Northeast appliance standards stakeholders, NEEP has prepared a rough schedule of federal rulemaking activity for 2010. By offering this list of products and the expected timeline to our partners at the state energy offices, advocacy organizations, utility/efficiency program sponsors and other stakeholders we hope our outreach for support at various stages will be more anticipated and allow for adequate time to respond in a considered manner.
 Appliance Standards Awareness Project TestimonyTestimony of Marianne DiMascio Outreach Director, Appliance Standards Awareness Project before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy in support of House Bill 3124 and Senate Bill 1524.
 California Energy Commission’s Staff Report September, 2009This report covers standby and active mode power consumption, luminance control and power factor, labeling requirements, and use of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)test method "Methods of Measurement for the Power Consumption of Audio, Video and Related Equipment," IEC 62087 Edition 2.0 for televisions.
 California’s approved Television Standard Regulation (September 18, 2009) The Appliance Efficiency Regulations include standards for federally-regulated appliances and non-federally-regulated appliances. Twenty-three categories of appliances are included in the scope of these regulations. The standards within these regulations apply to appliances that are sold or offered for sale in California.
 EIA’s U.S Residential Electricity Usage Projections 2005-2030 From the analysis of "Year-by-Year Reference Case Tables" in EIA 2008.
 Federal Rulemaking SummarySummary of products in the federal rulemaking process between now and 2014, along with estimated energy savings.
 Letter to the FTC RE: Appliance Labeling RuleNEEP's comments on the FTC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for Consumer Electronics Labeling
 National Grid Letter of Support for Senate Bill H3124 - Expanding Energy Efficiency in the Commonwealth of MassachusettsLetters to members of the Massachusetts Senate in support appliance efficiency standards.  October 7, 2009
 Natural Resources Defense Council Briefing on Proposed California Television Efficiency StandardsBrieifing given to key California policy makers on August 31, 2009.  Includes written testimony from Vizio and LCD TV Assoc.
 NEEP Comments to U.S. DOE on Notice on Proposed Rulemaking for Residential HeatersJoint letter to the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Program from a regional stakeholders and coordinated by NEEP.
 NEEP Testimony Supporting HB3124/SB1524Testimony of David Lis, NEEP's Manager of Appliance Standards Project

To the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Regarding House Bill 3124 and Senate Bill 1524  in support of appliance efficiency standards for TVs. October 7, 2009

 PG&E CASE Study April 4, 2008The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Codes and Standards Enhancement (CASE) Initiative Project seeks to address energy efficiency opportunities through development of new and updated Title 20 standards.

The objective of this project is to develop CASE Reports that provide comprehensive technical, economic, market, and infrastructure information on each of the potential appliance standards. This CASE report covers standards and options for televisions.

 The National Consumer Law CenterTestimony of the National Consumer Law Center in support of H. 3124
"An Act Relative to Expanding Energy Efficiency
Before the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy October 7, 2009
Submitted by Charles Harak, NCLC Staff Attorney