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ACEEE'S GRAPEVINE ONLINE
October 3, 2006
BUSH ADMINISTRATION ISSUES ITS FIRST PROPOSED EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY STANDARDSNearly six years into its tenure, in August the Bush Administration released its first proposed new equipment efficiency standard, covering distribution transformers. Proposed standards for residential furnaces and boilers are expected any day now. Both standards are approximately a decade overdue, following delays in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. The transformer standard proposal calls for modest increases in transformer efficiency compared to current practice, and according to USDOE, will reduce the need for 4,500 MW of new power plants. A stronger standard is supported by ACEEE, other efficiency organizations, and progressive utilities. According to DOE, the stronger standard will save 6,600 MW, while saving transformer users $11.1 billion, about $2 billion more than DOE's preferred option (net present value, calculated with a 3% real discount rate). In addition, the more efficient transformers will often have a longer life and improve electric grid reliability, two factors ignored in DOE's analysis. For the forthcoming furnace proposal, a key issue is whether to distinguish cold from warm states in some manner, since the economics of condensing furnaces are much more favorable in the north than the south. Another issue is whether DOE will endorse a consensus agreement on boiler efficiency standards negotiated by ACEEE, boiler manufacturers, and other efficiency organizations. ACEEE will issue a press release on these issues as soon as the DOE proposal is out. Watch our Media Resources page for the announcement.
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