Environment Connecticut urges officials to adopt energy-efficiency standards for common products
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H.B. 7151 would cut carbon pollution by 82 thousand metric tons and save Connecticut consumers $80 million from annual energy savings.
Environment Connecticut
Hartford, CT – Environment Connecticut joined environmental and consumer allies to press state officials to adopt appliance efficiency standards on 17 products, including commercial dishwashers, commercial fryers, water coolers and faucets. The new standards would reduce climate-altering carbon dioxide pollution, smog-forming emission and save water resources.
Adopting the recommended standards in Connecticut would annually prevent 82 thousand metric tons of climate-altering carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere — the equivalent of taking over 17,000 cars off of the road each year. The standards would also prevent pollution from nitrogen oxides (smogcausing pollution) and sulfur dioxide (a fine particulate pollution).
“Appliance efficiency standards are a cheap, easy, sensible way to cut energy use, reduce pollution, and fight climate change,” said Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut State Director. “Applying these common sense measures will take a big bite out of pollution by reducing the amount of unnecessary energy wasted by common products.”
These standards would result in annual savings of approximately 208 gigawatts of electricity in Connecticut by 2025, according to the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, a national organization working to advance, win and defend new efficiency standards for appliances, equipment and lighting. That’s enough to power over 23,000 typical households for a year, according to Environment Connecticut’s calculations.
Annual water savings are estimated to be 2,258 million gallons by 2025, enough to meet the annual water consumption needs of over 66,000 average U.S. households. In addition, by 2025 this measure would save Connecticut consumers $80 million dollars annually.
“States can lead-by-example in supporting minimum product efficiency standards that lock in long-term energy savings, align efficiency programs with climate plans, and provide value as part of an integrated carbon reduction plan,” said Claire Miziolek, Senior Manager of Technology and Market Solutions at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP).
“Appliance standards are the best climate and energy policy you’ve never heard of,” added Marianne DiMascio, State Policy Director at the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “People are always surprised to learn how much energy, water, and money is saved just by increasing the minimum efficiency of common items such as computers, faucets, water coolers and lighting, among others.”