Stephen Wiel

Energy-efficiency labels and standards: A guidebook for appliances, equipment and lighting

Energy-performance improvements in consumer products are an essential element in any governments portfolio of energy-efficiency and climate change mitigation programs. Governments need to develop balanced programs, both voluntary and regulatory, that remove cost-ineffective, energy-wasting products from the marketplace and stimulate the development of cost-effective, energy-efficient technology. Energy-efficiency labels and standards for appliances, equipment, and lighting products deserve to be among the first policy tools considered by a countrys energy policy makers. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Foundation (UNF) recognize the need to support policy makers in their efforts to implement energy-efficiency standards and labeling programs and have developed this guidebook, together with the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP), as a primary reference. This guidebook was prepared over the course of the past year with significant contribution from the authors and reviewers mentioned previously. Their diligent participation has made this the international guidance tool it was intended to be. The lead authors would also like to thank the following individuals for their support in the development, production, and distribution of the guidebook: Marcy Beck, Elisa Derby, Diana Dhunke, Ted Gartner, and Julie Osborn of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as well as Anthony Ma of Bevilacqua-Knight, Inc. This guidebook is designed as a manual for government officials and others around the world responsible for developing, implementing, enforcing, monitoring, and maintaining labeling and standards-setting programs. It discusses the pros and cons of adopting energy-efficiency labels and standards and describes the data, facilities, and institutional and human resources needed for these programs. It provides guidance on the design, development, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation of the programs and on the design of the labels and standards themselves. In addition, it directs the reader to references and other resources likely to be useful in conducting the activities described and includes a chapter on energy policies and programs that complement appliance efficiency labels and standards. This guidebook attempts to reflect the essential framework of labeling and standards programs. It is the intent of the authors and sponsors to distribute copies of this book worldwide at no charge for the general public benefit. The guidebook is also available on the web at www.CLASPonline.org and can be downloaded to be used intact or piecemeal for whatever beneficial purposes readers may conceive.

Governments should implement energy-efficiency standards and labels—cautiously

Energy-efficiency standards and labels can be the most effective long-term energy-efficiency policy any government can implement. This paper describes: (1) the benefits that can be obtained through this policy, (2) which countries are implementing standards and labels and for which products, (3) the processes they are using at each step along the way including the reasons why each step must be done carefully and thoroughly, and (4) the relationship of standard-setting and labeling to other energy-efficiency policies.

The role of building energy efficiency in managing atmospheric carbon dioxide

Abstract This paper provides an overview of recent findings concerning trends and prospects for carbon dioxide emissions from the buildings sector. Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the US Department of Energy note that buildings account for 25–30% of total energy-related carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. This means building energy use contributes 10–12% of the increasing net radiative forcing that is inducing global warming. On average, between 1980 and 1990, CO 2 emissions from buildings have grown by 1.7% per year with rates of growth four times greater in developing countries. The high growth in developing countries is mainly due to changes in structural factors (demographics, economic growth) and increases in the amount of energy services demanded by energy consumers. Experience in OECD countries has shown that technologies and policies exist to significantly reduce energy demand in buildings. Some of the main policy instruments to reduce energy demand include energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances, voluntary agreements, financial/economic incentives, and market transformation programs. When converted to carbon emissions, energy forecasts of the World Energy Council suggest that business-as-usual trends will result in building CO 2 emissions growing by 2.6% a year to the year 2020, with the vast majority of the growth taking place in non-OECD countries. Significant opportunities to help raise building energy efficiency at home and abroad exist, should countries begin to more fully commit to mitigating greenhouse gases. Commitments by countries to contain the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in an economically sound manner is likely to induce significant increases in the investment in energy-efficient technologies.

Energy efficiency standards and labels provide a solid foundation for economic growth, climate change mitigation, and regional trade

Governments around the world have increasingly been implementing energy efficiency standards and labeling programs for the past 30 years. There has been an especially rapid growth in the number and extent of these programs over the past 15 years. By the end of 2005, 62 countries had adopted 1818 separate standards or labels covering 82 products. The impact has been dramatic. This paper describes: (1) the benefits that can be obtained through this policy, (2) which countries are implementing standards and labels and for which products, (3) the impacts such programs have been having in some countries, and (4) recent progress through regional cooperation and alignment.

Supporting a Network for Energy Efficiency Labels and Standards Programs in Developing Countries

Much of the developed world has gained experience and success with product energy efficiency standards and labeling programs over the last 20 years, and some developing countries have followed suit. Yet, many developing countries still have little or no experience in the field. Recently, a number of those countries recognized the potential economic and environmental benefits of standards and labeling and have begun to plan or develop such programs.

Why Utilities Should Incorporate Externalities

Should utility companies incorporate environmental externalities in their planning and operations? Of course they should, so long as our society has failed to fully internalize the impact of power plants and energy distribution facilities.