For Immediate Release

For Further Information                                                             
Ronnie Kweller (202) 530-2203 (O); rkweller@ase.org
Clay Crownover (202) 530-2202; ccrownover@ase.org 

Washington, D.C., – The Alliance to Save Energy today expressed its support for appliance standards legislation introduced by the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Alliance Honorary Vice-Chair, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) that will provide net savings to American households of more than $90 billion. 

“Lighting, refrigeration, and home appliances currently make up about 20 percent of the typical American family’s home energy use, representing about $400 a year in energy bills,” said Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan. “Improving the energy efficiency of home appliances and saving money for America’s families -- too many of whom are struggling financially -- is exactly the kind of policy that every member of Congress, regardless of party affiliation or ideology, should support.” 

The legislation builds upon a series of agreements on energy- and water-saving standards negotiated between the manufacturing industry and energy efficiency advocates, including the Alliance, and codifies them into law.  Based on analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, these consensus standards will save about 1.2 quadrillion Btu (“quads”) by 2030 (enough to meet the total energy needs of about 5.6 million American households) and reduce annual U.S. carbon emissions by about 71 million metric tons. 

INCAA covers the following products:

• Residential appliances – refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and room air conditioners;
• Residential heating and cooling equipment – furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps;
• Pole-mounted outdoor lighting fixtures;
• Residential portable lighting fixtures (e.g. floor and table lamps); and,
• Drinking water dispensers, hot food holding cabinets and portable electric spas.

“The Alliance urges the Congress to enact this legislation before the end of the year,” concluded Callahan. “Product manufacturers support the standards proposed; energy efficiency advocates and environmentalists support these standards; consumer advocates support these standards; all that now is needed is for Congress to agree with us that saving energy and money for American families is a national imperative.”  

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The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.