The post CFA Supports Pro-Consumer Massachusetts Legislation to Phase Out Florescent Lightbulbs appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

While many consumers are already aware of the significant savings of switching out their old incandescents or CFLs with more efficient LED light bulbs, or of installing a programmable thermostat that adjusts the heating or cooling temperatures of their homes based on need and occupancy. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the rebates and tax incentives included in it, make the already compelling case for more and more homeowners to consider replacing their central AC with an air or ground source heat pump, particularly when their AC is at the end of its useful life.  It’s wise to plan ahead and not wait until the system dies so you can make a well-considered choice rather than be in an emergency situation possibly faced with a limited, less efficient selection.

Heat pumps work the same as a central air conditioning system in the summer, and provide heating in the cooler months. This can reduce or even eliminate the home’s use of combustible fuels for heating. In the heating mode, heat pumps are about three times as efficient as a gas furnace. As renewables continue to play a larger role on the electricity grid, using an efficient heat pump for most of a home’s heating will significantly reduce the home’s carbon footprint. A recent study shows savings of 45-50% for existing homes.[1]

Compared to replacing a traditional central AC system, installing an equivalent size heat pump system will cost about $1,800 more upfront, for an average home. However, the IRA provides a 30% tax credit for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters — up to $2,000 per taxpayer. Thanks to the efficient heat (and cooling!) these systems provide, consumers can see savings of 45-50% on their utility bills for existing homes![2]

Heat pumps are a prime example of the type of energy efficiency investment homeowners should embrace, especially as they replace or install a new AC system. With the passage of the IRA, a heat pump will cost less to install, save considerable amounts every month on utility bills and significantly help reduce a home’s carbon footprint while also providing support to our nation’s aging electric grid and infrastructure. Commit today to heat and cool your home with a product that won’t warm up the planet: an efficient and affordable heat pump.

Want to celebrate Energy Efficiency Day by doing something impactful to decrease your home’s energy use and carbon emissions while saving money in the process? Pledge to make your next central air conditioning system a heat pump!

The post Why You Should Consider a Heat Pump Sooner Than Later and 10 Ways to Save Energy and Money Today! appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The final standards announced by the Department of Energy (DOE) will reduce average household costs by $350 over the life of a furnace compared to using old-style models and cut 332 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from furnaces sold over 30 years, according to the agency. The standards will also reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, which cause asthma attacks, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death.

Furnace efficiency standards had not been meaningfully updated since they were set by Congress in 1987. DOE made a slight update in 2007, but to an efficiency level that 99% of models already met.

Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, said: “Heating is the largest utility cost in most homes, but we’ve still been installing many inefficient new models. Now, that’s finally going to come to an end. It’s a major accomplishment for the Energy Department and one that’s going to make a real difference reducing bills and greenhouse gases.”

Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said: “This has been decades in the making. Furnace technology advanced a long time ago, but the standards didn’t keep up. Until now. This is going to guarantee that all new models use proven energy-saving technologies. We won’t keep wasting so much heat for decades more.”

Richard Eckman, energy advocate with Consumer Federation of America, said: “Although the harm done to consumers through years of inaction and stonewalling by some gas utilities on this standard cannot be undone, by adopting a higher standard, future harm will be prevented. Thankfully, the Department’s final standards announced today will save financially strapped Americans money, provide cleaner air to breathe, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet our climate commitments.”

Johanna Neumann, senior director at Environment America, said: “Using energy efficiently protects our air, water, and open spaces. The Department of Energy is protecting our environment from needless pollution by making sure new furnaces aren’t sold with outdated, inefficient technology.”

Charlie Harak, senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center, said: “This is an extremely important rule for the millions of low-income households where a gas-fired furnace provides the heat.  Low-income households are disproportionately renters, where the landlord chooses which heating equipment to install. This rule ensures that the landlord will have to purchase efficient furnaces that will significantly lower bills for low-income tenants. Low-income homeowners who have to buy a furnace will benefit as well from much lower energy bills.”

Helen Burt, Chief Customer Officer at National Grid, said: “Energy efficiency is one of the most powerful tools we can offer our customers to reduce energy costs. National Grid supports the use of federal appliance standards like the rule announced today by DOE to provide equitable access to cost-effective energy efficiency gains. This standard helps ensure that the benefits of these gains reach all customer segments, including renters, who often do not make decisions about the appliances in their homes.”

Joe Vukovich, staff attorney at NRDC, said: “Thanks to this standard, consumers can be confident that when they go to purchase a new furnace they are getting the most efficient technology—one that will save a household $350 over the life of the furnace. All of that signals a win for pocketbooks and for the climate, as efficient furnaces help significantly cut climate-warming carbon emissions. And due to the rebates and tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, it’s never been a better time to upgrade home appliances to more climate-friendly versions.”

Heating is the largest energy use for most homes. Nearly half of U.S. homes—about 50 million—are heated with a gas or propane furnace.

The updated standards will require new furnaces to use about 15% less energy than today’s least efficient models, effectively phasing out non-condensing models. DOE estimates that the vast majority of consumers who would have purchased a non-condensing furnace before the standard will instead purchase a condensing furnace. Condensing models, which today make up about half of new furnace purchases, use more of the heat from the furnace’s combustion chamber, reducing energy waste.

Federal law requires DOE to periodically review standards for furnaces and other products; under a court-approved settlement in 2014, DOE was required to finalize a new furnace standard by 2016. Thus, this rule is long overdue.

The new standards will take effect in 2028.

The post Wide Coalition Welcomes Furnace Efficiency Standards Set to Cut Energy Bills and Climate Pollution appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post CFA Letter to House Oversight Committee Explains Support for DOE’s Recently Proposed Standards for Cooking Products appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

Consumer Federation of America submitted comments to the Department of Energy in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding refrigerators. Highlighting the consumer support for greater efficiency for refrigerators, which will save billions of dollars in energy bills and eliminate millions of tons of climate-harming emissions, we urged the Department to promptly finalize standards for refrigerators. Consumers, and particularly low-income consumers, should no longer be subject to higher electric bills because out-of-date, less efficient technologies continue to be made available in the marketplace.

The post CFA Urges DOE to Enact More Energy Efficient Standards for Refrigerators appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post CFA Urges DOE to Enact More Energy Efficient Standards for Clothes Washers appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The recently proposed standards would ensure both gas and electric stoves and cooktops use more efficient designs or technologies, saving money for their users and reducing indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. DOE estimates that nearly half of the gas stoves sold today already meet the proposed efficiency level, including all entry-level models.

The comments from members of the public were gathered by Earthjustice and submitted today, the final day for stakeholder comment on the proposal. The proposed rule was also supported in comments submitted to DOE by environmental, climate, and energy efficiency advocates and health advocates.

Kanchan Swaroop, senior technical advocacy associate with the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), said: “This has been long overdue. Some electric stoves waste electricity when they’re not turned on, and some gas stove burners aren’t configured well and can waste heat. This proposal would ensure that all stoves, whether gas or electric, are using more efficient designs and technologies. The department really did its homework here to ensure that gas stoves with features like continuous cast-iron grates and high-output burners can meet the standard.”

Timothy Ballo, senior attorney at Earthjustice, said: “It’s taken 45 years since Congress gave DOE the authority, but we’re finally on the cusp of getting the first efficiency performance standard for cooktops. Reducing the gas burned in kitchen stoves is critical for healthy indoor air quality, and the proposed standards will help by making gas cooktops more fuel efficient. The strong public support demonstrated through many comments endorsing the proposed standards reflects that DOE has proposed a cost-effective, commonsense measure.”

Richard Eckman, energy advocate with the Consumer Federation of America, said: “While it has taken decades, the venerable stove is finally on the path to getting money-saving, performance-based efficiency standards. DOE’s proposal would save Americans $1.7 billion over the years ahead, move us toward cleaner air, and improve the least efficient stoves on the market today. Our surveys over the past decade show that consumers overwhelmingly want more energy-efficient appliances and strongly support stronger federal standards. In addition, they understand that energy prices will continue to be volatile, as the last year has clearly demonstrated. Rigorous future standards will be critical to protecting consumer pocketbooks and continuing an aggressive effort to address climate change.”

The proposed standards for stoves would set separate efficiency requirements for electric smooth, electric coil, and gas models. DOE’s proposed standards for each type of product would ensure that electric or gas bill savings exceed any increase in product purchase costs.

The standards would ensure that all models take advantage of proven advances already in use by many stoves today. The standard would cut 22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, 245 thousand tons of methane emissions, and 52 thousand tons of NOx emissions over 30 years of sales, according to DOE.

For gas stoves, DOE’s analysis found that the proposed efficiency level could be met by optimizing burner and grate design (including grate weight, flame angle, and distance from burner ports to the cooking surface). For electric smooth cooktops, the proposed efficiency level could be met by reducing standby power consumption using low-standby-loss electronic controls.

The post Proposed Boost to Stove Efficiency Garners Public Support appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

In reviewing the standards for the many product classes of refrigerators, it is clear that the DOE has chosen to set the standard at the lowest life cycle cost.  That may seem reasonable, but it is inconsistent with the statute and sound public policy. A standard at one higher level of efficiency is superior; it is.

• technically feasible
• saves more energy
• takes account of the climate and public health value of higher standards, ensuring consumers get the benefit of capturing externalities
• economically justified
• increases LCC slightly
• yields a benefit-cost ratio of almost 2
• delivers more consumer pocket surplus
• has an acceptable payback period of half the life of the appliance or less while it negatively impacts only about half of consumers

The post CFA Testifies at DOE Hearing on the Proposed Refrigerators and Freezers Efficiency Standards appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post CFA Urges Colorado Legislature to Pass Bill Adopting Appliance Efficiency Standards and Phasing Out Florescent Lightbulbs appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

“The long-awaited update to refrigerator and clothes washer standards is welcome news for consumers and, in particular, financially struggling households who, on average, have disproportionately higher energy burdens,” said Richard Eckman, an Energy Advocate at the Consumer Federation of America. “Our surveys over the past decade show that consumers overwhelmingly want more energy efficient appliances and strongly support stronger Federal standards. Having stronger standards in place will ensure that those products meet a higher threshold of efficiency, thereby saving financially strapped Americans money on their utility bills. This is especially beneficial for renters, who rarely get to choose their own refrigerator and clothes washer, and are stuck paying a greater percentage of their income on utility bills than homeowners do.[i] Strong efficiency standards can help ensure that landlords buy efficient appliances for their tenants.”

The current federal standards for refrigerators and clothes washers have both been in place for over a decade, even as energy and water-saving technologies have improved. American households have waited longer than necessary for pocketbook savings from more efficient clothes washers and refrigerators. Together the two standards would save consumers $425 on their utility bills over the life of the appliances.[ii]

The Consumer Federation of America applauds the Department of Energy for proposing updated efficiency standards for refrigerators and clothes washers and urges the Department to issue the final rules as soon as is practicable. The urgency of phasing out inefficient appliances has never been more pressing; as high energy prices continue to hit consumer pocketbooks, the western United States grapples with an ongoing water crisis, and the planet continues to warm because of climate change.

[i] A recent CFA-CLASP survey found that product failure is the main reason that homeowners and landlords replace their clothes washers and refrigerators.

[ii] The standards would save American consumers $3.5 billion per year on their energy and water bills.

The post Department of Energy Takes Important Step on Efficiency Standards for Refrigerators and Clothes Washers appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post Advocates Urge DOE to Promptly Finalize Efficiency Test Procedures for Air Cleaners appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post Advocates Urge DOE to Adopt Higher Efficiency Standard for Microwave Ovens appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The nationally representative survey of over 4,000 Americans revealed that a majority of the country, regardless of race, gender, or income, is in favor of standards and in support of payback periods ranging between three, five, and even ten years.

“With rising energy prices and widespread inflation, now more than ever, consumers can use the additional pocketbook savings that updated efficiency standards will provide in hundreds of dollars annually thanks to the increased energy efficiency of their household appliances,” said Richard Eckman, Communications Manager and Energy Advocate at Consumer Federation of America. “Our data show that consumers across all demographics support efficiency standards and are willing to make an investment in energy efficiency that pays for itself over a short period of time through energy bill savings.”

The survey found that two-thirds of US households replaced major appliances – like refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and space heating equipment – within the last five years, largely due to emergency situations like product failure.

“Without stringent efficiency requirements, we are missing out on massive cost and energy savings that would benefit consumers across the country – especially lower-income households,” said Matt Malinowski, Director of Climate Research at CLASP, an efficiency policy NGO. “The data showcase the urgent need to eliminate the worst performing products from the market to promote the equitable benefits of leading technology.”

When faced with the need for a new appliance, a notable portion of the population turns to the used market. The survey found that low-income, Black, and renter households are at least 50% more likely than the general population to replace a major appliance with a used product.

“Our findings suggest a large used appliance market in the US. When the most inefficient appliances are passed on as second- or even third-hand items, they can have persistent and lasting cost burdens, particularly for low-income renters and households of color that spend a disproportionate share of their income on energy bills. We need to amplify efforts that lower barriers to efficient appliances for marginalized groups and expand initiatives that prevent the oldest, least-efficient products from entering the resale market,” said Lauren Boucher, Research Manager at CLASP.

Standards already save the average American household over $300 per year on their energy bills. To ensure that all Americans reap additional economic benefit from more efficient technologies, the authors recommend that the US Department of Energy meet legally binding deadlines for updating standards and when warranted, implement efficiency requirements for uncovered products.

The post New US Consumer Insights Reveal Overwhelming Support for Appliance Efficiency appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

More stringent energy efficiency standards will benefit all consumers through energy bill savings. Survey results indicate high levels of public support for federal energy efficiency standards. Among all respondents, 76% said they support standards. Among different demographic subsets broken out by race, income, and homeownership status, support remained high, ranging from 72% to 82%. Support remains strong in response to questions about support for efficiency standards with different payback periods. The survey showed that 71% of respondents support standards within a three-year payback period and 64% within a five-year payback period. A majority of all respondents, 54%, support standards within a ten-year payback period.

The post U.S. Consumer Attitudes Toward Appliance Efficiency Standards and Purchasing Behaviors by Income, Race, and Homeownership appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post Advocates Support DOE’s Proposed Clothes Dryer Standards appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

As heating bills are often the largest utility bill households face, adopting the proposed standard would promise substantial financial benefits for consumers, especially low-income consumers.

The post Consumer Groups Urge DOE to Adopt the Proposed Furnace Efficiency Standard Rule appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

While many consumers are already aware of the significant savings of switching out their old incandescents or CFLs with more efficient LED light bulbs, or of installing a programmable thermostat that adjusts the heating or cooling temperatures of their homes based on need and occupancy. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the rebates and tax incentives included in it, make the already compelling case for more and more homeowners to consider replacing their central AC with an air or ground source heat pump, particularly when their AC is at the end of its useful life.  It’s wise to plan ahead and not wait until the system dies so you can make a well-considered choice rather than be in an emergency situation possibly faced with a limited, less efficient selection.

Heat pumps work the same as a central air conditioning system in the summer, and provide heating in the cooler months. This can reduce or even eliminate the home’s use of combustible fuels for heating. In the heating mode, heat pumps are about three times as efficient as a gas furnace. As renewables continue to play a larger role on the electricity grid, using an efficient heat pump for most of a home’s heating will significantly reduce the home’s carbon footprint. A recent study shows savings of 45-50% for existing homes.[1]

Compared to replacing a traditional central AC system, installing an equivalent size heat pump system will cost about $1,800 more upfront, for an average home. However, the IRA provides a 30% tax credit for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters — up to $2,000 per taxpayer. Thanks to the efficient heat (and cooling!) these systems provide, consumers can see savings of 45-50% on their utility bills for existing homes![2]

Heat pumps are a prime example of the type of energy efficiency investment homeowners should embrace, especially as they replace or install a new AC system. With the passage of the IRA, a heat pump will cost less to install, save considerable amounts every month on utility bills and significantly help reduce a home’s carbon footprint while also providing support to our nation’s aging electric grid and infrastructure. Commit today to heat and cool your home with a product that won’t warm up the planet: an efficient and affordable heat pump.

Want to celebrate Energy Efficiency Day by doing something impactful to decrease your home’s energy use and carbon emissions while saving money in the process? Pledge to make your next central air conditioning system a heat pump!

The post Why You Should Consider a Heat Pump Sooner Than Later and 10 Ways to Save Energy and Money Today! appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

LED light bulbs are a great example of how innovation and technology can make your life easier. They last up to 25 times longer and consume up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.  And it’s great not having to change bulbs as often.  You pay a little more up-front, but shop around, prices are dropping.

Tip: By switching five of your home’s most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs, you can save $75 on energy costs annually.  To match the soft, yellow-white light of your old bulbs, choose LEDs between 2700-3000 kelvin. Bulbs with a cooler or bluish light will be between 4000-6500 kelvin.

2. Heat and Cool Efficiently

Don’t waste money heating or cooling an empty home. Install a programmable thermostat and in colder weather schedule your home’s heat to lower when you are away or asleep, and increase when you are returning home or waking-up. In warm weather, schedule the thermostat to raise the temperature when you are away or asleep, and lower it at other times.

Tip: Follow the U.S. Department of Energy recommended temperatures and be energy-efficient all year.

3. Maintain Your HVAC (Heating and Cooling) System

Make sure to clean or change your furnace filters regularly. A dirty furnace filter will slow down air flow, making the system work harder to keep you warm (or cool) and costing you more money.

Tip: Consider getting a winter tune-up. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a semi-annual or yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can be vital to improve efficiency, saving you money and making your home more comfortable.

4. Seal Those Leaks

On average, heating and cooling account for almost half of a home’s energy consumption. In fact, all the little leaks can be equivalent to leaving open a 3-foot-by-3-foot window.

Tip: Take simple steps like caulking windows, sealing leaks around chimneys and recessed lighting, and sliding draft guards under your doors to save up to 20% on heating costs.

5. Wash Your Clothes Efficiently

A washing machine spends 90% of its energy to heat water.  There are a number of ways to use it efficiently.

Tip: Consider using cold water instead. In addition, try to run full loads as much as possible, because the machine uses roughly the same amount of energy regardless of the load size. Also, consider air-drying.

6. Clean Your Dishes Efficiently

Dishwashers certainly make life easier—and on top of that, you can use your dishwasher efficiently to save energy dollars.

Tip: Avoid the “rinse hold” cycle and skip heated drying – simply open the door at the end of the washing cycle and let the dishes air dry!

7. Turn the Electronics Off

It’s all too easy to forget and leave electronics plugged in that are not in use.

Tip: Turn off unnecessary/idle lights, appliances and electronics. A power strip can help turn off multiple items at once and avoid ‘phantom loads’. (Sometimes the simplest things are really effective!)

8. Winter Tip: Invite the Sun In

Don’t forget to take advantage of the sun during the cooler shorter days.

Tip: Open curtains/shade on your west-and south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and save 2%-12%.

9. Summer Tip: Close Blinds and Shades

Excess, warm summer sunlight makes it harder to keep your home cool and comfortable.

Tip: During the day, keep your blinds and shades closed to prevent warm air from building up in your home.

10. Look for the ENERGY STAR® Label

Consider this: Clothes washers and dryers that have earned the ENERGY STAR® label provide superior energy efficiency by incorporating advanced features that deliver on performance while being gentler on your clothes. You can save $380 over the lifetime of an ENERGY STAR® certified clothes washer.  They use 25% less energy and approximately 33% less water than standard models. Learn more at: www.energystar.gov.

Tip: If you are undertaking a major home remodel or new build, consider installing ENERGY STAR® qualified HVAC equipment and appliances.

For more energy saving info, visit energystar.gov

The post 10 Tips to Save Energy Dollars appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

NRDC along with Public Citizen (represented by attorneys at NRDC), Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, Consumer Federation of America, the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants (MUPHT) (with Earthjustice as their counsel), and over a dozen states and cities, sued DOE in 2020 for failing to review and update the overdue energy efficiency standards, including standards for large energy users like refrigerators and water heaters.

“This settlement is a triumph for consumers and the environment. It will jumpstart DOE review of efficiency standards poised to save $650 billion in utility bills and avoid the release of, at least, nearly a billion metric tons of climate-warming carbon pollution by 2050,” said Joe Vukovich, NRDC energy efficiency advocate. “Under the Trump administration, DOE completely abdicated its duty to review and update energy efficiency standards for the appliances we use every day. Today, the court set us back on track to reap the significant consumer, economic, and environmental benefits of updated energy-efficiency standards.”

“Setting strong efficiency standards on the products we use most often helps to achieve the cost-effective reductions in energy use and power plant emissions that we sorely need to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” said Timothy Ballo, senior attorney at Earthjustice. “We’re happy to see the Department of Energy get back on track to evaluate standards on everyday products that make a huge impact on our emissions reductions.”

“With inflation high and the planet cooking, America desperately needs updated and upgraded energy efficiency standards. As the settlement reflects, it is time for the Department of Energy to get to work and issue the new efficiency rules that already should have been finalized,” said Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen.

“This agreement is essential for catching up on missed deadlines as quickly as possible in order for the incredible consumer, economic, public health and environmental benefits of updated standards to be realized,” said Richard Eckman, an Energy Advocate at the Consumer Federation of America. “Now more than ever, consumers can use the additional pocketbook savings that updated efficiency standards will provide in the billions annually thanks to the increased energy efficiency of common household appliances. The agreement is also crucial in order to prevent millions of metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change from being emitted. We’re looking forward to working with DOE in moving forward with updates to appliance efficiency standards.”

“The technology exists to make consumer products and commercial equipment incredibly energy efficient, and it is the responsibility of DOE to hold manufacturers accountable to meeting the highest possible standards,” said Jessica Tritsch, building electrification campaign director, Sierra Club. “This settlement will help us meet climate goals but also help American families save money on their energy bills and create sustainable manufacturing jobs for the future. The strongest possible energy efficiency standards will also ensure Americans keep their lights on and their heat or air conditioning on when the weather turns extreme by not overtaxing our electrical system. After all, heat waves and strong storms are only getting more common in the face of climate change — a crisis we must do everything we can to address with all the tools we have at our disposal.”

“This agreement will conserve energy and save consumers money when they use everyday appliances,” said Howard Crystal, legal director, Center for Biological Diversity’s Energy Justice Program. “Energy efficiency is critical to addressing the climate emergency and ensuring a livable planet, even if it doesn’t get as much attention as other efforts. We’re pleased the department will finally move forward with these commonsense standards.”

“We applaud this settlement, which will save huge amounts of energy and keep money in the pockets of consumers across America, including the 85,000 low-income public housing tenants Mass Union represents,” said Jack Cooper, executive director, Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants.

The post U.S. Department of Energy Must Implement Delayed Efficiency Standards appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post DOE Encouraged to Continue to Investigating Load-Based Testing for Dehumidifiers appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

Annual pocketbook savings were meant to start over two years ago, however, the previous administration refused to implement the 45 lumens/watt “backstop” standard for a wide range of lighting products mandated by Congress.[1] Each month of delay has cost American consumers nearly $300 million in higher utility bills and has resulted in another 800,000 tons of climate-changing CO₂ emissions being released over the lifetimes of the incandescent bulbs sold in that month.

Thankfully, consumers have already benefited from the more efficient LEDs available on the market; however, approximately 30 percent of light bulbs sold across the United States in 2020 were still energy-wasting incandescent or halogen incandescent lamps. Nearly all of these bulbs would fail to meet the statutory 45 lumens/watt backstop standard. Because most LED lamps can meet the 45 lumens/watt standard, DOE’s actions are expected to accelerate the ongoing transition to LEDs. Changing just one bulb from an incandescent bulb to an LED will save $40 ⎼ $90 over ten years. Using a low estimate of $55 in savings and assuming a household has 45 incandescent bulbs, switching to LEDs translates into $1,000 in net savings over ten years.

To allow for a smooth market transition, the standard will not be fully enforced until July, 2023. “We applaud forward-looking retailers such as Ikea who have already pulled inefficient light bulbs from their shelves and are selling only energy-efficient LEDs. We urge other retailers to follow their lead and do the same so consumers can benefit starting with their very next purchase,” said Richard Eckman, Energy Advocate at the Consumer Federation of America.

“The long-awaited change to lightbulb efficiency standards is welcome news for all consumers and, in particular, financially struggling households who, on average, have disproportionately higher energy burdens,” said Charlie Harak, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “The revised standards will help ensure that all consumers have access to low-cost, energy-efficient LEDs that will bring tangible savings each time they replace an incandescent bulb with a more efficient LED bulb.”

[1] The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 required that the backstop standard go into effect on January 1, 2020, in the event DOE did not itself adopt a standard at least as energy efficient

The post DOE Finalizes Long Overdue, Legally Required Efficiency Standard for Common Lighting Products appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post Advocates Join Industry Association Advocating for an Air Cleaner Efficiency Standard appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post CFA Joins Advocates in Responding to DOE’s Request for Comments on Dishwasher Efficiency Standards appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post Advocates Urge DOE to Update Test Procedures for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.

The post CFA and Fellow Advocates Support DOE’s Proposed Cooking Products Test Procedures appeared first on Consumer Federation of America.