DOE’s efficiency standards will not slow demand, but could save up to $78 billion in electricity bills.
On December 31, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced energy efficiency standards for general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs) and automatic commercial ice makers (ACIMs), achieving its goal of finalizing 10 energy efficiency standards in 2014. Together, the 10 standards are expected to reduce emissions by more than 435 million metric tons and save approximately $78B on electricity bills through 2030.
According to DOE, the average annual use of GSFLs amounts to approximately 630 hours per household, 4,000 hours per commercial establishment, and 4,500 hours per industrial sector establishment. Through 2030, the GSFL standards are expected avoid 90 million metric tons of emissions and save more than $15B in electricity bills. The new GSFL standards support manufacturers that can meet the varying — up-to 10.5 percent — lumens/Watt efficiency increases, starting in 2018 (first compliance year).
The ACIM standards would avoid 4 million metric tons of emissions and save approximately $600M in electricity bills. The DOE highlighted that the more than 30 standards for commercial and household products finalized during the Obama Administration are estimated to save approximately $480B through 2030. Ongoing efforts together with progress made through previous standards are estimated to reduce emissions by at least 3 billion metric tons by 2030.
DOE energy efficiency standards will help slow energy demand growth, however energy demand growth is still largely linked to economic, weather, and population shift factors. According to EIA, year-over-year electricity demand growth was negative three times since 1952: 2009, 2010, and 2013. The most-negative electricity demand growth was in 2009 (-0.82 percent), further highlighting energy demand growth link to economic factors (the 2007-2009 recession).
Originally published by EnerKnol.
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