New energy efficiency set to finally launch in the US

Delayed energy efficiency standards may soon go live

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that previously delayed energy efficiency standard will be enacted throughout the U.S. in the coming months. These standards involve metal halide lamps, commercial refrigeration equipment, and walk-in coolers and freezers. The standards will go into effect in November with various provisions associated with these energy efficiency standards being introduced over the next few years. The standards are currently 18 months overdue and the Department of Energy was pushed into action due to a coalition of states that advocate the energy efficiency standards.

Standards could lead to $3.7 billion in savings

Once the standards go into full effect, they could help save more than $3.7 billion in energy costs for utility customers. The standards are also expected to save enough electricity to power approximately 4 million average homes throughout the U.S. The financial potential for the energy efficiency standards have diminished over time as the Department of Energy has been unable to launch these standards in accordance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

Delays prove to be a costly problem

Delays in instituting the energy efficiency standards have lead to a loss in savings of more than $2.31 billion. With every passing month, the delays cost an additional $156 million. Because of these delays, the energy efficiency standards have also failed to mitigate the release of 27.7 million metric tons of emissions, with 2.2 million metric tons being added to that total for every month that the delays continue to keep the standards at bay.

US continues to reduce reliance on fossil-fuels

The U.S. is currently involved in a major effort to reduce the carbon emissions it is responsible for. This has lead the Department of Energy to throw support to various forms of renewable energy in order to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil-fuels. Energy efficiency has become a major focus for the agency in recent years as reducing the rate at which electrical power is consumed also reduced the need for fossil-fuels.