California Energy Commission

Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards and Plug-Loads

IEPR Workshop on Plug-Load Efficiency

California Energy Commission

June 18, 2015

Ken RiderAppliances and Existing Buildings Office

Efficiency Division

Ken.Rider@energy.ca.gov / 916-654-5006

California Energy Commission

Historical Perspective

• California first set plug-load standards in 1976 for refrigerators, the first US appliance efficiency and first plug-load efficiency regulation.

• Plug-load standards continued to be set, with recent examples including standards for televisions and battery charger systems.

• New plug-load standards for computers and monitors are being discussed.

• Standards have been effective at slowing the growth of expanding plug-loads.

California Energy Commission

California Energy Commission

Market Transformation

• Covered products must comply with minimum efficiency levels to be sold or offered for sale in California.

• Achieves full market adoption and extends to retrofits in existing buildings through natural product replacement.

• California appliance standards cause market transformation outside of the state, and in some cases can lead to transformation of the entire North American market. This magnifies energy savings exponentially.

California Energy Commission

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20160

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Direct View 50" Television On Mode Power Consumption Over Time

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California Energy Commission

Standards are Fueled by Innovation

• Efficiency standards require economically feasible technologies:o They do not invent technologies;o They do increase market adoption of efficient technologies.

• Over 40 years have passed, and new opportunities continue to arise, even for refrigerators!

• Standards are a viable approach to energy efficiency as long as scientists and engineers produce new innovative technologies.

• Energy Commission has plans to investigate new standards for several products.

California Energy Commission

Highlighted Green = already regulatedHighlighted Yellow = regulations plannedHighlighted Red = No regulations planned

California Energy Commission

Advantages of Appliance Standards

• Relatively high savings and low costs compared to rebate, outreach, and education programs.

• Can overcome non-technical barriers to increased efficiency:• Renter/owner split incentives;• Building/buyer split incentives;• Information barriers; and• Extreme aversion to risk and profitable status quo.

• Can target new saturation of appliances as well as replacement units.

• Savings begin as soon the product is used and without additional intervention.

California Energy Commission

Limitations of Appliance Standards

• California is prohibited from adopting more efficient standards for many plug-loads due to federal preemption.

• Appliance standards cannot target installation or opportunities to save further energy past the store shelf.

• Can only target “average”, not heavy users of plug-loads.• Must wait five years to revise standards (by law).

California Energy Commission

Based on California Energy Demand 2014–2024 Final Forecast, California Energy Commission, tables 2 and 25.

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2015 Electricity Consumption and Magnitude of Standards Savings

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