Carbon emissions reductions resulting from the application of national standards for appliances such as ceiling fans and air conditioners can cover more than cover more than 11 percent of nation’s international commitment under the Paris Agreement, according to new data from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project.
Appliance standards rank as the No. 2 energy-saving tool in the U.S., ASAP says, noting that only corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for cars and trucks saved more energy in 2014. “Appliance standards are the unsung hero of the US national energy policy and climate policy,” said Andrew deLaski, the organization’s executive director, during a Wednesday press conference.
The new data compares the possible carbon emissions reduction from appliance standards to possible reductions from better-known climate efforts, such as the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, which sets emissions standards for existing coal-fired power plants. “Annual carbon emission cuts in 2030 from [appliance] standards completed since 2007 will reach about 220 million metric tons, or about one-quarter of the emissions reductions expected from the administration’s Clean Power Plan,” according to the ASAP data.
