Environment New Jersey urges officials to adopt energy-saving standards for common products
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Policy would cut carbon pollution by 324 thousand metric tons
Environment New Jersey
NEW BRUNSWICK— Environment New Jersey joined environmental and consumer allies to press state officials to adopt appliance efficiency standards on 18 products, including dishwashers, commercial fryers, water coolers and faucets. The new standards could reduce climate altering carbon dioxide pollution, smog-forming emission and save water resources.
Adopting the recommended standards in New Jersey would annually prevent 324 thousand metric tons of climate-altering carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere — the equivalent of taking over 70,000 cars off of the road each year. The standards would also prevent pollution from nitrogen oxides (smog-causing pollution) and sulfur dioxide (a fine particulate pollution).
“Appliance efficiency standards are a sensible and significant way to improve the health of both people and the planet,” said Allie Astor, Clean Energy Associate, Environment America. “Applying these common sense measures will take a big bite out of pollution by reducing the amount of unnecessary energy wasted by common products.”
These standards would result in annual savings of approximately 557 gigawatts of electricity in New Jersey by 2025, according to the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, a national organization working to advance, win and defend new efficiency standards for appliances, equipment and lighting. That’s enough to power over 53,500 typical households, according to Environment New Jersey calculations.
Annual water savings are estimated to be 6,081 million gallons by 2025, enough to meet the annual water consumption needs of 55,534 average U.S. households. In addition, by 2025 this measure would save New Jersey consumers $176 million dollars annually.
“States can lead-by-example in supporting minimum product efficiency standards that lock in long-term energy savings, align efficiency programs with climate plans, and provide value as part of an integrated carbon reduction plan,” said Claire Miziolek, Senior Manager of Technology and Market Solutions at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP).
“Appliance standards are the best climate and energy policy you’ve never heard of,” added Marianne DiMascio, State Policy Director at the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “People are always surprised to learn how much energy, water, and money is saved just by increasing the minimum efficiency of common items such as computers, faucets, water coolers and lighting, among others.”
