On August 27, PennEnvironment released a report saying a typical household in Pennsylvania stands to save an average of $128 annually on utility bills over the next two decades, thanks to newly updated national appliance efficiency standards

Pennsylvania businesses are expected to be a major benefactor to these new standards, and are projected to collectively save an estimated $68.2 million per year on average over the next two decades on energy costs due to the new requirements.

“These updated standards will save consumers money for years to come, just by using more efficient appliances. It’s a clear win for Pennsylvanians’ wallets,” said PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center Deputy Director Flora Cardoni. “For Pennsylvania residents and businesses, the prospect of sustained annual utility bill savings is welcome news.”

The savings projections are published by ASAP and PIRG, Environment America’s sister organization, as part of their new policy analysis, Reducing Costs Across America: New Appliance Standards Save Consumers Money in Every State.

Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has updated energy efficiency standards for a range of appliances. 

The final standards for commercial unitary air conditioners and heat pumps, and for circulator pumps, reflect recommendations from a federal advisory committee that includes manufacturer, advocacy, State, and utility representatives. [Read more here]

The final standards for dishwashers and miscellaneous refrigeration products (e.g. wine coolers) reflect a joint recommendation from a wide range of stakeholders, including the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Consumer Federation of America, and energy efficiency advocates.  [Read more here]

“Consumers are going to save money year after year thanks to efficiency standards set during the Biden administration,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Whether you’re replacing a water heater or a clothes dryer, these standards are going to ensure you get a better product that doesn’t leave you with needlessly high utility bills.”

“The Biden administration’s updated appliance efficiency standards will help Pennsylvanians live longer, healthier lives,” said Cardoni.

PIRG has long advocated for more efficient appliances, alongside ASAP, the Consumer Federation of America, Climate Action Campaign and others.

Most recently, U.S. PIRG Education Fund and its sister organizations Environment America Research & Policy Center and Environment America, urged the Biden administration to finalize strong and long overdue updates to efficiency standards.

Strong energy efficiency standards, alongside solutions for pollution across other agencies, will significantly reduce climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania and help the Biden administration meet its goal of cutting climate pollution in half by the end of the decade, relative to 2005 levels.

Click Here for a copy of the report.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Pittsburgh Works Together Releases New Report: The PJM Grid In Peril: What Will Keep The Lights On?  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bills To Establish PA Baseload Energy Development Fund Based On Texas Model; And Have One Permit For Power Plants  [PaEN]

-- Ready For 100% Montgomery County: Communities With Half The County Population Support Clean Energy Future  [PaEN]

-- PennEnvironment: New US DOE Appliance Efficiency Standards Will Save PA Households $128 Annually [PaEN]

-- Washington & Jefferson College To Host Pittsburgh Regional Carbon Capture Conference Oct. 22 In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Sept. 19 Webinar: A Year Later: Have Leaders Addressed Health Concerns From Natural Gas Development Raised In University Of Pittsburgh Public Health Studies?  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Natural Gas Subsidy Plan Rolled Out To Stabilize Grid [Sen. Yaw’s Energy Development Fund ]

-- Utility Dive: PA Senator [Sen. Yaw] To Introduce Energy Fund Bill, Bill To Require One Permit With One  ‘Statute of Limitations’ For Power Plant Projects

-- Utility Dive: PJM December Electricity Auction Prices Could Jump 157% Over July Auction, Morgan Stanley

-- Utility Dive: Texas Energy Fund Elects 17 Gas-Fired Power Plant Projects Totaling Almost 10 GW For Possible Loans

-- Reuters: Texas Energy Fund Approves Gas-Fired Power Plants For Next Stage Of Consideration

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: Getting Real About Electric Grid Reliability In PJM After July Capacity Auction - By Glen Thomas, Former Chair of the PA Public Utility Commission

-- MCall Guest Essay: Sen. Boscola, PA Senate Should Advance Community Solar - By Monica Carey, Solar United Neighbors 

-- TribLive Letter: Pennsylvanians Will Benefit From Community Solar - By Monica Carey

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: New State Grant Program Means Solar Panels Could Bring Deeper Savings To Cash-Strapped Philly Schools

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EOS Energy Storage Meets Milestones For $30 Million

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Pittsburgh Works Report: Red Tape, New Power Plant Delays Put PJM Electric Grid ‘In Peril’

-- WHYY/BillyPenn: PECO Customers Could Face Double-Digit Electricity Bill Increases Next Year; Experts Blame Growing Demand, Lagging Transition To Renewable Energy

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Biden Clean Power Plant Reboot Will Cripple PA’s Energy Affordability - By Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland)  [Need To Diversify Our Energy Generation Away From 59% Natural Gas To Prevent Price Spikes]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Troubling Times Are Ahead For American Energy - By Commonwealth Foundation  [59% Of Energy On PA’s Electric Grid Comes From One Fuel]

-- Bitfarms Cryptocurrency Miner Announces Lease Agreement For Sharon, PA Data Center

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mawson Infrastructure Group Expands Cryptocurrency Operations Into Ohio

[Posted: August 27, 2024]

9/2/2024