In 1996, the Department of Energy Building Technologies (BT) Program assisted the New York Housing Authority (NYCHA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) in developing a technology procurement program.

Based on a bulk purchase commitment from NYCHA, the Super-Efficient, Apartment-Sized Refrigerator Initiative (SEAR) was launched, making high-efficiency refrigerators available at a very competitive cost to public-housing establishments across the country.

From 1997 through 2004, more than 200,000 apartment sized (14.5-15 cubic feet) refrigerators from a variety of manufacturers were installed by NYCHA and by other housing entities who were able to "piggyback" onto NYCHA's contract. The 1997 model was a new-to-the-market, super-efficient unit estimated to use a third of the energy of the units it was replacing.

In 2000 and 2001 the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power contracted for a slightly larger (18.5 cubic foot) refrigerator that at the time was 30 percent more efficient than the applicable federal standard.

DOE helped develop and promote this procurement through the ENERGY STAR^® Partnership program conducted by its Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assisted with the program by facilitating contracting and financing for HUD-assisted facilities.

The Super-Efficient, Apartment-Sized Refrigerator Initiative ended in December 2004 when NYCHA completed its change-out of nearly every refrigerator in its housing facilities. CEE and DOE staff continue to monitor the multifamily market for new technology options that could save energy and money in publicly-assisted housing.