Press Contact: Sarah Griffith, 617-589-3949 ext. 213, sgriffith@cee1.org
Technical Contact: Joanne O'Donnell, 617-589-3949 ext. 214, jodonnell@cee1.org

CEE, Manufacturers, DOE Unite on Water Heating

ENERGY STAR Label Available

CEE members, working together over several years, made a major advance this week, when DOE approved the .62 EF gas storage heater for ENERGY STAR labeling. Articulating the collective insights and wisdom of its efficiency program members and industry partners, CEE led the development of this binational strategy to overcome market barriers and make more efficient water heaters available.

"The ENERGY STAR program empowers consumers to make smart energy choices that will save money, and energy, and reduce our carbon footprint," DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner said.

U.S. DOE is convinced that the strategy is the right one and is a worthy extension of the ENERGY STAR brand, but like CEE, is not content to let this level be the last word in efficiency for water heaters. Together, CEE and DOE are working with the manufacturers to transform the market for water heating and support the introduction of more advanced, highly efficient water heating technologies.

In January 2008, CEE released efficiency specifications for high-efficiency residential water heating. The new CEE High-efficiency Gas Water Heating initiative is intended to create a common platform across the U.S. and Canada on which to build an increased market share for high-efficiency storage and tankless products. For efficiency program administrators, the keystone of the consensus strategy is to introduce efficient gas storage heating by promoting the .62 EF level. Gas efficiency programs adopting the initiative will build awareness among consumers about the efficiency opportunity and among installers and distribution channels about the advantages of higher efficiency.

CEE will be working with the water heating manufacturing community and ENERGY STAR to ensure that the new CEE Initiative and the ENERGY STAR water heating label have the greatest market impact possible. For programs that adopt the initiative, the primary means of supporting the awareness and sales of high-efficiency water heaters will be through efficiency program incentives and extensive education campaigns both to residential consumers and the supply chain. "It's great to have the ENERGY STAR brand to build the market for efficient gas water heating, along with our partnership with the manufacturers. We have a wonderful opportunity to improve the efficiency of water heaters, and this is a critical first step that efficiency programs will be able to embrace," said CEE Executive Director, Marc Hoffman. Stakeholders have agreed to coordinate on the campaign through CEE. To participate or get more information, call Kara Rodgers at 617-589-3949 ext 202 or e-mail her at krodgers@cee1.org.

Water heating represents a major use of energy in North American homes, with a potential for significant natural gas savings. In the U.S., water heating accounts for approximately 15 percent of residential energy consumption, making it the third largest energy end use in homes behind space heating and lighting appliances. It is estimated that 54 percent of U.S. water heaters are fueled by natural gas. In Canada, water heating is estimated to be the second largest residential energy end use behind space heating, accounting for nearly 22 percent of household energy consumption. About 59 percent of Canadian water heaters are fueled by natural gas. If all gas fired storage and tankless water heaters shipped in 2007 were efficient enough to meet their respective ENERGY STAR and CEE efficiency specifications , then over 750 thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide could be saved per year. This translates to an annual savings over baseline models of 13 percent for storage water heaters and 5 percent for tankless water heaters.

CEE

CEE is a consortium of efficiency program administrators from across the U.S. and Canada who work together on common approaches to advancing efficiency. Through joining forces, the individual efficiency programs of CEE are able to partner not only with each other, but with other industries, trade associations, and government agencies. By working together at CEE, administrators leverage the effect of their funding dollars, exchange information on effective practices and, by doing so, achieve greater energy efficiency for the public good.