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News Archive · Press Releases · Current News

12/19/05
CEE revises residential HVAC specification
12/15/05
CEE launches Commercial Kitchens Initiative
9/19/05
Lighting for Tomorrow winners are announced
3/15/05
Understanding, sales of ENERGY-STAR-labeled products on the rise
1/18/05
Lighting for Tomorrow launches new competition
1/3/05
CEE revises clothes washer specification
12/6/04
CEE launches water and wastewater initiative
11/19/04
CEE launches commercial lighting initiative
11/12/04
NEMA releases state-level motor shipment data
7/12/04
CEE, ARI launch directory of efficient HVAC equipment
5/17/04
Lighting for Tomorrow winners are announced
4/30/04
Lighting for Tomorrow winners will be announced May 17
3/10/04
CEE ENERGY STAR Household Survey reveals heightened public awareness
2/24/04
MDM launches 1-2-3 Approach to Motor Management
1/19/04
NSTAR program enables CEE to install energy-efficient lighting
1/9/04
Motor Decisions Matter campaign extended for three more years
1/6/04
CEE launches initiative for commercial glass-door, reach in refrigerators
1/2/04
CEE modifies specifications for residential and commercial clothes washers
12/22/03
CEE Board approves air handler specification
12/18/03
CEE revises specifications for residential HVAC initiative
8/19/03
Efficient commercial refrigeration options save energy, money
5/5/03
Lighting for Tomorrow winners announced in New Orleans
4/22/03
ENERGY STAR Survey report is released
1/23/03
Lighting for Tomorrow, a national design competition, is underway
1/17/03
Availability of high-efficiency gas furnaces hits all-time high
12/23/02
CEE upgrades specifications for room air conditioners and commercial washers
12/19/02
CEE launches two commercial refrigeration initiatives
10/22/02
CEE revises specification for gas furnaces
10/4/02
Six more organizations join CEE
10/3/02
David Goldstein receives prestigious MacArthur Fellows Program award
10/1/02
Hoffman's report from EEMODS: Motor Decisions Matter is 'world class'
9/20/02
Motor Decisions Matter featured on AP newswire
7/10/02
CEE adds six new members
7/1/02
CEE modifies refrigerator specifications for SEHA
7/1/02
CEE's HECAC specification is revised
5/28/02
Drought relief: Resource-efficient clothes washers can help
3/8/02
Energy efficiency is now a high priority for Americans
2/1/02
CEE revises residential clothes washer specifications
6/25/01
CEE launches Motor Decisions Matter campaign
6/20/01
CEE and NEMA align on premium motor specifications


December 23, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Foster, CEE Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 207

CEE upgrades specifications for room air conditioners and commercial washers

On Dec. 11, 2002, CEE upgraded its performance specifications for room air conditioners and commercial clothes washers. These modifications follow revisions to CEE specifications for residential clothes washers, refrigerators and gas furnaces, all of which became effective in 2002.

The new specifications for room air conditioners and commercial washers reflect market changes, encourage the development of more efficient products and present reachable targets for ENERGY STAR.

Room air conditioners
CEE's new specification for room air conditioners becomes effective Jan. 1, 2003. It aligns product categories (sizes) with ENERGY STAR while also establishing two tiers that exceed the ENERGY STAR levels.

The new room AC specification now covers larger models (20,000 Btu/h or greater) for the first time. Two of the performance levels were slightly lowered to ensure market availability. Tiers 1 and 2 were set at 15 and 20 percent more efficient, respectively, than the current federal minimum standard.

Commercial clothes washers
The revised commercial clothes washer specification, which becomes effective Feb. 3, 2003, creates a consistency with ENERGY STAR and CEE's Residential Clothes Washer Initiative. The new commercial specification requires the Appendix J1 test procedure for Modified Energy Factor (MEF), aligning it with the energy levels established by ENERGY STAR and CEE's Residential Clothes Washer Initiative.

Family-sized commercial clothes washers are, for the most part, residential models with a coin box or card reader added. With stakeholders in the commercial and residential clothes washer markets virtually the same, it made sense to unify the specification.

Like the residential clothes washer specification, the Tier 1 MEF values of this new commercial specification are set at the ENERGY STAR levels. The MEF specification at Tier 2 is consistent with ENERGY STAR's announced 2004 MEF levels for residential washers. CEE is encouraging ENERGY STAR to adopt these levels for its commercial clothes washer specification.

The MEF ratings for tiers 3 and 4 exceed the ENERGY STAR levels.

In addition to energy ratings, the new specifications also include water-efficiency criteria, measured by Water Factor (WF). The WF ratings for the new specification range from 11.0-5.5, representing a 17-59 percent increase in efficiency over the estimated baseline.

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December 19, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Afroz Khan, CEE Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 208

CEE launches two commercial refrigeration initiatives

On Dec. 11, the CEE Board of Directors approved new initiatives for commercial solid-door, reach-in refrigerators (and freezers) and commercial ice-makers.

The CEE Web site now contains sections about Commercial Solid-door, Reach-in Refrigerators and Freezers and Commercial Ice-makers.

Commercial refrigeration has many untapped opportunities. The incremental costs are low and the energy savings are substantial.

Commercial Reach-in Refrigerator and Freezer Initiative
Solid-door, reach-in refrigerators (used primarily by restaurants) and freezers represent 92 trillion BTUs of annual primary energy consumption, with attainable energy savings of up to 50 percent.

CEE's Tier 1 specifications for both refrigerators and freezers are set at the ENERGY STAR levels, which were established in September 2001. CEE has also added a second tier: 40 percent more efficient than ENERGY STAR for solid-door, reach-in refrigerators and 30 percent more efficient than ENERGY STAR for solid-door, reach-in freezers.

Market research has indicated that there is an ample selection of products at Tier 1. Availability of Tier 2 products is somewhat less but cost-effective technologies currently exist that would enable production of reach-ins at this performance level.

Commercial Ice-maker Initiative
Energy savings of 15-20 percent are currently available for commercial ice-makers, which use 13 trillion BTUs of primary energy annually. Hospitals make up about 39 percent of the end-user market for this equipment, followed by hotels (22 percent) and restaurants (14 percent).

There is a wide variety of ice-making products. Ice-making heads make ice cubes that can be collected in a bucket. Self-contained ice-making units produce and store the ice cubes. Remote condensing ice-makers produce and store the ice cubes in separate units. In addition, the ice cubes can be made with either air-cooled or water-cooled systems.

Thus CEE's ice-maker specification includes 10 different categories, sorted by size, model type and technology. It is based on the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) specification, which was developed in 1996 and updated in 1999. Technologies are currently available that would enable commercial ice-makers to surpass the FEMP levels by 20 percent.

Considerations
Although the payback period for the incremental cost of reach-ins and ice-makers is only about two years, there are numerous market barriers to overcome. These commercial refrigeration products involve multiple market players, with a high emphasis on first cost and a large used equipment market.

In addition to encouraging manufacturers and retailers to market these high-efficiency products, CEE will educate end-users. CEE's Commercial Refrigeration Committee will meet at the ACEEE-CEE Symposium on Market Transformation (April 14-15, 2003) to develop program approaches and plans for promoting high-performance equipment.

For further information about the Commercial Solid-door, Reach-in Refrigerator and Freezer Initiative or the Commercial Ice-maker Initiative, contact Afroz Khan at 617-589-3949, ext. 208.

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October 22, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Stephanie Jones, CEE Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 202

CEE revises specification for gas furnaces

Due to changes in the market and a likely upgrade in the federal minimum standard, CEE’s Gas Committee has revised the gas furnace specification within the Residential Gas Heating Initiative.

After receiving input from manufacturers, the Gas Committee submitted the proposed levels to the CEE Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee approved the new specification in October 2002.

Because the market for gas-fired boilers is relatively small, the Committee decided to leave the boiler specification unchanged at 85 percent AFUE.

CEE's revised gas furnace specification includes three tiers set at 90, 92 and 94 percent AFUE. The current federal minimum is 78 percent AFUE but the Department of Energy is researching a possible revision, which could be finalized as early as 2006.

CEE's AFUE* specifications
for gas furnaces and boilers


Technology
CEE
specifications (%)
Federal
minimum (%)

Gas-fired furnaces
Tier 1: 90
Tier 2: 92
Tier 3: 94
78
Gas-fired boilers 85 80
*Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

In addition to a likely change in the federal standard, higher-efficiency equipment is far more available now than in 1998, when CEE launched its Residential Gas Heating Initiative. Furnaces rated at 90 percent AFUE or higher presently constitute 22 percent of available models; in 1998, this figure was 12 percent. Initiative participation has also increased significantly over this period, from 12 organizations to 22.

The drafted three-tiered approach allows programs to be tailored to the climate requirements of various geographic regions. In certain areas of the country, like California or Florida, heating loads can be small so a 94 percent AFUE (or even a 92) may not be cost effective. In an area like Boston, however, a 94 percent AFUE furnace can save 163 therms of gas annually (compared to an 80 percent AFUE model).

The current ENERGY STAR® specification, established in 1995, is 90 percent AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) for gas furnaces and 85 percent AFUE for gas boilers.

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October 4, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Howard Newman, CEE Communications Director, 617-589-3949, ext. 209

Six more organizations join CEE

CEE recently added six new members, increasing the organization’s total membership to 62.

Click here for a list of current CEE members.

Joining CEE are:

For information about becoming a CEE member, see the Membership section of the CEE Web site or contact Executive Director Marc Hoffman at 617-589-3949, ext. 210.

For general information, contact Communications Director Howard Newman at 617-589-3949, ext. 209.

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October 3, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Howard Newman, CEE Communications Director, 617-589-3949, ext. 209

David Goldstein receives prestigious MacArthur Fellows Program award

David Goldstein, a member of the CEE Board of Directors and Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, recently received a MacArthur Fellows Program award. Goldstein was among 24 Americans honored for creative achievement in various fields.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. The Fellows Program award has been given out since 1981 by the Chicago-based foundation.

Goldstein was honored for his work with energy-efficienct refrigerators. Over the past 30 years, his work has helped reduce the electric consumption of refigerators by 75 percent.

The award includes a $500,000 stipend, paid over five years and used any way the recipient sees fit. Goldstein has indicated he will likely use the funds to further energy efficiency.

For futher information, see the on-line edition of the San Francisco Chronicle.

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October 1, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Howard Newman, CEE Communications Director, 617-589-3949, ext. 209

Hoffman's report from EEMODS: Motor Decisions Matter is 'world class'

America's innovative approach to motor efficiency has not gone unnoticed.

CEE Executive Director Marc Hoffman reports that the cooperative efforts between motor manufacturers and efficiency programs – such as Motor Decisions Matter and NEMA Premium – are unparalleled anywhere in the world.

"MDM is a world class program," said Hoffman, who was invited to represent North America utilities at the Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems (EEMODS) Conference in Treviso, Italy, Sept. 18-20.

"In Motor Decisions Matter, manufacturers and efficiency programs are working hand-in-hand. You don't see this level of cooperation anywhere else." In addition to CEE, five other MDM sponsors made presentations at EEMODS: NEMA, Baldor Motors, Advanced Energy, Copper Development Association, and DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies.

Hoffman reported that interest in motor management and premium-efficiency motors has begun to take hold in Europe, with several major programs emerging. "Some countries are going in the same direction," he said, "but they haven't put it all together yet. Everyone agrees that changing motor management practices is the right approach to unlocking huge potential savings in motor systems."

The three-day EEMODS Conference, held every three years since 1996, was attended by more than 200 participants from all over the world.

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September 20, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ted Jones, CEE Industrial Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 230

Motor Decisions Matter featured on AP newswire

A recent Associated Press feature story about Motor Decisions Matter has reached thousands of primary media outlets, resulting in dozens of high-profile placements.

The story, written by William McCall, was released on the national wire September 13. It has received more than 40 confirmed placements to date, including the business sections of major daily newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Kansas City Star, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The story is expected to be picked up by many more newspapers throughout the country.

"We are just thrilled to see newspapers across the country embracing the message of the Motor Decisions Matter campaign," said campaign coordinator Ted Jones of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. "One of the campaign's goals is to inform company executives of the cost saving benefits of implementing a motor management plan and using NEMA Premium motors where possible. I think this AP story captures that message and really targets the corporate decision-making audience."

Click here to read the story.

The Associated Press is the oldest and largest news organization in the world, serving as a source of news, photos, graphics, audio and video for more than one billion people a day. In the United States alone, AP serves 5,000 radio and television stations and 1,700 newspapers.

For more information about Motor Decisions Matter, see the MDM Web site or contact the DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies Clearinghouse at 800-862-2086.

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July 10, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Howard Newman, CEE Communications Director, 617-589-3949, ext. 209

CEE adds six new members

CEE recently added six new members, boosting total membership to 56. Below are brief descriptions of CEE’s newest members.

The Cape Light Compact, formed in 1997, is a cooperative government effort of 21 Massachusetts towns and two counties, representing consumer interests. The Cape Light Compact Energy Efficiency Program administers public benefit funds collected by NSTAR for customers within the 21 towns. Its programs include rebates for lighting and energy efficient appliances; free reviews of electric energy use; subsidies and no-interest loans for new construction and renovation; and a local education and marketing program.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas recently approved four energy-efficiency measures, which are being implemented by six Texas utilities, including new CEE members Entergy and Oncor. The programs are: ENERGY STAR® New Homes, ENERGY STAR Windows, Air Conditioning Distributor Program and Air Conditioning Installer Training.

Entergy Corporation, headquartered in New Orleans, is the parent of Entergy, whose Texas operations are centered in Beaumont. Entergy delivers electricity to about 2.6 million customers in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy joined CEE on behalf of its Texas jurisdiction.

Oncor, headquartered in Dallas, is a subsidiary of TXU Energy and is the new name for TXU Electric & Gas. Oncor provides electricity and gas to more than 370 cities in Texas.

The Iowa Energy Center, focusing on energy efficiency and renewables R&D, provides a variety of programs. The Center receives its funding from an annual assessment on the gross intrastate revenues of all gas and electric utilities in Iowa.

All New Hampshire utilities are participating in a core program of efficiency measures, including programs for ENERGY STAR Appliances, ENERGY STAR Star Residential Lighting and Energy Star Homes as well as commercial and industrial new construction.

Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, providing service to more than 400,000 homes and businesses and is the largest utility in New Hampshire.

Unitil is a public utility holding company based in Hampton, N.H. and its New Hampshire subsidiary serves the towns of Concord, Exeter and Hampton.

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July 1, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Foster, CEE Residential Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 207

CEE modifies refrigerator specifications for SEHA

Reflecting a market trend toward better energy performance, CEE has revised its efficiency specifications for residential refrigerators.

Refrigerator specifications are addressed by CEE’s Super-Efficient Home Appliance Initiative (SEHA), which promotes a super-efficient subset of available products as well as the development of more efficient technologies. SEHA efficiency specifications look to the future, setting performance targets that surpass ENERGY STAR® levels.

In January 2001, ENERGY STAR revised its guidelines for refrigerators, setting a specification that was 10 percent more efficient than the forthcoming federal standard. In July 2001, a new federal standard took effect that was 30 percent more efficient than the previous standard (set in 1993).

CEE’s new SEHA specifications for refrigerators are arranged in four tiers. Tier 1 is 15 percent more efficient than the current federal standard and is equal to the 2004 ENERGY STAR level. Tier 2, a level achieved by today’s best available model, is 20 percent more efficient than the federal standard.

Tier 3 (25 percent more efficient than the federal standard), is a level achieved by a 1997 Oak Ridge National Laboratory prototype that used less than 1 kWh per day. Tier 4, an advanced target, is set at 30 percent more efficient than the federal standard.

The ORNL model utilized extra insulation, adaptive defrosting, more efficient fan motors, a dual-speed compressor, and vacuum panels on the freezer section.

The new refrigerator specifications became effective within the SEHA Initiative on July 1.

For further information, contact Commercial Program Manager Rebecca Foster at 617-589-3949, ext. 207.

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July 1, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denise Rouleau, CEE Commercial Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 224

CEE's HECAC specification is revised

Tier 1 will be eliminated from program by the end of 2002

To accommodate favorable changes in the HVAC industry and in response to members' need to reduce peak demand, CEE has revised the specifications for its HECAC Initiative. The changes include 1) elimination of Tier 1 efficiency levels for both air conditioners and heat pumps as of January 1, 2003 and 2) addition of an energy-efficiency ratio (EER) criteria for small commercial equipment (<65,000 Btu/h) on July 1, 2002.

Click here for the revised specification.

Elimination of Tier 1 is the major aspect of this new specification. The Tier 1 specification (with the exception of small equipment) is expected to be adopted into building codes in many states. It is also anticipated that the Federal standard will be set at this minimum level. Since Tier 1 no longer represents high efficiency, it will be eliminated for all sizes of equipment at the end of 2002.

Because members have demonstrated a strong interest in maintaining system reliability by reducing peak demand, CEE has added an EER criteria to its existing Tier 2 efficiency levels for small commercial equipment. As of July 1, 2002 an 11 EER criteria was added to the existing 13 SEER specification for equipment under 65,000 Btu/h. The EER specification will increase in one year (July 1, 2003) from 11 EER to 11.3 EER for single packaged equipment and 11.6 EER for split systems.

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May 28, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Howard Newman, CEE Communications Director, 617-589-3949, ext. 209
PRESS KIT

Drought relief: Resource-efficient clothes washers can help

High-efficiency models use 44 percent less water; billions of gallons can be saved

With nearly one-third of the U.S. facing serious drought conditions, water conservation provides a logical and effective solution. Unseasonably warm winter temperatures and low precipitation levels have contributed to this nationwide problem. The Northeast, one of the hardest hit areas, experienced the second driest September-February in 107 years.

For the most recent information on the drought, see the U.S. Drought Monitor.

ONE CLOTHES WASHER CAN SAVE 7,000 GALLONS PER YEAR

Resource-efficient clothes washers – readily available to consumers, building owners and laundromats through major manufacturers – can help solve this potential crisis by dramatically reducing water consumption. A typical resource-efficient residential clothes washer saves about 18 gallons of water per load; this amounts to yearly savings of approximately 7,000 gallons (see the press kit for this calculation).

In 2001, more than 6.5 million residential clothes washers were sold in the United States. Of that total, about 12 percent were resource-efficient models. The remaining 5.7 million standard-efficiency washers represented the potential – had they been resource efficient – to save 40 billion gallons of water.

WHAT ARE RESOURCE-EFFICIENT CLOTHES WASHERS?

These models utilize technological advances to save both water and energy. Most resource-efficient clothes washers use a front-loading (or horizontal-axis) design that requires less water per load. Other efficient models use computerized or mechanical innovations to save water.

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) has been running a Residential Clothes Washer Initiative since 1993 and a Commercial Clothes Washer Initiative since 1998. CEE defines efficiency with a set of water and energy specifications. Residential washers that meet or exceed these specifications are included on a qualifying products list that is distributed nationally through CEE's Web site. The qualifying list for commercial washers is also posted on-line. More than 200 utilities and energy organizations are currently using this list to promote resource-efficient clothes washers in their areas.

OTHER IMPORTANT BENEFITS
About 80 percent of clothes washer energy consumption is used to heat the water. Because resource-efficient models use approximately 44 percent less water, they require about 50 percent less energy (electric or gas) to heat the water. This reduced water consumption also decreases the energy required for wastewater treatment. In addition, the higher spin cycles in efficient washers reduce moisture left in the clothes, decreasing the energy needed for drying.

For further information, see the CEE press kit or contact Communications Director Howard Newman at 617-589-3949, ext. 209.

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March 8, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Howard Newman, CEE Communications Director, 617-589-3949, ext. 209
PRESS KIT

Energy efficiency is now a high priority for Americans

Just a few years ago, the term "energy efficiency" was a phrase seldom heard outside the small circle of conservation program planners. Today – as we face energy shortages, blackouts and rising electricity costs – it has become an integral part of American life.

Thanks to the work of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and its members, there have been dramatic increases in the sales of energy-saving appliances, air conditioners, lighting, traffic signals, commercial and industrial equipment, and more.

According to a recent study by Primen (an independent energy market intelligence company), U.S. consumers rank energy efficiency as their most important consideration in shopping for home appliances (see Market Transformer News story). Likewise, many businesses and industrial facilities are taking steps to reduce energy consumption.

"Energy efficiency saves money, reduces pollution and increases system reliability," said CEE Executive Director Marc Hoffman. "Utility programs that are promoting energy efficiency – through rebates, consumer education and tax credits – are making a big impact."

Energy-efficiency programs are funded, in large part, through a small surcharge to utility bills. Below are some examples of energy-efficiency initiatives that are being implemented by CEE members. For further information about these initiatives, use the links below or refer to the CEE press kit.

CLOTHES WASHERS
Six years ago, high-efficiency washers were a high-priced niche product, available only from foreign manufacturers. Today, the national market penetration is 12 percent and there are 88 models available. In areas where utilities are running programs, the market penetration is approximately 25 percent.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS
Light-emitting diode (LED) traffic signals reduce electricity consumption by 80-90 percent and last 5-10 times longer than incandescent signals. National market penetration for LED signals, estimated at 1 percent in 1996, is now 20 percent. Thirty utilities have supported this effort for the past three years.

INDUSTRIAL and COMMERCIAL MOTORS
The market share of premium-efficiency motors now exceeds 20 percent and 12 major manufacturers are currently producing these motors as an integral part of their top lines. In some areas of the country, where motor programs are prevalent, market penetration is as high as 30 percent.

ABOUT CEE
CEE is a national non-profit organization that promotes energy-efficient products and services. CEE members include utilities, local and regional energy organizations, and state energy offices. By implementing energy-efficiency programs, CEE members are changing national markets.

For further information, see the CEE press kit or contact Communications Director Howard Newman at 617-589-3949, ext. 209.

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February 1, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Foster, CEE Residential Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 225

CEE revises residential clothes washer tiers

On Feb. 1, CEE rolled out a new – and higher – set of efficiency specifications for its Residential Clothes Washer Initiative. These new specifications use two efficiency criteria, Modified Energy Factor (MEF) and Water Factor (WF). The initiative now comprises four tiers and includes an additional Water Factor option for the highest tier.

"The new specification requires the use of a new test procedure (Appendix J1) and incorporates major changes that have taken place in the clothes washer industry since 1995," said CEE Residential Program Manager Rebecca Foster, who is coordinating the initiative. "The specifications were revised to maintain consistency with the ENERGY STAR® program, which moved to the J1 test procedure and the MEF in March of 2001."

CEE's new residential clothes washer efficiency specifications and a revised qualifying products list are available on-line.

Modified Energy Factor – a combination of Energy Factor and Remaining Moisture Content – measures energy consumption of the total laundry cycle (washing and drying). Water Factor is the number of gallons needed for each cubic foot of laundry.

CEE's Tier 1 (1.26 MEF) is aligned with the current ENERGY STAR MEF level and is 35 percent more efficient than the current federal minimum standard. The ENERGY STAR qualifying list and CEE's Tier 1 closely match but are not identical because the EENERGY STAR specification does not include Water Factor.

Tier 2 of the revised spec is consistent with the 2004 ENERGY STAR MEF levels and exceeds the federal minimum by 42 percent. Tier 3 exceeds the federal minimum by 49 percent and Tier 4 is 55 percent more efficient than the minimum standard.

The baseline MEF (0.817) is the DOE minimum standard, which is scheduled to increase to 1.04 in 2004 and 1.26 in 2007. Baseline WF (13.3) is an average for washers sold in 1994, as supplied to DOE by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

For further information, consult the Residential Clothes Washers Initiative home page or contact CEE Residential Program Manager Reebecca Foster at 617-589-3949, ext. 225.

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June 25, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ted Jones, CEE Industrial Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 230

CEE launches Motor Decisions Matter campaign

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency and a wide array of sponsors rolled out the Motor Decisions MatterSM campaign on June 25, 2001, at the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) Convention in Chicago.

Motor Decisions MatterSM promotes system efficiency by encouraging industrial and commercial customers to evaluate their motor repair and replacement options, and to develop a motor management plan before motors fail.

In this campaign, CEE members are partnering with industry stakeholders such as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), EASA, the Copper Development Association and Baldor Motors & Drives.

CEE members sponsoring the campaign are:

  • Long Island Power Authority
  • Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
  • National Grid USA
  • Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
  • Northeast Utilities
  • Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
  • NYSERDA
  • SMUD
  • Southern California Edison
  • State of Wisconsin

The St. Louis-based firm of Kupper Parker Communications has been hired to coordinate marketing and communications for the campaign. Motor Decisions Matter now has a logo and a web site.

"This is a great opportunity to make an impact on various levels of audiences who are involved with motor planning," said Steve Richardson of Kupper Parker. "The campaign has two major strengths: the power of the campaign sponsors and the timeliness and importance of energy efficiency. It's being backed by a true industry consortium."

CEE will act as an umbrella organization and facilitator for the campaign. The three main audiences for MDM are executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs), plant management (including engineers and building owners) and distributors (repair shops, contractors). Over the next few months, Motor Decisions MatterSM will develop a motor planning tool kit, enhance the MDM web site and generate publicity through an extensive public relations campaign.

SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS AVAILABLE
Motor energy costs can exceed $1 million annually in large industrial plants; in steel plants it can exceed $6 million. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, greater attention to motor system management can reduce these costs by 18 percent while also boosting productivity, reliability and profitability.

By replacing failed motors quickly (and at the lowest first cost), many industrial customers don't get the maximum benefit from their motor decisions. In fact, few companies today are aware of this opportunity; less than 10 percent have written specifications for motor purchases or repair.

The Motor Decisions MatterSM campaign will highlight the benefits of sound motor management to corporate managers and plant personnel. The campaign will encourage customers to work through their local motor repair center/distributor or utility representative to develop solutions.

In turn, each will provide detailed guidance on motor management and relevant motor-efficiency tools and resources. The goal is to help industrial and commercial customers use life-cycle costing methods to determine whether motors should be repaired or replaced before they fail and when to install energy-efficient motors.

For further information, consult the MDM web site or contact CEE Industrial Program Manager Ted Jones at 617-589-3949, ext. 230.

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June 20, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ted Jones, CEE Industrial Program Manager, 617-589-3949, ext. 230

CEE and NEMA align on premium motor specifications
'NEMA Premium' represents first true industry-wide definition of premium efficiency

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) agreed today to co-promote a recently established set of specifications for premium-efficiency motors. These specifications are generally 1-2 percent higher than federal minimum standards (set by the Energy Policy Act of 1992), depending on motor type and size.

Motors meeting these specifications will be known as NEMA PremiumTM.

"This is a major step in establishing a single definition for premium efficiency in the motors marketplace," said CEE Board Chairman Tim Stout. "With a consistent branding and marketing program in place, customers will have a much easier time identifying and selecting motors that save electricity and money."

Motors typically consume 10-25 times their purchase price in electricity each year, meaning that even small increases in efficiency can add up to large energy savings.

The joint specification is very similar to the one CEE and participating member organizations have been promoting through CEE's Premium-Efficiency Motors Initiative. At CEE's request, NEMA made significant upward adjustments to its original specification for NEMA PremiumTM. At the same time, NEMA identified several practical considerations regarding the market acceptance of CEE's original specification, recommending an adjustment for certain motor categories. The result was a consensus specification and a brand that should provide a real boost in the sales of premium-efficiency motors.

The efficiency levels for 4-pole motors remain identical to the specifications established in the CEE initiative. This motor category represents approximately 85 percent of total U.S. sales for poly-phase integral motors. About 85 percent of the equipment currently promoted by CEE members (through rebates and other incentives) also falls into this category. CEE has modified the qualifying specifications for 6-pole and some 2-pole motors.

Click here for the revised levels in CEE's Premium-Efficiency Motors Initiative.

"With the harmonization of the CEE and NEMA specifications for 'premium' motors, we have made an important step forward toward addressing market confusion about efficient motors," said Neal Elliott, Senior Associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Chair of the CEE Motors Committee.

That's not all. The establishment of NEMA PremiumTM Motors has the potential to impact many sectors. "This will be good for consumers, manufacturers and the environment," said NEMA President Malcolm O'Hagan. "We call upon all interested parties to endorse and support this national initiative."

Under the terms of this agreement, any proposed changes in NEMA PremiumTM specifications must be mutually agreeable to both CEE and NEMA.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association develops standards for the manufacturers of electrical equipment and distributes industry data to its member organizations. NEMA has more than 400 members, including many major domestic motor manufacturers. CEE is a national, independent non-profit organization that promotes energy-efficient products and services.

For further information, consult CEE's Premium-Efficiency Motors web page or the NEMA web site.

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