OOOR92101
EPA
ENERGY STAR COMPUTERS
PB°'1
• Ef» rOUUTION MtVlKTER
The EPA Energy Star Computers program is a partnership effort with computer
manufacturers to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal computers and reduce
air pollution caused by power generation. These new personal computers will save enough
electricity to power Vermont and New Hampshire each year and save ratepayers up to $ 1
billion in annual electricity bills. The first partnerships were signed June 17 with leading
manufacturers who sell 35% of all U.S. personal computers.
Office equipment is the fastest growing electricity load in the commercial sector.
Computer systems alone are believed to account for 5% of commercial electricity
consumption, and potentially 10% by the year 2000. Research shows that the vast majority
of time the nation's 30-35 million personal computers are turned on, they are not actively in
use -- and 30-40% are left running at night and on weekends.
EPA Energy Star Computers Partners will introduce personal computers that power
down when they are not being used. This feature could cut the energy used by personal
computers in half. Computers that meet the terms of the agreement will be identified for
consumers by the EPA ENERGY STAR logo. The EPA ENERGY STAR logo will make its debut
on products and in advertisements in one year. EPA intends to have the entire industry
signed on to the program by that time. According to manufacturers present at the news
conference, many companies expect to convert a majority of their product lines to qualify for
the EPA ENERGY STAR logo within just a couple of years - at no extra cost to consumers.
Through corporate purchasing efforts modeled after EPA's Green Lights program, EPA
will encourage consumers to buy computers bearing the EPA ENERGY STAR logo wherever
they are cost-effective. Under agreements signed with EPA through Green Lights, well over
630 corporations and governments have been committed to energy-efficient lighting
upgrades. In addition, EPA is working with the Department of Energy and others within the
Federal government to assist agencies in the purchasing of efficient office equipment. The
Federal government is the largest purchaser of office equipment in the world, and spent over
$4.1 billion on computer hardware and software during the last year alone.
It is anticipated that by the year 2000, EPA Energy Star Computers and other
campaigns to promote energy efficient computer equipment will lead to savings of 25 billion
kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, reduced from an estimated consumption of 70 billion
kilowatt-hours per year. These savings will lead to avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 20
million tonnes -- the equivalent of 5 million automobiles. Reduced too will be emissions of
140,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and 75,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides, the two pollutants
most responsible for acid rain.
BRIAN J JOHNSON
EPA GLOBAL CHANGE DIVISION (6202J) PHONE 202-2339114
WASHINGTON DC 20460 FAX 202-2339578
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EPA ENERGY STAR COMPUTERS
PARTNER CORPORATIONS
Acer America Corp.
Apple Computer, inc.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation
Hewlett-Packard Company
Hyundai Electronics America
IBM Corporation
NCR Corporation
Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Smith Corona Corporation
Zenith Data Systems Corporation
September 11,1992
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pogion 5, library (PL-12J)
7? West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Cnicago, It. 60604-3590
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MARKETPLACE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1992
Desktop PCs Wffl Save
Energy by Snoozing
Y"^NERGY-EFFIQENT com-
H Peters will reach market
JLJ within a year, and the federal
government - known more often for
its bureaucracy than for Inspira-
tion-deserves the credit . .-.
Nine computer makers, including
Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard
and International Easiness Ma-
chines, plan to produce desktop per-
sonal computers that will save en-
ergy by going into a "sleep" mode
when not in use. The feature, spurred
by a suggestion from the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, is ex-
pected to cut computers' energy use
in half. PCs with the feature will
cany an EPA Energy Star pollution-
preventer logo, and the agency says
it won't make computers more costly.
By the year 2000, the computers
could save SI billion of electricity a
year. Building managers such as
Mobil's Fred Schoeneborn also like
the idea because the PCs will emit
less heat, requiring less air condi-
tioning, and will cut down on power
demand in older buildings whose
electrical systems weren't designed
to power a computer on every desk.
v The EPA says PCs on average are
actively used only 20% of the time. A
desktop model uses electricity equiv-
alent to a ISO-watt light bulb. A steep
mode - now found only in some bat-
tery-powered laptop computers-
could reduce that to perhaps 30 watts.
A touch of any key would bring the'
computer back to full power.
Efficient computers caught the
eye of the EPA's global-change divi-
sion mainly as a way to curb the
threat, of global'wanning, which is
blamed in part on the burning of fuel
to make electricity. The Bush admin-
istration is counting on a series of
such "green" product developments
to achieve about half of the carbon-
dioxide reductions which It agreed to
pursue at the Earth Summit :
The EPA already has signed up
600 institutions to voluntarily install
energy-efficiency lighting. It plans to
seekjimllar voluntary agreements to
promote variable-speed fans for
building heating and cooling sys-
tems, energy-efficient household ap-
pliances and rebates for energy-sav-
ing industrial motors. •> <]r •
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON
EPA ENERGY STAR COMPUTERS
ENERGY SAVINGS AND MONEY SAVINGS
Q: How much energy will the new computers save?
A: At least 50% per unit, probably more.
Q: How much can be saved on computers - total?
A: If used nationwide, these new energy-efficient personal
computers could save enough electricity to power New
Hampshire and Vermont for an entire year. This energy
savings translated into dollars would save ratepayers about
$1 billion/year.
Q: How much electricity do computers use now?
A: The best estimates how that about 40 billion Kwh per year go
to computer systems in the U.S. That's about 5% of total
commercial electricity consumption. Each PC uses 100-200
Watts of power.
Q: How much of that is PCs?
A: Of that, roughly half is for the nations's 30-35 million
personal computers (the rest is printers, other peripherals,
and larger computers).
Q: What assumptions were made in projecting energy savings?
A: A recent analysis completed for the U.S. plan to combat
greenhouse emissions estimated the savings in the year 2000
at 26.3 BkWh/year, from the base of 70. The assumptions are
a 57% efficiency improvement and a 65% penetration of the
workplace. This number applies to all computer equipment,
and does not attempt to give any one program all of the
credit for the result.
"POWER DOWN"
Q: When you say that manufacturers agree to produce computers
capable of "powering down" — how is that defined?
A: The computer will automatically go into a low power state
and use less electricity after a certain period of
inactivity or following a command from the user. A low power
state for either a computer or a monitor is defined to be 30
watts or less.
The inactive power-down state is likely to be at least a 60%
reduction in power from its idle state, and could be
virtually 100%.
-------
Q: Won't "power ing-down" hurt my computer? I've always been
told not to turn it off.
A: The manufacturers wouldn't join the program if they thought
that to be true. Some engineers are telling us that Energy
Star computers will be more reliable.
Q: How will this feature be implemented in the machine?
A: We're leaving that up to the manufacturers. As long as the
low-power state is less than 30 watts, the computer or
monitor will meet the technical terms of the EPA agreement.
Q: Will EPA be doing equipment testing? How will EPA know if
computers are really meeting the terms of the agreement?
A: EPA will not be testing equipment. This is a voluntary
program that assumes good faith. However, under the terms
of the agreement, EPA reserves the right to check for
compliance. We will terminate the agreement and suspend use
of the logo if partners fail to abide by the terms of the
agreement.
COST OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT COMPUTERS
Q: How difficult will it be to make these new energy-efficient
computers? will it cost a lot more?
A: No. At announcement of the program, many companies stepped
forward to say they think the energy saving features will be
invisible to users - in terms of performance plus cost.
AVAILABILITY OF ENERGY STAR-BEARING COMPUTERS
Q: When will the logo be available? Why not right now?
A: We want the maximum number of manufacturers to market as
many energy-efficient models as possible, so no one is going
to use the logo until next June (one year from the launching
of the program) . By then, we hope to have most companies
that sell in the U.S. signed up for program.
Q: When will I be able to buy these computers? Will they be
available in June?
A: Our partners are working on them as we speak, and we expect
them to be rolled out throughout the next year. Some models
may be available for purchase prior to June 1993, but the
Energy Star logo cannot be used until June 1993.
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MARKETING
Q: You mentioned in your press release efforts to encourage
purchasing of Energy Star products. How is that going?
A: We are quite far along in working with GSA and DOE in
developing a guidelines for the federal procurement of
energy efficient equipment. The federal government has a
goal of a 10% reduction in energy use in their buildings by
1995, and 20% by 2000, from 1985 levels. Considering that
the federal government bought over $4 billion in computer
equipment last year, we feel that bringing Energy Star
products into this market is very significant.
We have had many requests from private companies who want to
buy Energy Star Computers when they become available. Over
the next couple of months we will be gearing up our outreach
effort to the nearly 700 Green Lights Partners who have
already demonstrated a commitment to energy efficiency and
energy conservation.
NEXT STEPS: BEYOND 30 WATT EFFICIENCY; OTHER PRODUCTS
Q: From what I know about computers, 30 Watts sound easy. What
are you going to do if a year and half every computer on the
market meets these guidelines -- isn't the logo meaningless?
A: We hope that the logo will become commonplace before very
long. We designed the program to achieve a large block of
energy savings — which means a large per-unit efficiency
improvement (about 50% on average) — but it also means that
we designed it to encourage maximum use of the computers
that achieve the efficiency gain. If, at a later date, we
need to distinguish between energy savers and more
aggressive energy savers we can always develop a "Superstar"
specifications with an associated logo.
Q: What about printers?
A: We intend to be able to include printers this year. Several
of the market leaders have already expressed interest, and
we may go into other office equipment. Eventually we'll
qualify other consumer appliances.
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United States Region 5 Illinois, Indiana,
Environmental Protection 77 West Jackson Blvd. ^!ch'9?,n' Minnesota'
Agency Chicago, Illinois 60604 Ohio, Wisconsin
&EPA Environmental
NEWS RELEASE
Technical Contact:' Lee Ann Naue
886-9383
Media Contact: Anne Rowan
(312) 886-7857
For Immediate Release: December 9, 1992
No. 92-M233
SPRINGFIELD FIRST 'COOL COttONITY' IN RESIGN
Springf ield, IL, recently became the first Midwestern city to volunteer for
the Cool Communities Program sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and American Forests, the oldest citizens' conservation group in the
Nation.
As one of seven cool connunities nationwide, Springfield has agreed to
plant more trees and use light-colored surfaces on buildings and streets to
reflect sunlight. This will help reduce the "urban heat-island effect," which
raises temperatures in many cities up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit higher than in
surrounding rural areas.
Urban heat islands increase the use of air conditioning and energy
consumption, thus worsening smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Research shows
that increasing tree cover and using light-colored surfaces can reduce peak
summer temperatures by several degrees and can save energy.
•The Cool Communities Program is a fine example of a voluntary partnership
to reduce pollution, improve energy efficiency, and encourage tree-planting
nationwide," said David Kee, regional director of EPA's Air and Radiation
Division. "The project in Springfield will help us measure the cumunt of reduced
- more -
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- 2 -
pollution and energy savings."
Over the next 5 years, American Forests (under an EPA grant) will work with
Springfield officials, utilities, local businesses, and citizen groups. The U.S.
Dept. of Energy will provide technical support tonnonitor the energy savings.
The Dept. of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service will also help.
tff
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FORESTS
Introducing
COOL
COMMUNITIES
A new American Forests program holds real hope
for cities, towns, and homeowners to swelter less
and save real cash money.
By ANNE SEMRAU
Judging by pop
songs ranging from
Cole Porter's "Too
Darned Hot" to
Lovin' Spoonful's
"Hot Time (Summer in the
City)," among others, if s
clear that the high tempera-
tures of our urban areas
have caught the attention of
more than just meteorolo-
gists. But these lyrics have
failed to say dearly what
the scientists know—that
we've made city summers
steamier than nature
intended.
Cool Communities, a pro-
gram of Amencan Forests, is
hoping to change that. By
joining forces with citizens,
government officials, busi-
ness owners, and research-
ers, Cool Communities
Anne Semrau is the Cool
Communities coordinator for
Amencan Forests.
This sketch of a typical urban
"heat island1 shows that trees act
like an icepack to shade and cod.
plans to put an environ-
mental "icepack" on our
urban saunas. Based on the
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA)
guidebook. Cooling Our
Communities, this program
encourages aties and towns
to conserve energy and cool
the urban "heat island" with
trees and light-colored sur-
faces.
For most of urban history.
people cooled their sur-
roundings naturally—they
planted shade trees around
homes and buildings and
used light-colored surfaces
to reflect the sun's heat
Before the 1940s, irrigated
and landscaped cities in
California were actually
"oases," cooler than the sur-
rounding countryside. As
Marc Reisner describes Los
Angeles in Cadillac Desert,
cool communlUe/
"Santa Monica Boulevard,
once a dry dusty stnp,
became an elegant comdor
of palms; in Hollywood,
where the motion picture
industry had risen up
overnight, outdoor sets
resembled New Guinea;
and since most Los
Angeleans were immigrants
from the Middle West,
every bungalow had a
green lawn." But as urban
areas sprawled, and trees
and light-colored surfaces
were replaced by asphalt
and air-conditioned budd-
ings, aty temperatures
climbed. In just the last 50
years, the temperature of
downtown Los-Angeles has
increased by five degrees
Fahrenheit
Other cities across the
nation show similar temper-
ature patterns. San
Francisco's Augusts are
warming by 0.2 degrees per
decade, even though cool
ocean breezes still sweep
the dry. Washington, DCs
annual mean temperature—
now increasing at a rate of
half a degree per decade—
has jumped four degrees in
the last 80 years.
In most cities around the
world with human popula-
tions of 100,000 or more,
there exist noticeable heat
islands that are two to eight
degrees Fahrenheit warmer
than the surrounding coun-
tryside. If current trends
continue, these aties could
be 10 degrees (Fahrenheit)
hotter within 50 years.
The main causes of these
49
p K 0 >*.' AMERICAN FORESTS JULY/AUGUST 1992
-------
IMM FORESTS
temperature increases are
well known: land clearing,
and the construction of
heat-absorbing surfaces. By
removing trees and other
plants during development,
cities lose the cooling
effects of shade and "evap-
otranspiration"—the ability
of plants to reduce air tem-
peratures by evaporating
water from their leaves.
Since the pavement and
buildings that replace
plants don't evapotranspi-
rate, the sun makes the air
hotter. And in the evening,
these dark-colored build-
As few as three
shade trees
planted
in the right
spots around
buildings can
reduce energy
demand for
heating and
cooling by as
much as half.
fortable these conditions are
— we've felt the heat radiat-
ing from asphalt and swel-
tered under smoggy brown
skies. We've been the per-
son waiting for the bus who
complained, "There's no
shade. It's so hot." But these
summer conditions are
more than just unpleasant—
they're cosdy. Los Angeles'
five-degree increase in tem-
perature since 1940 trans-
lates into an added electrici-
ty demand of 1,500,000 kilo-
watts, at a cost of $150X100
per hour. Washington, DCs
heat island requires 400,000
Hiikly (Uftectim
Roei MD-0.70
TwtGrml
White Paint UI-0.11
0-SO-QJO
This draining depicts the "albedo" values of light and dark surfaces. Those surfaces with high values—
usually the lighter ones—reflect more solar radiation and thus are generally cooler.
ings and roads also radiate
the solar energy absorbed
during the day, keeping the
area warm when it should
be cooling down. Air pollu-
tants exacerbate the prob-
lem by acting like a blanket
over the city and holding in
summer heat Cars and
other machines can also add
warmth, but their contribu-
tion is significant only in the
winter.
We all know how uncom-
kilowatts and costs $40,000
per hour to cool.
Across the nation, each
degree rise in summer tem-
peratures means an
increase in peak electricity
demand of up to 2 percent
Although that's not an espe-
cially impressive number, it
adds up—an estimated 3 to
8 percent of current national
urban electricity demand is
used to cool our communi-
ties, at a cost of up to 51 mil-
lion an hour. In addition,
the higher temperatures
speed up the rate of chemi-
cal reactions, increasing the
number of days with unac-
ceptable smog levels. And
sadly, the carbon dioxide
generated by cooling our
urban heat islands could be
forming a vicious cycle by
contributing to global
wanning.
But cooling these
heat islands
doesn't have to
hurt As few as
three shade trees
planted in the right spots
around buildings can
reduce energy demand for
heating and cooling by as
much as half, and could
reduce summer tempera-
tures by as much as rune
degrees Fahrenheit And
trees do all this work at a
fraction of the cost of new
air conditioners and power
plants. Maximizing the albe-
do, or solar reflectivity, of
our cities by surface-color
lightening could reduce
energy use by 30 to 50 per-
cent and air temperatures
by as much as five degrees
Fahrenheit Goes in colder
climates also can benefit
from implementing these
measures, and can save
energy without increasing
winter heating needs. Cities
in the other EPA-defined cli-
mate zones—temperate.
hot-arid, and hot-humid—
dearly benefit from the cool-
50
AMERICAN FORESTS JULY/AUGUST 1992
-------
HUB V\ FORESTS
NEICHBORHOOD TEMPERATURES IN MONTREAL
Sourct Oki. 1977
Built-Up
Trees in a park make tempera-
tures substantially cooler
there than in surrounding
urban areas of Montreal.
a
Op«n
and Park ; qualities are well known.
! Indirect, or area-wide,
, effects of trees and light-
'—3* ' colored surfaces, howev-
meten er ^e not as well under-
(0-«0feet) stood. Trees indirectly
affect their environment
through mass evapotran-
spiration. A large tree can
®
ing of summer heat islands,
and could reduce their year-
round energy consumption.
Altogether, energy-con-
serving tree planting and
surface-color lightening
could save the U.S. up to 50
bdiion kilowatt-hours of
electricity each year, the
annual elecmaty usage of
about 500,000 people. Each
year these measures could
prevent the release of up to
35 million tons of carbon
dioxide that would other-
wise contribute to global
warming. And for a nation
on a budget, it's good to
know that planting trees and
lightening the color of sur-
faces in our urban areas is
cheaper than other energy-
efficiency programs.
Trees and light-col-
ored surfaces
affect urban tem-
peratures in two
ways: directly and
indirectly. Shade provides
the direct, or immediate,
cooling effect of trees; the
direct effect of light-colored
surfaces is reflection of
warming sun rays. These
do. thaetctiouiciKirib*i*4f&taipeail cnalfng of Afrsrim
in •liim'Bi tixngkt trees. B*t*foK.pia*tms. dxckfor
evaporate about 100 gallons
of water a day, creating in
hot and dry climates the
equivalent of five air condi-
tioners running for 20
hours.
According to Gary Moll.
American Forests' vice pres-
ident for urban forestry,
"the amount of water used
by a tree depends on its age,
species, and locabon. A
large tree on a rrudwestern
farm can use hundreds of
gallons a day. But trees
native to the Southwest are
'water misers,' providing
environmental benefits, with
just a few gallons of water a
day."
Increasing the amount or
light-colored surface areas
could also have an additive
cooling effect for a commu-
nity. With less heat being
absorbed by buildings and
roads during the day, less
heat radiates at night. This
means that there is less
need for compensating air-
conditioning, and thereby
lower energy consumption.
Since heat islands
are caused by the
many small, indi-
rect contributions
of treeless city
streets, they can be cooled
with many small commuru-
rywide actions. By planting
and painting their town
together, communities can
capitalize on these energy-
saving measures.
The Cool Communities
program is designed to help
communities take on the
urban heat-island challenge.
Using American Forests'
skill in working with people
to build a better environ-
ment. Cool Communities
51
AMERICAN FORESTS JULY/AUGUST 1992
-------
URBAN FORESTS
CHANGES IN ExpENorruRES FOR EVERCY:
WIND-SHIELDING AND SHADING EFFECTS
Graph shows net direct effects of 30 percent increase in tree caver
on heating and cooling energy use of older homes in seven cities.
will help cities and towns
plant trees, lighten surfaces,
and monitor the results.
Seven model com-
munities—repre-
senting a variety of
climates, sizes, and
needs—have been
chosen to initiate the Cool
Communities program.
These model community
studies are expected to last
five years. In the first year,
sites for energy-conservmg
tree planting and lighter
surface coloring will be
identified. The chosen sites,
to be announced in July,
will be planted, painted,
and evaluated over the next
three years, and the fifth
year will be devoted to final
measurements, evaluations,
and publications.
Here are a few of the
questions that the program
will answer:
• How much energy can
we actually save with tree
planting and surface-color
lightening?
•How many trees do we
need to have and how
much surface area needs to
be lightened for optimum
energy savings?
•To what extent do trees
and light-colored surfaces
affect urban temperatures?
•What are the savings
and costs of implementing
these measures in different
parts of the country? Of dif-
ferent types of trees and
landscaping services? Of
buying and maintaining
highly reflective paints,
roofing materials, and
paving materials? And
what are the initial costs
versus useful life versus
maintenance costs?
•What do people know
about trees, light-colored
surfaces, and energy con-
servation? After public edu-
cation campaigns, how can
changes in understanding
be recognized?
The answers to these
questions as well as the
experiences of the initial
communities will help
guide future programs in
other areas. The results of
the program in the model
cities will be published and
widely distributed to inter-
ested citizens, civic and
business leaders, educators,
and organizations. These
materials will provide basic,
hands-on information on
how to plant for energy
conservation and care for
trees, how to lighten sur-
faces cost-effectively, how
to monitor energy use, and
how to get your community
involved. As these materials
become available and inter-
est grows, the program will
expand to include many
municipalities.
For the model communi-
ties, American Forests is
providing overall program
coordination, helping com-
munities organize local
implementation teams, pro-
viding inventory and moni-
toring systems, gathering
funding, and coordinating
public relations and pro-
gram promotion. In addi-
tion, an advisory committee
has been formed to provide
expert input and to help
facilitate the efforts of the
model communities.
Members of this advisory
committee include the U.S.
Forest Service, Extension
Service, and Department of
Energy; the American
Association of Nurserymen;
the Society of American
Foresters; the National Tree
Trust and the National
Association of State
Foresters. Other important
partners include local and
regional utilities, govern-
ment agencies, businesses,
schools, and citizen organi-
zations.
Many of today's
greatest envi-
ronmental
challenges—
global warm-
ing, acid rain, air poll"hon,
and toxic waste, to name a
few—are directly related to
our energy consumption.
Urban heat islands are no
exception—they've been
created by our way of liv-
ing. But our habits can be
changed.
"The Cool Communities
program is an easy, effec-
tive, and low-cost way to
cut back on our energy
consumption," Cool
Communities Director Guy
Betten explains. "Plus, it
will help cool fhe urban
heat island and make our
local and global environ-
ment a healthier place to
live.' AF
Fora* mcassvitk its
PtuttcUon Agency hgs
ugrttd to tpotaor Hit
mattLCoolCommunties
/JMjjjfiUM* The LLS.
Department of Energy is
sponsor.
Otktrto-tpomonare
ttiand p
Far mon iiifw luulion on
Uut'pi\jgnuH, wfiit. Cool
Camaoatia,P.O.Box
200ft. Washington, DC
20013-2000.
52
AMERICAN FORESTS JULY/AUGLTT 1992
-------
I
SERF
REFRIGERATOR
PROGRAM INC.
SUPER EFFICIENT
REFRIGERATOR
PROGRAM,INC.
What is S.EJtP.7
The Super Efficient Refrigerator Program,
Inc. (SERF) is a non-profit corporation formed
by public and private utilities throughout the
United States. The mission of SERF is to
advance the technology of super efficient re-
frigerators/freezers (R/Fs) and bring energy
efficient and environmentally friendly R/Fs to
consumers years ahead of normal market ex-
pectations. SERF will provide incentives to a
manufacturer who is willing to develop and
distribute between 1994-1997, over 250,000
R/Fs that are at least 25%-50% (or greater)
more efficient than 1993 federal standards
mandate. SERF R/Fs will be chlorofluorocar-
bon (CFG) free. SERF is endorsed by the
Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Inc. (CEE),
who shares and supports the same vision to
accelerate development and availability to the
public of advanced technologies that decrease
energy consumption and promote pollution
prevention. As such, SERF will be the first
market driven program to bring highly effi-
cient non-CFC R/Fs to the marketplace. J
Why &E JtR?
The technology exists today to provide refrig-
eration cycles and insulation that are both
super-efficient and CFC-free. Manufacturers
are now working to meet the challenge of
phasing out CFCs as mandated under the
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. This will
require new technologies and capital invest-
ments. However, unless they are financially
and market motivated, manufacturers are
unlikely to use this technological window of
opportunity to simultaneously make large leaps
forward in efficiency. By engaging utilities to
commit to market-motivating, efficiency in-
centives now, SERF can bring highly efficient,
non-CFC R/Fs into the market in the mid-
1990*s. Utilizing this forward-thinking ap-
proach and a unique program design, SERF
helps participating utilities maximize the eco-
nomic and environmental benefits of their
residential conservation investments. ]
How &E JtR Will Work
SERF will continue, through spring 1992, to
solicit commitments from utilities for a win-
ner-take-all bid pool. Manufacturers will com-
pete through a Request for Proposal process .
and the winner will develop and distribute the
super efficient R/Fs. It is anticipated that over
$30,000,000 will be invested into the bid pool
As of January 1992,participat±ngutilitieshave
begun the process to commit over $27,000,000
to the pool. Currently, a national campaign is
ongoing to recruit as many utilities as possible
to join SERF. Bid pool participation will allow
utilities to reap savings from avoided costs and
other DSM benefits. Utilities are anticipating
deliveries to their service territories of com-
petitively priced super efficient R/Fs as early
as 1994. The national membership recruit-
ment campaign will educate utilities and util-
ity regulators on the details of the program,
the cost effectiveness of participation and out-
comes associated with non-participation. SERF
will provide participating utilities with mar-
keting information, documented kWh savings
and accountability of costs associated with
SERF. J
1/92
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What is Super Efficient?
The super efficient R/F will use combinations
of available and emerging advanced technolo-
gies. The super efficient R/Fs may consume as
little as 400 kWh per year, or less, compared to
the 1993 federal efficiency standards of 704
kWh for a comparable R/F. It will contain no
CFCs and will meet high standards for pollu-
tion control and energy efficiency. The super
efficient R/F will be moderately priced and will
have adequate market appeal to ensure pur-
chase by end users. |
Costs
The recommended investment is about $1.75
per customer in the utilities' service territory.
The estimated bid pool investment per refrig-
erator is uncertain until bids are evaluated.
However, we anticipate a range between $100
and $150 per refrigerator will be required
depending upon energy savings. Administra-
tive cost will run 12% or less of the total bid
pool investment over the life of the program.
Benefits
Expected savings of 200—400 kWh per year
over 1993 standards. Estimated 2.5 to 3.5
cents per kWh savings.
Provides long term value to customers.
Obtains large savings at low costs.
Complements current programs. |
Members
The following utilities have already joined SERP:
• Bonneville Power Administration • Pacific Gas & Electric Company
• Long Island Lighting Company • Sacramento Municipal Utility District
• Los Angeles Department ofWater and Power • Southern California Edison
Many additional utilities have expressed interest and are expected to join SERP before 1991
year end. f
Endorsement
The following organizations have endorsed and provided assistance to SERP:
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient • National Association of Regulatory Utility
Economy Commissioners
• Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Inc. • Natural Resources Defense Council
• Electric Power Research Institute • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency J
Contact
SERP, Lac. Headquarters:
2856 Arden Way, Suite 200
Sacramento, California 95825
Attn: Dr. Richard Harkness
(800) 927-3985 (Pacific Management Dynamics Corporation) f
1/92
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SERF
JU?E» EFFICENT
RBPRIOEXATOfc
FftOORAM INC.
SUPER EFFICIENT
REFRIGERATOR
PROGRAM,INC.
Mission Statement
he mission of Super Efficient Refrigerator Program, Incorporated (S.E.R.P., Inc.) is to
_L advance the technology of super efficient refrigerators/freezers (R/Fs) and bring energy efficient
and environmentally friendly R/Fs to consumers years ahead of normal market expectations.
S.E.RP., Inc. will provide incentives to a manufacturer who is willing to develop and distribute
between 1994-1997, over 250,000 R/Fs that are at least 25%-50% (or greater) more efficient than
1993 federal standards mandate. S.E.R.P., Inc. R/Fs will be chlorofluorocarbon free (CFG free).
3.E.R.P., Inc. will utilize a unique private/public coalition to create and to govern the incentive
process which will also be focused on pollution prevention and enhancement of overall environmen-
tal quality.
S.E.RP. Inc. has the following objectives:
• To utilize existing market forces and provide incentives to manufacturers to develop, design, and
distribute super efficient refrigerator/freezers (R/Fs) during the years 1994 to 1997. This program
will put super efficient R/Fs on the market many years ahead of what would happen in the
absence of the program.
• To ensure that any refrigerator distributed under the program meets high standards for pollution
control, energy efficiency, and consumer satisfaction.
• To ensure that refrigerators developed under the program have adequate market appeal to en sure
purchase by end users.
• S.E.R.P., Inc. win ensure accountability in the program, so that all participants can appropriately
document relevant costs, kWh savings and efficiency. Such accountability will be an inherent
part of the S.E.R.P., Inc. program.
1/92 rri Printed on Recycled Paper
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SERF
StTEfc EFF1CENT
RBPRICEIATO*
PROGRAM INC.
SUPER EFFICIENT
REFRIGERATOR
PROGRAM,INC.
Mission Statement
he mission of Super Efficient Refrigerator Program, Incorporated (S.E.R.P., Inc.) is to
J_ advance the technology of super efficient refrigerators/freezers (R/Fs) and bring energy efficient
and environmentally friendly R/Fs to consumers years ahead of normal market expectations.
S.E.R.P., Inc. will provide incentives to a manufacturer who is willing to develop and distribute
between 1994-1997, over 250,000 R/Fs that are at least 25%-50% (or greater) more efficient than
1993 federal standards mandate. S.E.R.P., Inc. R/Fs will be chlorofluorocarbon free (CFC free).
S.E.R.P., Inc. will utilize a unique private/public coalition to create and to govern the incentive
process which will also be focused on pollution prevention and enhancement of overall environmen-
tal quality.
S.E.R.P. Inc. has the following objectives:
• To utilize existing market forces and provide incentives to manufacturers to develop, design, and
distribute super efficient refrigerator/freezers (R/Fs) during the years 1994 to 1997. This program
will put super efficient R/Fs on the market many years ahead of what would happen in the
absence of the program.
• To ensure that any refrigerator distributed under the program meets high standards for pollution
control, energy efficiency, and consumer satisfaction.
• To ensure that refrigerators developed under the program have adequate market appeal to ensure
purchase by end users.
• S.E.R.P., Inc. wiH ensure accountability in the program, so that all participants can appropriately
document relevant costs, kWh savings and efficiency. Such accountability will be an inherent
part of the S.E.R.P., Inc. program.
U92 rgn Printed on Recycled Paper
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XI miitK\TOK
i>KI)liK\M IM
2856 Arden Way
Suite 200
Sacramento
California 95825
1 - 800-92'-3085
Fax 916-481-5860
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Richard Harkness, SERF
(916) 764-2123 or
Frank Nagle, Hill and Knowhon
(415) 781-2430
SUPER EFFICIENT REFRIGERATOR PROGRAM TO AWARD
$30 MILLION TO MANUFACTURER
CHICAGO. July 7. 1992; The Super Efficient Refrigerator Program (SERP), a
California-based non-profit corporation comprised of public and private utilities
nationwide, today announced plans to award approximately S30 million to a U.S.
manufacturer that produces the most efficient home refrigerator that meets the
energy savings and environmental standards set by SERP. The winning
manufacturer will be determined through a winner-take-all competitive bid process.
"Refrigerators and freezers consume approximately 20 percent of the electricity
used in American homes, and much of that is wasted," said Dr. Richard Harkness,
executive director of SERP. "Development of a super efficient refrigerator will
result in the use of less electricity and a reduced demand for the development of
additional power plants, each of which benefits the environment.11
The $30 million plus prize will come from a pool into which the participating
SERP utilities are contributing from between $150,000 and $7 million each. The
amount provided by the respective utilities is in relation to the number of residential
customers that each serve. Participation in the program is not restricted to current
utilities.
The award will be paid to the winning manufacturer when refrigerators are
delivered to the utilities' service territories.
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Awara
3-3-3
The primary benefits of the SERF program are reduced energy costs and an
abatement of the threat of global wanning due to CFCs, which are known to
jeopardize the earth's ozone layer.
Current and prospective utilities participating in the SERF program include (in
alphabetical order):
Atlantic City Electric
Arizona Public Service
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Bonneville Power Authority
Central Maine Power
Commonwealth Electric Company
Jersey Central Power & Light
L.A. Dept. of Water & Power
Long Island Lighting Company
Madison Gas & Electric
New England Electric System
Northern CA Power Agency
Northern States Power
PacifiCorp
Pacific Gas & Electric
Public Service Gas & Electric
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Southern California Edison
Western Area Power Administration
Western Massachusetts Electric
Wisconsin Electric Power
Wisconsin Power & Light
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
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Unltd SUltl Communicator*. Cducction.
Eftvlronmintii Protection And Public Alain
I*'107)
1 dEPA Note to Correspondents
TUB8DAY, JULY 7, 1992
EPA Administrator William K. Reilly today announced that the
electric utility industry is spurring a nationwide r»s«?arnh effort
to provide consumers with energy-officiont refrigeratora that
protect the stratospheric wzone layer.
This initiative by a consortium of 23 utilities and power
authorities should result in annual carbon dioxide emissions being
reduced 600,UOU to 1,200,000 metric tone by the year 2000, and the
earth's stratospheric ozone layer being protected by eliminating
the potential tor release intu the ataosphoro of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigerators. The program will also
reduce consumer electricity bills $240 - $480 million per year.
"This utility consortium deserves high praise for an
initiative that is pro-energy efficiency, pro-environment and pro-
economy,'' said EPA Administrator William K. Reilly. "It will
provide utilities with a low-cost conservation option to help meet
growth in electricity demand. It will Benefit industry by
enhancing the market for innovative technologies and increasing
American competitiveness."
The initiative, called the Super Efficient xefrigerator
Program (SERF), will linX product research and mass market
availability.
SERP will pool about $30 million of guaranteed incentive money
from utilities and award it to the winner of a product design
competition for highly energy efficient and CFC - free
refrigerators.
"SERP cets an nxtremely important precedent," said William G.
Rosenberg, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
"You've, got groups with very different interests and different
needs working together voluntarily to reduce air pollution and
ozone depletion without, the need for expensive regulations or
taxes.1*
R-141 -more-
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-2-
SZRP has received support since it* earliest planning ctagea
by EPA, the U.S. Department of Energy and other public agencies,
conservation groups, research institute and energy efficiency
organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the
Consortium for Energy Efficiency, the Electric power R«»earch
Institute, the Washington State Energy Office and the American
Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
The 23 members of the consortium are Atlantic city Electric
(N.J.), Arizona Public service (Ariz.), Baltimore Gas and Electric
(Md.)» Bonneville Power Administration (several states), Central
Maine Power (Maine), Commonwealth Electric (Kass.), Jersey Central
Power and Light (N.J.), Los Angeles Department of water and Power
(Calif.), Long Island Lighting Co. (N.Y.)» Madison Gas and Electric
(Wis.)/ New England Electric System (Mass. & R.I.)/ Northern
California Power Agency (Calif.), Northern States Power of
Wisconsin (Wis.), Pacificorp (Ore.), Pacific Gas and Electric
(calif.)/ Public Service Electric and Gas (N.J.), Sacramento
Municipal Utility District (Calif.), southern California Edison
(Calif.), Western Area Power Administration (several states),
Western Massachusetts Electric (Mass.), Wisconsin Electric Power
company (Wis.)/ Wisconsin Power i Light (Wis.)/ and Wisconsin
Public Service Corp. (Wis.).
The Super Efficient Refrigerator Program is one of several
market-based EPA initiatives included in the U.S. strategy to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other EPA programs target
computers (Energy Star) and commercial building technologies (Green
Lights).
For further information, reporters should contact Dave Ryan of
the BFA Proa. Office at 302-260-2981.
Joha rasper, Director
frees service* Division
R-141 202-2*0-4355
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(Library
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PL-12,))
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, !L 60604-3590
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