Congressman Sander Levin

Levin Introduces Legislation to Spur Development of Super-Efficient Appliances

We need to encourage the development and use of new, energy-efficient appliances. With that end in mind, I have introduced the Super Efficient Appliance Incentives and Market Transformation Act [H.R. 2137].

Last year, major home appliance manufacturers and a nationwide coalition of energy and water advocates reached a far-reaching agreement to establish new mandatory federal energy and water efficiency standards, including recommendations for new ENERGY STAR levels for the production of super-efficient clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and dehumidifiers that would increase the efficiency of these products by 11 to 48 percent.

This agreement will result in a savings of up to 3.3 quadrillion btus of energy and nearly 3.6 trillion gallons of water over the next 30 years. To put these savings in perspective, 3.6 billion gallons of water is enough to meet the needs of about 2.75 million people for one year; 3.3 quads is enough energy to meet the needs of about 15% of the U.S. population for one year. Consumers will benefit from a savings of up to $14.7 billion in cumulative utility bill reductions.

An essential part of this agreement is the extension and improvement of an existing federal tax credit to accelerate the production and market penetration of the most advanced, super-efficient appliances. H.R. 2137 provides this extension.

In December 2007, the mandatory standards for minimum levels of energy and water efficiency were enacted as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act [H.R. 6]. The tax credits contained in H.R. 2137 have been incorporated into the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act [H.R. 6049], which was approved by the House of Representatives on May 21, 2008 and which must now be considered by the Senate.