Efficiency Standards on 15 Appliances Could Bring Environmental and Health Benefits for Pennsylvanians

The study, released Tuesday by PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), shows that implementing energy efficiency standards for only 15 targeted appliances could reduce climate pollution by more than 6 million tons and save Pennsylvania residents and businesses $7.7 billion on their utility bills by 2050.

“The cleanest energy is the energy that you don’t need to use in the first place. That’s why energy efficiency standards are such a smart policy,” said Flora Cardoni, PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center’s deputy director. “Small but powerful, appliance efficiency standards are a simple way to reduce pollution and generate huge savings for Pennsylvania consumers and businesses.” 

PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and ASAP found that energy efficiency standards for 15 commonly used appliances would bring a range of benefits to Pennsylvanians by 2050, including: 

• Save over 10,500 GWh of electricity. That’s more power than all the households in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh use in a year.
• Save 227 billion gallons of water. That’s enough to fill the Eagles’ stadium over 300 times.
• Cut over 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. That’s like taking twice the number of vehicles registered in Philadelphia off the road for a year. 
• Save Pennsylvanians $7.7 billion on their utility bills. This is the equivalent to every Philadelphia household going 6 years without receiving an electricity bill.

“I regularly hear from families and seniors about their skyrocketing utility bills, and what can be done to address these increases,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “Our bipartisan Appliances Energy Efficiency Standards legislation is an easy way the legislature could reduce household utility burdens, cut costs, and lower pollution levels. This is a direct way to make life more affordable for working families and our seniors, while protecting the environment for the next generation.”

Earlier this year, legislation passed the Pennsylvania state house that would set minimum energy efficiency and water conservation standards for this set of 15 household and commercial appliances and plumbing fixtures sold new in the commonwealth. With the state facing increasing extreme weather from climate change, and continued frustration from residents about increasing electricity and energy bills, the groups called on Tuesday for state officials in Harrisburg to move swiftly to implement these energy efficiency standards. 

“We are at a critical crossroads where both energy demand and energy prices are rising, said Rep. Jennifer O’Mara. “We cannot wait for the federal government – it’s on us to take action and join 13 other states that have implemented these standards.”

“Appliance efficiency standards are a cost-effective policy developed in partnership with industry that delivers benefits for consumers and the environment,” said Brooke Lockwood, State Policy Associate with the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP). “They work quietly in the background, with no action required from consumers and no need to replace products they already own. Pennsylvania has the opportunity to join a coalition of states across the country taking action to improve affordability for its residents.”  

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