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Why are less efficient models still being made?
If appliances carrying the ENERGY STAR logo are 10% to 50% more energy efficient, then, why are standard models still being made?
Answer - originally posted on LinkedIn Think Green group
The US government establishes minimum efficiency standards for most types of appliances, and typically an ENERGY STAR logo on an appliance means the appliance must be 10% or 15% or some other established level above the minimum standard (depending on the appliance type).
Periodically the government increases the minimum efficiency standards, so that an ENERGY STAR appliance last year may suddenly no longer be ENERGY STAR qualified if standards change. This happened recently with air conditioners, for example.
This is a perfectly reasonable policy:
- Set minimum efficiency standards
- Give credit to products who go beyond the minimum by allowing them to advertise the ENERGY STAR status of their appliances, to encourage customers to look for the most efficient models
- Periodically increase the standards to force manufacturers to improve efficiency.
The only problem is that in some types of appliances, given an X that is a measure of efficiency (higher is better), the minimum standard may be X, the ENERGY STAR rated appliances start at X+10%, and some manufacturers may sell an appliance whose efficiency is X+100%. For example, ENERGY STAR rated freezers are 15% more efficient than the minimum standard; Sun Frost sells freezers that are close to double the minimum required efficiency.
It would be helpful if minimum efficiency standards for a given appliance were raised every few years to 10% below the most efficient available appliance in that category - but sometimes the most efficient is not that desirable or affordable. For example, Sun Frost fridges and freezers often have very thick insulation, making them either too bulky or too small inside to be desirable by most homeowners.
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