Support Energy Efficiency HB 3363
Posted on April 18, 2005 by oregoncub
Tags, Legislative & Political
Don’t Let Oregon Fall Behind on Energy Efficiency Standards!
Have you ever been shocked by the amount on your water or electricity bill? Have you ever wondered how long those utility bills could continue going up before something gives? Do you want Oregon to become a dumping ground for inefficient appliances that keep your bills going up? Well, CUB is here to tell you about a way to reverse the upward trend. Just call or email your legislator and tell them to support HB 3363, a bill that would require a statewide shift to purchasing energy efficient models of 12 common products.
What are the tangible benefits of the bill?
This proposal would establish Oregon state energy efficiency standards for twelve products not covered by federal standards. If adopted, businesses and households will realize a net economic savings of $253 million after fourteen years. The savings will reduce monthly electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater treatment bills throughout Oregon.
The proposed standards will ensure that all energy consumers, in urban and rural communities alike, have affordable products that return their added investment within a few years or less of purchase. Such standards will also benefit every citizen by reducing the pressures on our energy supplies, energy transmission and distribution infrastructure, water supplies, and wastewater treatment capacity. (By 2014, assuming standards have been in place for only seven years, annual water savings
will reach a billion gallons.) Finally, the standards will effectively decrease the health and environmental impacts of energy production by reducing emissions of mercury, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides and global warming gases.
Don’t let Oregon become the dumping ground for inefficient appliances!
The appliance standards proposed in HB 3363 are already adopted in California. Similar standards are heading toward approval in Washington State. If Oregon doesn’t adopt similar standards, we stand to be THE West Coast marketplace of last resort for inefficient appliances.
What products are covered by the bill?
The energy efficient products recommended here for state standards range from items that are nearly invisible, such as external powersupplies (those humming, non-descript little boxes or chargers attached to a host of electronic products) to a household item such as torchiere light fixtures. In the first year, the sale of these more efficient products in Oregon will save annually more than 200 million gallons of water, 1.7 million therms of natural gas, and 75 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.
The entire list of products includes:
Commercial Clothes Washers
Commercial Ice-Makers
Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers
External Power Supplies
Torchiere Lighting Fixtures
Commercial Unit Heaters
Exit Signs
Metal Halide Lamp
Reflector Lamps
Traffic Signals
Pre-Rinse Spray Valves
Digital Television Adapters
This bill would minimize manufacturer production and distribution costs by adopting consistent standards and, because the standards are adopted in statute, there is no cost to the state of Oregon because rulemaking processes are not needed. Most of the standards are proposed to be effective in January 2007, one year after the effective date for standards in California.
Manufacturers already produce equipment that meets the proposed requirements. However, because of market imperfections—usually caused by the fact that the purchaser of the subject equipment doesn’t pay the monthly energy bill for using it—economically attractive, energy efficient equipment is frequently not specified or purchased. Ample time has been given for the change to new purchases of only these more efficient models, and we all stand to benefit!
ACTION ALERT
Please contact your representative in the Oregon Legislature today. Tell them to support HB 3363.
Protect Oregon consumers!
Don’t let Oregon be the West Coast dump for inefficient appliances!
Tell your Representative to Vote Yes on HB 3363!
Visit this official website of the Oregon State Legislature to find your Legislator and get a link to their email and phone numbers. https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/findyourlegislator/leg-districts.html
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03/10/17 | 0 Comments | Support Energy Efficiency HB 3363