Appliance Efficiency Standards Signed Into Law in New Jersey

March 16, 2005

Acting New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey signed a bill on March 8th that sets new energy efficiency standards for certain products sold within the state. The new law sets standards for ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits; commercial clothes washers; commercial refrigerators and freezers; illuminated exit signs; very large air-cooled commercial air conditioning and heating equipment; low-voltage dry-type distribution transformers; set-top boxes; torchiere lighting fixtures; traffic signal modules; and unit heaters. The standards are drawn from a number of sources, including the new energy efficiency standards in California and the Energy Star requirements for certain products. See the press release from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, or go directly to the full text of the bill.

Speaking of the California standards, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced in early February that its requirement for appliance manufacturers to supply energy efficiency information on their products has withstood a lawsuit by several appliance manufacturers associations. The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the regulations and lifted a preliminary injunction that was issued in December 2002. See the CEC press release.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) noted in January that such state-level appliance efficiency standards could save consumers and businesses billions of dollars. Along with California, Connecticut and Maryland enacted new efficiency standards in 2004. See the ACEEE press release.