Brief Description: Regulating the energy efficiency of certain products.

Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Hudgins and Chase; by request of Governor Locke.

Hearing Date: 1/25/05

Staff: Sarah Dylag (786-7109).

Background:

Two federal laws, and their accompanying regulations, govern energy efficiency standards for certain electrical products. The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 specifies efficiency standards, testing procedures, and labeling requirements for certain residential appliances such as dishwashers, room air conditioners, and fluorescent-lamp ballasts. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 specifies similar requirements for certain types of industrial equipment such as electric motors, commercial water heaters, and commercial furnaces.

Washington has not adopted state efficiency standards for products not covered by federal law.

Summary of Bill:

Minimum efficiency standards and testing procedures are established for 13 products not covered by federal law. The efficiency standards apply to retail sales inside the state, except for products installed in mobile manufactured homes at the time of construction and products designed expressly for installation and use in recreational vehicles.

The 13 products required comply with the state standards are:

• Automatic commercial ice cube machines, such as those found in motels and restaurants.

• Commercial clothes washers, such as those found in apartments and coin laundries.

• Commercial pre-rinse spray valves, such as those used in restaurants to remove food residue from plates prior to their cleaning.

• Commercial refrigerators and freezers, such as those used in large institutional kitchens.

• Digital television adapters, which allow owners of old televisions to view new digital television signals.

• Illuminated exit signs, such as those used in public buildings to mark exit doors.

• Low-voltage dry-type distribution transformers, which are devices that reduce electrical voltage and are often found in electrical closets of office buildings.

• Metal halide lamp fixtures, such as those found on the high ceilings of industrial buildings and gymnasiums.
• Single-voltage external AC to DC power supplies, such as the small boxes attached to power cords that allow battery-operated appliances to use power from electrical outlets.
• Incandescent reflector lamps, such as the light bulbs that are typically used in "recessed can" lights.
• Torchieres, which are portable lamps used to provide indirect lighting.
• Traffic signal modules, which are used in street and highway traffic signals.
• Commercial space heaters that use natural gas or propane.

Tests and inspections.

With certain exceptions, all manufacturers of covered products must test and certify their products using specified tests. Manufacturers of covered products must identify their products as in compliance with the state efficiency standards.

The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) is authorized to test covered products. If a product fails its test, the CTED must inform the public of the test results and charge the manufacturer for the cost of purchasing and testing the product.

The CTED may inspect distributors and retailers to determine compliance with the energy efficiency standards. The CTED must investigate alleged violations of the standards. A manufacturer, distributor, or retailer that repeatedly violates the standards is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $250.

Regulatory updates.

In January 2010, and every four years thereafter, the CTED must update and modify the efficiency standards and test methods of covered products. The agency may adopt test procedures for covered products if the procedures are not in the state building code or otherwise specified in law. The agency may establish standards and test methods for additional products not covered by federal law.

Effective dates for selling covered products.

New products, except commercial ice-makers and metal halide lamp fixtures, may not be sold on or after January 1, 2007, if they do not meet or exceed the specified standards. The effective date for new ice-makers and halide lamps is January 1, 2008.

Effective dates for installing covered products.

New products, except commercial ice-makers and metal halide lamp fixtures, may not be installed for compensation on or after January 1, 2008, if they do not meet or exceed the specified standards. The effective date for new ice-makers and halide lamps is January 1, 2009.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.