HB 2758

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

Technology, Energy & Communications Committee

HB 2758

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Adding products to the energy efficiency code.

Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Morrell and Hudgins.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes minimum energy efficiency standards for electrical products.

Hearing Date: 1/23/08

Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).

Background:

In 2005, the Legislature adopted minimum energy efficiency standards and testing procedures for 12 electrical products that were not covered by federal law. The efficiency standards apply to products sold, offered for sale, or installed in the state.

The 12 electrical products were:

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;
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; and
commercial space heaters that use natural gas or propane.

In 2006, the Legislature removed from state statute efficiency standards for the following four products, which had been preempted by federal law: illuminated exit signs, low-voltage dry-type distribution transformers, torchieres, and traffic signal modules. The state's efficiency standards for certain incandescent reflector lamps were changed to conform with proposed California standards.

New products, except commercial ice-makers, single-voltage external AC to DC power supplies, and halide lamps, that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, may not be sold if they do not meet or exceed specified energy efficiency standards. The applicable manufacturing date for new ice-makers, single-voltage external AC to DC power supplies, and halide lamps is on or after January 1, 2008.

New products, except commercial ice-makers and metal halide lamp fixtures, that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2007, may not be installed for compensation on or after January 1, 2008, if they do not meet the specified standards. The applicable date for new ice-makers and halide lamps that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2008, is January 1, 2009.

Summary of Bill:

Minimum efficiency standards are established for certain electrical products that are sold, offered for sale, or installed in the state.

These products include certain types of:

Refrigerators, refrigerators-freezers and freezers:

      - Wine chillers sold for use by an individual;
      - Freezers sold for use by an individual consumer between 30 cubic feet and 39 cubic    feet;
      - Internal illumination of remote reach-in, pass-through and roll-in cabinets with transparent doors; cabinets without doors; and wine chillers that are not consumer products; and
      - Walk-in refrigerators and walk-in freezers.

Refrigerated canned and bottle beverage vending machines.
Bottle-type water dispensers, and point-of-use water dispensers, dispensing both hot and cold water.
Central air conditioners:

      - Central air conditioners such as groundwater-source heat pumps, and ground-source heat pumps;
      - air-cooled, water-cooled, glycol-cooled, and evaporatively cooled computer room air conditioners; and
      - air-cooled unitary air conditioners.

Boilers, central furnaces, duct furnaces, and unit heaters.
Hot water dispensers and minitank electric water heaters.
Small water heaters that are not federally regulated consumer products, other than hot water dispensers, booster water heaters, and minitank electric water heaters.
Pool heaters, residential pool pumps, and portable electric spas.
Tub spout diverters and showerhead-tub spout diverter.
Commercial hot food holding cabinets.
Distribution transformers.
Power supplies in active mode when tested at 115 volts at 60 Hz and the energy consumption in the no-load mode of power supplies when tested at 115 volts at 60 Hz. This standard applies to external power supplies used with laptop computers, mobile phones, printers, print servers, scanners, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireline phones and digital cameras.
Consumer audio and video equipment.

The maximum power use of lamp electrical power input of state-regulated incandescent reflector lamps manufactured on or after January 1, 2009 is established. The minimum average lamp efficacy of state-regulated incandescent reflector lamps manufactured on or after January 1, 2009, is established.

The effective date for the minimum energy efficiency standards 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.