- By: Staff Editor
- Date: September 08, 2011
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Background
Concerns over the nation’s energy consumption and the realization of finite supply made it imperative for the government to enact legislation ensuring the energy independence and security of the country. EISA also aimed at achieving the following goals:
- Increase production of clean, non-polluting, renewable fuels
- Protect consumers
- Increase the efficiency of products, buildings and vehicles
- Promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options
- Improve the energy performance of the Federal Government
Three of the most important provisions that were enacted included:
- Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE)
- Renewable Fuel Standard
- Appliance/lighting efficiency standards.
EISA was the second major energy policy to be implemented by the government after the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
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Summary of Requirements
The EISA’s key provisions and requirements are summarized in the table below:
| Increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE) |
- Requires an increase in CAFE standards and a restructuring of the fuel economy program.
- All passenger vehicles and light trucks to have gas mileage of 35 miles per gallon (mpg) by Model Year 2020
- Manufacturers will be required to come within 92% of the standard for a given model year.
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| Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) |
- The RFS sets the minimum annual levels of renewable fuel in U.S. transportation fuel.
- The previous standard was 5.4 billion gallons for 2008, rising to 7.5 billion by 2012.
- The new standard starts at 9.0 billion gallons in 2008 and rises to 36 billion gallons in 2022.
- Starting in 2016, all of the increase in the RFS target must be met with advanced biofuels.
- The EPA Administrator has the authority to temporarily waive part of the biofuels mandate, if a significant renewable feedstock disruption or other market circumstance occurs.
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Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards
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- Sets new efficiency standards for:
- external power supplies,
- residential clothes washers,
- dishwashers,
- dehumidifiers,
- refrigerators,
- refrigerator-freezers,
- freezers,
- electric motors, and
- residential boilers.
- The DOE is allowed to establish regional variations in standards for heating and air conditioning equipment.
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| Lighting Energy Efficiency Standards |
- Sets an energy efficiency standard for general service incandescent lamps
- Provides for consumer education and lamp labeling
- Requires market assessments and a consumer awareness program
- Sets energy efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures designed to be operated with lamps rated between 150 watts and 500 watts
- Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to set energy efficiency labeling requirements for consumer electronic products
- Sets energy efficiency requirements for federal buildings and the use of energy lighting fixtures and bulbs in these buildings
- Sets energy efficiency standards for incandescent reflector lamps and fluorescent lamps
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| Energy Efficient Federal Buildings |
- Requires that total energy use in federal buildings, relative to the 2005 level, be reduced 30% by 2015
- Directs that federal energy managers conduct a comprehensive energy and water evaluation for each facility at least once every four years
- For new federal buildings and major renovations, fossil-fuel energy use (relative to the 2003 level) should be reduced 55% by 2010 and be eliminated (100% reduction) by 2030
- Prohibits federal agencies from leasing buildings that have not earned an EPA Energy Star label
- Requires GSA to establish an Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings to coordinate green building information and activities within GSA and with other federal agencies
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Recent developments - new standards for fuel efficiency
In 2011, the Obama administration proposed new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light duty trucks as well as heavy duty trucks and buses.
Additional Resources
Read the Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 in full
