Efforts in Energy Efficiency: Advocating the CFL

The energy crisis was brought to the surface by the 1973 Oil Crisis. Out of the crisis, many developments and organizations were formed to improve energy efficiency. The modern CFL was invented by Ed Hammer during this time. In the beginning, people did not think the CFL would work. Since then, CFL has come a long way and its popularity grew as the cost of energy continues to rise. Many organizations have been sponsoring the efforts of energy efficiency in lights and advocating the CFL (Kanellos).
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program was created to encourage energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas. Since its beginning in the U.S., many other countries have adopted the program. It created standards for many different kinds of products. Its labels are widely seen on home and office appliances. Only the products that meet the Energy Star standards can earn its label. Because of its popularity and trustworthy name, Energy Star is very effective spreading energy efficient products. In 2007, “Energy Star qualified CFL sales for 2007 nearly double, reaching 20% market share. Also, “it successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, organizations, and consumers about $19 billion in 2008 alone” (Energy Star).
Despite of its good name, there is still room for improvements. According to Noah D. Horowitz, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Energy Star has not updated a number of products’ efficiency standards to meet higher conservation levels. For example, the current estimate of average use of hot water per household is 64.3 gallons a day. This meets the standard of two decades ago, “when the composition of households was in many cases much different from today’s” (Becker). Also, according to Michael Siminovitch, Director of the California Lighting Technology Center, Energy Star’s standards are the government’s approach to simply provide limitations for products, and by meeting the standard, products appear to be energy efficient. But this recommends products to only do so much as to fit within the standard; it provides a “worst case possible” instead of encouraging industries to make more energy efficient products (Siminovitch).
Alliance to Save Energy is a none-profit coalition of industrial, technological, and energy corporations. The coalition was created in 1978, with the goal of promoting energy efficiency. It is influential to consumers and government as well. One of its biggest news is the phase-out plan of incandescent lamps. In 2007, the Alliance to Save Energy supported the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (previously known as Clean Air Act of 2007), agreeing on the phase out of incandescent lamps between 2012 and 2014 (Alliance to Save Energy, The Library of Congress).
However, the bill faced much opposition as well, mainly from the oil industry and conservative activists. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that the bill will punish one of the country’s largest industries. Also, the Chamber stated that the new technology is not ready to take the incandescent lamps place; “these emerging technologies are neither developed nor commercially viable enough to replace even a fraction of the energy America receives from hydrocarbon sources” (Josten).
On the side note, Home Depot is a part of the Alliance to Save Energy. According to earth911.org, Home Depot (the closest one being the one at Woodland) performs the recycle services for CFL bulbs. EPA has been looking into drop-off recycle of CFL at local post offices. But its decisions have not been finalized. As of now, 75% of Americans’ homes are within 10 miles of the nearest Home Depot (Rosenbloom).

Work Cited

Kanellos, Michael. "Father of the compact fluorescent bulb looks back." CNET News 16 Aug 2007 Web.21 Apr 2009. http://news.cnet.com/Father-of-the-compact-fluorescent-bulb-looks-back/2100-11392_3-6202996.html.

Energy Star. http://www.energystar.gov/

Becker. Bernie. "Why Obama’s Energy Savings Estimate May Be Skewed ," The New York Times 06 Feb 2009. Web.21 Apr 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/washington/07energy.html.

Siminovitch, Michael. "The Roots of Energy Efficiency." UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center. Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, Sacramento. 17 Apr 2009. Performance.

Alliance to Save Energy. http://ase.org/

United States. The Library of Congress. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. 2007. Web. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00006:@@@L&summ2=m&.

Josten, Bruce. "H.R. 6, The Clean Energy Act of 2007." U.S. Chamber of Commerce 17 Jan 2007 Web.21 Apr 2009. http://www.uschamber.com/issues/letters/2007/070117_clean_energy_act.htm.

Rosenbloom. Stephanie. " Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs," The New York Times 24 Jan 2008. Web.21 Apr 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/business/24recycling.html?_r=1&em&ex=1214625600&en=8ddbcb7023c75243&ei=5087%0A.