House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future I plan to re-introduce legislation (HB 1432 of 2011) that would provide for energy efficiency standards for some appliances that are not regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy. Several other northeastern states have implemented similar standards.

The standards would offer Pennsylvania an extremely cost effective strategy to reduce electricity use, save consumers money and ultimately reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation would require Pennsylvania to promote the adoption of the most energy-efficient appliances and equipment, adding ratings beyond the Energy Star appliance standards. It would include the following appliances: furnace fans, fluorescent lighting fixtures, DVD players, compact audio equipment, portable electric spas, water dispensers, hot food holding cabinets, televisions, and portable lighting fixtures.

Additionally, it would propose that Pennsylvania require Energy Star equipment in state-owned or state-funded buildings and by using incentives and funding to encourage local government and municipalities to adopt similar standards for their own buildings and for the public by 2015.

These appliance energy efficiency standards are a recommendation of the Climate Change Action Plan, whose Advisory Committee is a consortium of about two dozen government, industry and environmental interests assembled by Act 70, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act of 2008, and tasked with producing an action plan.

Previous co-sponsors of this legislation include: SANTARSIERO, D. COSTA, GOODMAN, HORNAMAN , JOSEPHS , MARSHALL , PAYTON , READSHAW and CALTAGIRONE