BOSTON AREA SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION

Thursday September 12, 2013

We already benefit from national standards for appliance efficiency, to the tune of $500 annual savings per household. Nationally, electricity use in 2010 was slashed 7% and CO2 emissions decreased as if there were 51 less coal-fired power plants. Interestingly, stricter standards seem to spur innovation, such that manufacturing costs and consumer prices are regularly and significantly below Department of Energy estimates.

Where do efficiency standards come from? Is it pure policy action from the government? When political winds change, does progress on efficiency get blown away? Should new standards be more stringent to fire innovation and wring out more savings?

Welcome back to the BASEA Forum Series, where we begin with an exploration of energy and water efficiency standards, affecting appliances manufactured and sold or imported for sale in the U.S. and used in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Appliance standards are a relatively recent reality, born of increasing social awareness of energy and environmental issues. We present an inside look at the process, from history to future, from the perspective of a veteran champion of the struggle.

Location: First Parish in Cambridge Unitarian Universalist; 3 Church Street, Harvard Square

Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m

Presenter: Marianne DiMascio of Appliance Standards Awareness Project

Marianne DiMascio is the Outreach Director for the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. She creates awareness and support for appliance efficiency standards at the federal and state level, building a coalition of stakeholders through outreach, education and advocacy. Co-author of "The Efficiency Boom: Cashing in on Savings from Appliance Standards" and "Ka-Boom! The Power of Appliance Standards", Marianne holds a Master's in Education from Harvard University and a B.A. in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire.