US and China Seek Uniformity in Energy Efficiency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the China Standard Certification Center (CSC) have agreed to work toward harmonizing information on their respective energy-efficiency labels for electronics and office equipment.
By CleanLink Editorial Staff
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the China Standard Certification Center (CSC) have agreed to work toward harmonizing information on their respective energy-efficiency labels for electronics and office equipment.
Labeling helps decrease energy consumption, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to EPA.
"EPA and CSC agree that saving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment just make sense," says Bill Wehrum, EPA acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. "EPA, through the Energy Star program, has been working to change the way America powers its homes and businesses for 15 years, and it is a privilege to share our time-tested approaches with China."
The EPA and CSC collaboration has three principal goals:
- Harmonizing key elements of Energy Star and CSC product endorsement-labeling programs;
- Providing a more unified set of energy efficiency standards to manufacturers in both programs; and
- Building China's capacity to manage an internationally-recognized product labeling program.
With EPA's assistance on certification development, CSC has added 10 product categories to their certification and labeling program since 2001, including computers, monitors, televisions, office copiers, fax machines and external power supplies.
China's rapid economic growth rate has been accompanied by large increases in energy demand. Improving the energy efficiency of common products will also help China meet its goal of reducing energy intensity 20 percent by 2010, says EPA.
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