Aham President Testifies Before Senate for Incentives to Develop Smart Appliances

AHAM PRESIDENT Joseph M. McGuire testified before the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee that S. 3059, the National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010, opens the door to perhaps the most dramatic energy savings yet attributable to home appliances. The legislation recognizes the potential benefits to the environment and to consumers for Smart Appliances operating in a Smart Grid environment, by authorizing the Department of Energy to provide a credit to future appliance efficiency standards for manufacturers who invest in making these appliances Smart Grid-enabled.

AHAM believes that the incentive-based approach to the next generation of appliance standards foreseen by this bill can reach its full potential when coupled with the Best-in-Class Appliance Deployment incentive program that is currently under discussion by appliance manufacturers, retailers and efficiency advocates. AHAM hopes this program will be an additional consensus agreement that Congress enacts to help fulfill the Smart Grid Vision.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is a not-for-profit trade association representing manufacturers of major and portable home appliances, floor care appliances and suppliers to the industry and is headquartered in Washington, DC.