GE to Deliver Smarter Appliances

March 6, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

GE Consumer & Industrial plans to introduce a suite of “smart” appliances, or energy-management-enabled appliances, that are enabled to receive a signal from local utility companies that are participating in tiered rate programs to help consumers manage their peak energy usage. This will help shift some of the energy load from peak hours to other parts of the day to reduce the need to build new power plants, said Kevin Nolan, vice president of technology for GE Consumer & Industrial.

GE already has made significant efforts to develop household appliance and lighting products that help reduce energy spending and protect the environment. Fifty-four percent of GE appliance products are ENERGY STAR qualified, and 99.3 percent of the company’s 2008 compact fluorescent lamp sales were ENERGY STAR qualified models.

Recent energy-saving introductions from GE include the Tankless Gas Water Heater and the Hybrid Electric Water Heater, which will be available later this year. The Hybrid Electric Water Heater is designed to provide the same hot water homeowners are accustomed to, but requires only about half the energy to produce it, delivering a savings of about $250 per year, based on 10 cents per kWh, according to GE.

In the lighting arena, GE claims the world’s first truly incandescent-shaped Energy Smart compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb that features the GE Spiral CFL inside the glass bulb. This design provides the appearance, size and fit of a traditional incandescent bulb, while delivering the energy savings and long-life performance of a CFL.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have awarded GE Consumer & Industrial the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award for the fourth straight year. This also marks the sixth year GE has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.

In 2008, the total number of ENERGY STAR qualified appliance base units totaled 563 models, and the number of qualified lighting products grew to a total of 271, according to ENERGY STAR. A recent study shows that homeowners are willing to spend more for energy-efficient products, which is good news for companies like GE that are focused on the development of energy-saving appliances and lighting.

Other good news for companies investing in energy-efficient product design is President Obama’s call for the DoE to set tough new energy-efficiency standards for home appliances, ranging from dishwashers to air conditioners. He is also asking for energy-efficient lighting for public buildings, which will be an added revenue builder for GE as it continues its focus on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic LED development.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader