January 13, 2003—In a new report released by the North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG), the United States, Mexico, and Canada have announced they are moving toward unified standards for energy efficiency in appliances and other electronic goods.
According to the report, “North American Energy Efficiency Standards And Labeling,” Mexico’s recent adoption of new standards for energy efficiency will harmonize North America’s minimum efficiency requirements and test procedures for refrigerators, freezers, electric motors, and window air-conditioners before the end of the first quarter of 2003, strengthening the continent’s market for high-efficiency products.
The report provides an update on the NAEWG’s progress on energy efficiency, describes why standards and labeling programs are effective instruments in meeting energy-efficiency goals, explains the different processes and institutional contexts for these programs in each country, and identifies where commonalities and differences exist.
NAEWG was formed after US President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Mexican President Vicente Fox committed in April 2001 to expanding energy trade among the three nations and strengthening the energy market in North America.
A PDF version of the report is available from the US Department of Energy.
