Fighting Global Warming Standards already adopted will cut U.S. carbon emissions by 29 million metric tons in 2000 and 65 million metric tons by 2010. To put these figures into perspective, under the Kyoto protocol, the U.S. needs to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 505 MMT in 2010. New appliance standards could provide additional annual carbon emissions reductions of 12.6 million metric tons by 2010 and 31 million metric tons by 2020. Appliance standards could supply a significant portion of the carbon emissions reduction needed to meet the U.S. target under the Kyoto Protocol. Protecting Public Health Improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to cut down power plant pollution that contributes to respiratory problems.
Standards also reduce soot or small particulate emissions that have been linked to asthma.
Other power plant pollution reduced by improved appliance efficiency include sulfur dioxide, a prime cause of acid rain, and mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal. Creating and Protecting Jobs Appliance efficiency standards create jobs in two ways. Businesses add jobs to meet increased demand for energy-saving products, and Consumers spend savings from lower utility bills on other goods and services. For example, in order to comply with the new refrigerator standard that will become effective in 2001, Maytag renovated and expanded its Galesburg, IL factory, increasing its workforce to 2,400. Frigidaire and Whirlpool are upgrading existing factories in Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and Arkansas to produce refrigerators that meet the new standard.