Smart Electronics Act - Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to submit a report that: (1) assesses the potential for cost-effective integration of smart electronics technologies and capabilities in all products that are reviewed for potential designation as Energy Star products, (2) assesses the growth of consumer electronics utilization and the associated energy consumption, (3) analyzes the potential energy savings and electricity cost savings that could accrue through specific Energy Star program focus on smart electronics, and (4) analyzes and ranks the potential of cost-effective smart electronics technologies.
Defines "smart electronics" to mean consumer electronics that include measures to reduce energy use and increase energy efficiency, such as: (1) power-factor correction, (2) stand-by power mode, (3) communication with smart grid and in-home and networked energy monitoring equipment, (4) on-demand and variable processing speed semiconductors, (5) off-peak operation and charging, (6) low power switchable modes, and (7) the ability to achieve greater efficiency with multiple functions on semiconductors.
Requires the Secretary and the Administrator, to the extent consistent with report findings, to: (1) develop a smart electronics emphasis as part of the implementation of the Energy Star program, and (2) establish within that program a Smart Electronics Registry that provides a voluntary mechanism for electronics manufacturers and sellers to register their smart electronics products. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to work with: (1) manufacturers to develop testing and verification protocols to ensure that products qualify as smart electronics, and (2) sellers to develop qualification criteria for smart electronics sales location labeling.
Permits states to enact smart electronics standards more stringent than protocols and criteria established under this Act.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2748 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2748
To assess the potential of smart electronics to reduce home and office
electricity demand, to incorporate smart electronics into the Energy
Star Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2011
Mr. Honda introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To assess the potential of smart electronics to reduce home and office
electricity demand, to incorporate smart electronics into the Energy
Star Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Smart Electronics Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The International Energy Agency estimates new
electronic gadgets have the potential to triple their energy
consumption by 2030 to 1,700 terawatt hours, the equivalent of
today's home electricity consumption of the United States and
Japan combined.
(2) According to the International Energy Agency,
electronic gadgets already account for about 15 percent of
household electric consumption, a share that is rising rapidly
as the number of these gadgets multiplies. Last year, the world
spent $80,000,000,000 on electricity to power all these
household electronics, and that is projected to rise to
$200,000,000,000 a year by 2030.
(3) Most of the increase in consumer electronics will be in
developing countries, where economic growth is fastest and
ownership rates of gadgets is the lowest.
(4) This proliferation in the use of devices will
jeopardize efforts to increase the energy security of the
United States and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
(5) The cost to business is even higher. Power consumed by
the typical corporate data center is growing by 20 percent per
year. Existing technologies could slash gadgets' energy
consumption by more than 30 percent at no cost or by more than
50 percent at a small cost, meaning that total greenhouse gas
emissions from households' electronic gadgets could be held
stable at around 500,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
(6) Governmental policies and programs such as Energy Star
have the potential to be enhanced to achieve even greater
energy savings through clear mandates and incentives and
upgraded implementation.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Consumer electronics.--The term ``consumer
electronics'' means electronic equipment intended for everyday
use, most often in entertainment, communications, and office
productivity.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(4) Smart electronics.--The term ``smart electronics''
means consumer electronics that include measures to reduce
energy use and increase energy efficiency, such as the
following:
(A) Power-factor correction.
(B) Stand-by power mode.
(C) Communication with smart grid and in-home and
networked energy monitoring equipment.
(D) On-demand and variable processing speed
semiconductors.
(E) Off-peak operation and charging.
(F) Low power switchable modes.
(G) The ability to achieve greater efficiency with
multiple functions on semiconductors.
SEC. 4. ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS.
Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary and the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress
that--
(1) assesses the potential for cost-effective integration
of smart electronics technologies and capabilities in all
products that are reviewed for potential designation as Energy
Star products;
(2) assesses the growth of consumer electronics utilization
and the associated energy consumption;
(3) analyzes the potential energy savings and electricity
cost savings that could accrue through specific Energy Star
program focus on smart electronics; and
(4) analyzes and ranks the potential of cost-effective
smart electronics technologies.
SEC. 5. INCORPORATION OF SMART ELECTRONICS IN ENERGY STAR PROGRAM.
To the extent that it is consistent with the findings of the report
under section 4, the Secretary and the Administrator shall develop a
smart electronics emphasis as part of the implementation of the Energy
Star program.
SEC. 6. ENERGY STAR SMART ELECTRONICS REGISTRY.
(a) In General.--To the extent that it is consistent with the
findings of the report under section 4, the Secretary and the
Administrator shall establish within the Energy Star program a Smart
Electronics Registry that provides a voluntary mechanism for
electronics manufacturers and sellers to register their smart
electronics products. In operating the registry, the Secretary and the
Administrator shall--
(1) work with manufacturers to develop testing and
verification protocols to ensure that products qualify as smart
electronics; and
(2) work with sellers to develop qualification criteria for
smart electronics sales location labeling.
(b) State Standards.--Nothing in this section shall prohibit a
State from enacting smart electronics standards more stringent than
protocols and criteria established pursuant to this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1460-1461)
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
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