Reference

Energy Policy Act of 1992

Summary

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act prescribes energy conservation standards for certain major household appliances, and for efficiency in buildings, industries, and transport.  It requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to administer an energy conservation program for these products and industries.

Main Points

This Act increases conservation and energy-efficiency requirements for government, energy, and consumers.

• For federal agencies, the act requires a 20% reduction in per-square-foot energy consumption by 2000 compared to a 1985 baseline and provides authorization for DOE to issue rules and guidance on Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs).
• The Act also requires Federal agencies to train and utilize energy managers, directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidelines for accurate assessment of energy consumption by Federal buildings, and directs the Government Services Agency (GSA) to report annually on estimated energy costs for leased space.

Global Climate Change section

This portion of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 represents partial fulfillment of the U.S. obligations under the 1992 U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. It provides for the Secretary of Energy to submit a report to Congress on the implications of U.S. compliance with the Convention.

It also provides for:

• inclusion of a least-cost strategy in the National Energy Plan
• establishment of a Director of Climate Protection within the Department of Energy
• a national inventory of greenhouse gases
• establishment of an innovative environmental technology transfer program
• establishment of a Global Climate Change Response Fund.