Projects

Ghana: Appliance and Lighting Standards Assessment; 1998 - present

Berkeley Lab has outlined an initial market survey and workplan for the Ghanaian Ministry of Mines and Energy and USAID to support Ghana's interest in developing and implementing energy performance standards for the following appliances: refrigerators, room air conditioners, and lighting systems. In this effort, the market structure, including suppliers, distributors, and consumers, will be characterized. The goal of this activity, supported by USAID, will be to transfer to our Ghanaian counterparts the skills necessary to develop, administer, and continually adjust energy efficiency standards for several chosen technologies.

Mexico: Development of Appliance Standards; 1993, and Development and Implementation of Commercial Building Standards; 1993-present.

In support of appliance standards, Berkeley Lab hosted a group of Mexican experts at the Lab and provided technical advice and methodology training. After the initial training, the group returned to Mexico to gather data specific to the Mexican scenario which they then used in their own independent analysis. Berkeley Lab provided follow-on assistance and commented on the results of their analysis. This activity, supported by USAID, resulted in the development and implementation by the Mexicans of energy performance standards for refrigerators and room air conditioners.

In support of building standards, Berkeley Lab has provided research and technical support to Mexico's Comision Nacional de Ahorro de Energia (CONAE). CONAE has been working to develop and implement energy performance standards for commercial buildings. A first standard was proposed in April of 1995 and since then Berkeley Lab has been collaborating with IIE, the Mexican Electrical Research Institute, and Rampa, a consultant engineer company. IIE's project is to upgrade CONAE's residential energy standard, Rampa's to gather construction and energy use data on 10 newly-built office buildings. This activity, supported by USAID, has not only forwarded the application of commercial building standards in Mexico but has had an impact in the region as well. Recently, Colombian policy makers selected a team of Mexican standards experts to study the feasibility of developing appliance standards in Colombia.

Philippines: Development of Motors Standards; 1996-present, and Commercial Building Standards Compliance; 1996-present.

Working together with Philippines DOE, the Fuels and Appliance Testing Lab (FATL), and USAID-Philippines, Berkeley Lab is providing technical review and support to a Philippine contractor, Leverage Inc., to conduct a market characterization study for motors. This is an important first step in the development of a motors efficiency program in which standards is a major component. Leverage Inc., has also been contracted to perform a characterization study of the design/permit/build process for commercial buildings in the Philippines. This activity will identify the obstacles and barriers to full compliance with the commercial building standards already in place. It will also review different implementation approaches and offer comparative advantages/disadvantages for adopting these models. These Philippine initiatives, supported by USAID, expect to lay a foundation for a motors efficiency program and to address the issue of non-compliance in the commercial building area.

Egypt: Appliance Standards Assessment; 1990

With USAID support, Berkeley Lab and several associates traveled to Egypt to respond to a request by the Egyptian Organization of Energy Planning to have existing appliance testing laboratories evaluated. A range of recommendations were made as to the kinds of upgrades that would improve the role of the testing labs. Berkeley Lab also evaluated manufacturing facilities and made recommendations for improvements. In addition, technical and methodology training sessions were conducted. Berkeley Lab remained in contact, providing technical feedback, for a year after the initial visit.

ASEAN Countries: Development and Implementation of Commercial Building Standards; 1979-1988

Berkeley Lab led a major project for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to stimulate the development and implementation of policies to increase the efficiency of energy use in commercial buildings and to enhance ASEAN's policy analysis capabilities in the field of energy efficiency. Berkeley Lab conducted numerous training courses and workshops during the nine years of the project. This project provided funding support and technical leadership for a team of more than 50 ASEAN researchers and analysts working to design energy standards for commercial buildings. This activity, supported by USAID, has resulted in the commercial building energy standards implemented today in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

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Berkeley Lab Staff

LBNL's International Efficiency Standards Team - (top row, right to left): Greg Rosenquist, Joe Huang, Jim McMahon, Steve Pickle, Alan Meier, Jayant Sathaye, Chris Busch, Isaac Turiel; (bottom row): Jeffrey Harris, John Busch, Mark Levine, Steve Wiel, Sachu Constantine; not pictured: Mirka della Cava, Steve Greenberg, Sajid Hakim, Jiang Lin, and Aimee McKane

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