Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) – also called Minimum Energy Performance Requirements – are one of the main ways that energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment "push" the market towards greater energy efficiency.
MEPS prevent inefficient products from entering the marketplace; encourage product manufacturers to increase product efficiency on a continuing basis; and raise the average energy efficiency of products.
Given the importance of MEPS in global energy efficiency efforts, CLASP supports MEPS development and revision through multiple actions and channels. CLASP provides analysis to develop MEPS; works with governments and regulatory bodies to develop, implement, and revise performance standards in a non-prescriptive way (as directed in CLASP Guiding Principles); and collaborates with stakeholders during the public review and revision phases of standards and labels development and implementation.
CLASP Provides Analysis to Develop MEPS
CLASP provides technical analysis to countries to develop MEPS. The most common types of analysis CLASP offers for energy performance standards setting include statistical analysis, engineering analysis, market analysis, national impact analysis, consumer analysis, and manufacturing analysis. These analytical methods may be used alone or in combination to gather the data needed to support the standards-setting process. Countries increasingly customize analytical models to fit their economic, environmental and cultural contexts.
CLASP Works with Governments and Regulatory Bodies
CLASP works with governments and regulatory bodies to develop, implement, and revise performance standards in a non-prescriptive and objective way (as directed in CLASP Guiding Principles). For example, CLASP assists governments and regulatory bodies with country or context-specific S&L program tasks such as assessing how local cultural, institutional, and political factors are likely to influence the adoption and effectiveness of the program; establishing political legitimacy for standards; setting the minimum energy performance levels for chosen products; and managing the public announcement of the standards levels, effective dates, and compliance procedures.
CLASP Collaborates with Stakeholders
CLASP collaborates with stakeholders – including manufacturers, consumers, utilities, local governments, and environmental or energy-efficiency interest groups – during the public review and revision phases of standards and labels development and implementation.
In addition to direct stakeholder engagement efforts, CLASP helps policy makers determine what level of public involvement is most appropriate for their country and how stakeholder feedback and contributions will be heard, gathered and incorporated. Stakeholder contributions are often incorporated through public meetings or invitations to provide written comments.
CLASP also assists countries with fewer resources in place with stakeholder engagement efforts such as providing public notice, conducting focus groups and public hearings, interpreting public comments and reviewing and weighing their relevance, and making appropriate changes to balance the expressed interests of many stakeholders.
Example: CLASP Partners with Ghana to Develop Country-Specific S&L
CLASP's Ghana program – active from 2000 through 2002 – offers a small-scale but complete example of the way in which CLASP provides country-specific support and technical analysis to governments throughout the many stages of energy performance standards development. In 2000, CLASP partnered with Ghana's Electrical Appliance Labelling and Standards Programme (GEALSP) to develop the first standards and labels for sub-Saharan Africa.
CLASP worked with GEALSP to create energy efficiency performance standards and labels customized to Ghana’s energy needs, culture, and economic reality. CLASP and GEALSP developed an S&L plan that factored in the potential effect of efficiency standards on low-income groups; the need to make it feasible and affordable for Ghanaians to purchase energy efficient products; and the need to make it attractive for businesses to supply the technology and services before any regulation was drafted. Given the energy needs, culture, and economic reality of Ghana, CLASP and GEALSP agreed that the room air conditioner (RAC) standard would be implemented first and then followed by standards for lighting systems, refrigerators and deep freezers.
GEALSP's S&L plan – leading with a RAC standard – provided significant energy savings while enabling maximum stakeholder support. The plan allowed GEALSP to establish a precedent, improve its technical capacity, and increase the chances of successful implementation of future standards. Read more.