The Collaborative Labeling & Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) was founded in 1999 through a strategic cooperation of three organizations – the Alliance to Save Energy, the International Institute for Energy Conservation, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - to address the growing energy demand and contributions to climate change of developing countries.
CLASP began its work providing technical assistance on all aspects of energy efficiency standards and labeling (S&L) to governments with fewer technical resources, as well as developing and growing collaborations with S&L technical experts and stakeholders all over world.
CLASP's early practice of collaborating with technical experts outside of our organization allowed CLASP to hone a flexible strategy for matching the best technical expert to the specific project and location. Building on this approach, CLASP has become an international leader within the S&L community for global collaborations and partnerships.
CLASP's mission – of promoting energy efficiency standards and labels for appliances, equipment, and lighting – guides our collaborations with government agencies, donors, technical and policy experts, international networks, and industry affiliates from around the world in order to best reduce harmful CO2 emissions globally. Important milestones in CLASP's history and development include:
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In 2005, CLASP became an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. As an international nonprofit organization, we maintain neutrality and support the projects of diverse stakeholders.
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In 2009, CLASP partnered with the ClimateWorks Foundation's network of organizations as a Best Practice Network (BPN). ClimateWorks' BPNs – global leaders in our fields – are institutions staffed by technical and regulatory experts who help design, implement, and enforce proven policies that reduce CO2 emissions. ClimateWorks focuses on the sectors and regions responsible for most of the world's carbon emissions and CLASP, as part of our partnership with ClimateWorks, has moved from working exclusively in developing countries to also working in more industrialized economies including the United States and European Union. As a BPN, CLASP has furthered our global efforts to support and promote energy efficiency in appliances, lighting, and equipment, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
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In 2011, CLASP joined the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative as the Operating Agent. SEAD is a government-led international market transformation effort for highly efficient appliances and equipment. SEAD – which was launched at the first Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Washington, D.C. in July 2010 – includes the member governments of Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As the Operating Agent, we facilitate and support the shared goal of transforming the global market for efficient equipment and appliances.
CLASP's history of collaboration and global partnerships has demonstrated to us – and increasingly to the world – that our approach is a valuable and effective response to climate change.
FUNDING
CLASP achieves significant CO2 abatement and energy savings through the support of our funders. Between 1999 and 2005, CLASP assisted with the implementation of 24 standards and/or labels and provided S&L assistance to over 50 countries. These efforts alone will save over 115 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity and 30 megatonnes of CO2 (MtCO2) annually by 2020 and have avoided the construction of the equivalent of 38,750-MW coal-fired power plants.
CLASP continues leveraging funding from geographically and programmatically diverse funding sources to provide direct support to governments for developing and strengthening their national S&L initiatives. Additionally, CLASP utilizes a large percentage of its funding to conduct global research and to support international collaborations in order to develop large-scale solutions for reducing CO2 emissions. Learn more about our Partnerships.
CLASP recognizes the generous support of our donors:
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Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
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Australian Greenhouse Office
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ClimateWorks Foundation
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Energy Foundation
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Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority of New Zealand
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Enova of Norway
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Government of Sweden
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Greenhouse Challenge Plus
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Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan
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International Copper Association
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Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry of Japan
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Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
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United Nations Development Program
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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
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United Nations Foundation
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United States Agency for International Development
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US Department of Energy
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US Department of State
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US Environmental Protection Agency
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World Bank