SEAD Announces Competition to Identify World's Most Energy-Efficient Motors

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an ambitious effort to reduce energy use on a global scale, the Clean Energy Ministerial's Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative –announced a competition to recognize the most energy-efficient electric motors around the world. SEAD Global Efficiency Medals will be awarded to the most energy-efficient motors on the market as well as new technologies that have the potential to greatly reduce energy use in the future.

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According to the International Energy Agency, electric motors account for over 40 percent of world electricity consumption.  They are by far the largest consumers of end-use electricity and are responsible for more than 6,000 megatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually - equivalent to the yearly emissions of more than 1 billion cars.

By recognizing and promoting the world's most energy-efficient electric motors, the SEAD competition will help buyers make informed purchasing decisions that can lower energy bills and spur greater innovation among manufacturers.

"Electric motors are in everything from small appliances to large industrial equipment," said Kavita Ravi, a SEAD Initiative representative.  "The competition will allow manufacturers to distinguish themselves as producers of the most energy efficient products and help consumers save energy and cut back on electric bills."  

Manufacturers are invited to nominate their products through 29 November. Prospective winners will be required to provide samples of each entry for verification of energy efficiency claims. Winners will be announced 1 September 2014 and will be honored at an international awards ceremony in early 2015.

SEAD Global Efficiency Medals will be awarded to motors that demonstrate the greatest energy efficiency in each of four regions – Australia, Europe, India, and North America.  An overall international winner will also be named for the most efficient induction motor and for the most energy efficient motor using new technology.

SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competitions encourage the production and sale of super-efficient equipment, appliances and electronics, focusing on products with significant global energy consumption and energy savings potential. The electric motors competition is the third in this global awards program; the first recognized the world's most energy efficient flat-screen televisions and the second the most efficient computer monitors.

For more information about the motor awards, visit www.superefficient.org/motorawards.

SEAD is an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial, a high-level global forum to share best practices and promote policies and programs that encourage and facilitate the transition to a global clean energy economy.

www.cleanenergyministerial.org

SEAD is also a task within the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation. The Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) serves as the administrator for the Global Efficiency Medals competition. For more information, visit http://www.superefficient.org/.

SOURCE CLASP