| Security Industry Association pulled together a coalition to draft legislative language and advocate for a fix |
A bill introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., would provide a legislative fix that has the support of a unique coalition that was organised by the Security Industry Association (SIA).
The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 require electronic devices to meet certain efficiency standards while in "no-load" mode. The requirements apply to security and life safety devices - such as video surveillance and access control systems - even though they are always in "active" mode. To correct this, SIA pulled together a coalition that includes both industry and environmental groups - including the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) - to draft legislative language and advocate for a fix. Senator Bingaman included the measure in Section 4 of the "National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010" (S. 3059), which would make technical corrections to EISA. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the committee's ranking Republican, and Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J., cosponsored the bill.
"We are very grateful to Chairman Bingaman for his leadership in developing this common sense, bipartisan proposal that has the support of some of the most widely respected environmental groups in the country and many SIA member companies," SIA Director of Research and Technology Mark Visbal said. "This technical amendment from Chairman Bingaman and Senators Murkowski and Menendez strikes the right balance for all interested parties."
The measure would retain EISA's "active" mode efficiency standards for security and life safety products.
SIA's leadership in developing consensus on the issue, Visbal and other association officials noted, offers an important example of the group's commitment to providing results for its members and the entire security industry.
In addition to SIA and the NRDC, the provision is supported by the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Appliance Standards Awareness Project and the Electronic Security Association.