Energy efficiency standards and labels provide a solid foundation for economic growth, climate change mitigation, and regional trade

Governments around the world have increasingly been implementing energy efficiency standards and labeling programs for the past 30 years. There has been an especially rapid growth in the number and extent of these programs over the past 15 years. By the end of 2005, 62 countries had adopted 1818 separate standards or labels covering 82 products. The impact has been dramatic. This paper describes: (1) the benefits that can be obtained through this policy, (2) which countries are implementing standards and labels and for which products, (3) the impacts such programs have been having in some countries, and (4) recent progress through regional cooperation and alignment.