GOVERNMENT RELATIONS and put it back out in the marketplace with any customer unless it meets the new specification. That is inconsistent with how EPA has allowed previously certified units to be “grandfathered” under existing specifications. If you manufacturer, sell, or distribute bottle or point-of-use (POU) water coolers to your customers—or act as a supplier in some capacity for water coolers and related products—you should care about this issue. If the home and delivery (HOD) segment of the bottled water industry is not able to cost-effectively and efficiently offer its customers the water cooler products they are used to receiving, sales may drop. That would of course be a negative result for the entire bottled water industry. Although ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program, there are some states (e.g., California and Oregon) that already have laws requiring water coolers sold in those states to mirror ENERGY STAR standby energy consumption standards. Those states may very likely update their laws in the near future to reflect the new ENERGY STAR standard, thereby making a voluntary requirement at the federal level a legal requirement at the state level.
HELP EDUCATE EPA AND CONGRESS ABOUT THIS WATER COOLER ISSUE. with you, as well as review the specific “asks.” We need you to capitalize on the relationships you have built with your legislators and regulators during the last several years to make sure they understand the industry’s perspective. Our message will be far more powerful if it comes from you—the constituent—rather than IBWA staff. If you have not yet established strong working relationships with your legislators and regulators, it’s certainly not too late to introduce yourself. IBWA has many tools and resources available to assist you as you set out to introduce yourself and the bottled water industry’s issues to decision makers. The more legislators and regulators who hear your voice on
our current ENERGY STAR standby energy consumption concern, the more effective your efforts could be. We have a real opportunity here to effect and change a regulation that could impose a drastic and onerous requirement on your company and the bottled water industry as a whole. It will take a concentrated effort with a strong and unified industry voice to be successful. But still, there is a sense of achievement in knowing that all the time and energy you’ve invested in getting to know your legislators and regulators could have a major influence on the final outcome. That is significant. The time is here and the time is now. We hope you will join this call to action.
OzOne IntegratIOn FOr BOttLeD Water
How to Take Action IBWA staff is currently working with members, federal counsel, and thirdparty allies to develop and implement strategies to seek legislative and/ or regulatory relief from the new ENERGY STAR standby energy consumption requirement before it goes into effect next year. IBWA invites all members to accept this “call to action” and assist us by reaching out to your federal legislators and regulators in the near future to explain our concerns and tell them how they can help. IBWA staff has prepared all the background information and talking points you’ll need, so if you want assistance let us know and we’ll share those documents
Pacific Ozone optimizes ozone system integration from the inside out to meet the specific requirements of your process and application. Pacific Ozone – your ozone technology partner.
(707) 747-9600 www.PacificOzone.com Complete Integrated Solutions. Single Trusted Source. JUNE/JULY 2013
BWR
25