US continue to tighten efficiency standards

New DOE standard for distribution transformers

The US Department Of Energy (DOE) has created a new, tighter efficiency standard for distribution transformers. The final version of this new rule was published on 12 October 2007. The standard applies to liquid-immersed transformers as well as to dry-types.

According to EERE Network News, this new standard could raise the cost of distribution transformers by 12 to 13 per cent but reduce their energy losses by about one fourth.

Although distribution transformers already have very high efficiencies, each extra efficiency improvement can still lead to significant energy savings, since those transformers are produced in great numbers, have a long life-span, and are nearly continuously in use.