THE PRODUCT:
Portable electric spas (PESs) are free-standing spas that are electrically heated. PESs include conventional high-temperature “hot tubs”, exercise or swim spas, and inflatable spas.
THE STANDARD:
There are currently no federal standards for PESs. In 2022, following a final determination of PESs as a covered consumer product, DOE initiated a standards rulemaking.
California adopted the first state standards for PESs in 2004, and an additional 13 states have adopted state-level standards. The state standards for PESs set maximum standby power limits.
*Standby power refers to the energy consumed to maintain the temperature set point and to circulate and filter the water when the spa is not being used.
KEY FACTS:
As of 2020, about five million US households had spas. Typical PESs waste a significant amount of energy through heat loss when the spa is not being used. A typical 334-gallon spa just meeting the most recent state standards uses more than 200 W of standby power, or about 1,900 kWh per year. For comparison, an average new refrigerator uses about 500 kWh per year.
