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The US Department of Energy (DOE) published new minimum energy efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps today. The new standards, which are based on a negotiated agreement, will reduce air conditioner and heat pump energy use by about 7%, translating into hundreds of dollars in electricity bill savings for consumers over the life of their equipment.

Today, the US Department of Energy (DOE) finalized the first efficiency performance standards for ceiling fans. The new standards, which can be met with low-cost improvements, will reduce ceiling fan energy consumption by about 40% relative to the least-efficient fans available today while maintaining the availability of all types of ceiling fans.

Today, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a direct final rule establishing the first-ever efficiency standards for wine chillers. The new standards, which were negotiated by manufacturers and efficiency advocates, will reduce wine chiller energy use by 75% relative to the least efficient products on the market.

On Friday, the US Department of Energy (DOE) released a revised proposal for home furnace minimum energy efficiency standards, the latest step in a long-running docket to update the original standards which took effect in 1992 and have been largely unchanged since then. Under today’s Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR), most new furnaces would reach an efficiency of at least 92%.

A long process to establish the first efficiency performance standards for walk-in coolers and freezers is now just one step away from a successful conclusion. Today the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued proposed standards for certain types of walk-in cooler equipment based on a negotiated agreement between manufacturers and efficiency advocates.

Today, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a proposed rule for new standards for residential cooking products. The proposed standards are based on straightforward measures that would significantly reduce energy waste while maintaining all the features available to consumers today. In particular the proposed standards would cut standby power consumption.

Background

Most of the national appliance energy efficiency standards with the biggest savings cover familiar products such as water heaters and light bulbs, or big commercial energy users like roof top air conditioners.

On Friday, the US Department of Energy (DOE) finalized new efficiency standards for dehumidifiers. In addition to reducing the power consumption of a major energy hog, the new standards will also ensure that dehumidifiers perform efficiently in the basements where they are most commonly used.

From smart phones to toothbrushes to power tools, rechargeable batteries let us go cordless. But rechargeable batteries must be recharged, and those chargers can waste a lot of electricity.