National Standards

National Standards

National efficiency standards for appliances and equipment have been lowering utility bills for consumers and businesses and cutting emissions since the late 1980s.   Efficiency standards specify the minimum energy and/or water efficiency levels of specific products. Since 1987, Congress has established or directed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to set efficiency standards for about 60 products. DOE is also charged with reviewing and updating all standards to keep pace with technological change. National standards apply to products manufactured or imported for sale into the United States.

A 2017 ASAP/ACEEE report titled, “Energy-Savings States of America: How Every State Benefits from National Appliance Standards” estimates that existing standards saved consumers and businesses $80 billion on utility bills in 2015. Annual savings will grow to nearly $150 billion by 2030.

An August 2024 ASAP/PIRG report estimates that standards finalized by the Biden administration through that month would cut the average household’s annual utility bills by $107 (based on an average over the following two decades). The report also provides average savings for households in each U.S. state.