National Standards
Leading the way at the national level.
National efficiency standards for appliances and equipment have been lowering utility bills for consumers and businesses and cutting emissions since the late 1980s.
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.
National Standards Resources
| Item | Resource |
|---|---|
| If you’d like information about… | Go to… |
| Residential, Commercial and Lighting Standards | See the National Product Table |
| DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program | DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Homepage |
| DOE’s Rulemaking Process | Rulemaking 101 |
| Missed Deadlines | Missed deadlines |
| Benefits of Standards | The Best Energy and Climate Policy You've Never Heard Of |
| Report on Potential New Standards | A Powerful Priority |
| History of Standards in the U.S. | History |
| Appliance Standards Laws and Regs | Laws and Regs |
| Related Topics | Frequently Asked Questions |
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Commercial/Industrial
= Water Savings Standards 
= Missed DOE Deadline
| Product Covered | Initial Legislation | Last Standard Published | Compliance Date | Issued By | Proposed Standards Due | New Final Standard Due | Potential Compliance Date | States With Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Commercial Ice Makers | EPACT 2005 | 2015 |
2018
|
DOE |
2023 |
2026 |
||
| Commercial Boilers | EPACT 1992 | 2020 |
2023
|
DOE |
2028 |
2031 |
||
| Commercial CAC and HP (65,000 Btu/hr to 760,000 Btu/hr) | EPACT 1992 | 2016 |
2018
|
DOE |
2024 |
2029 |
||
| Commercial CAC and HP (<65,000 Btu/hr) | EPACT 1992 | 2015 |
2017
|
DOE |
2023 |
2026 |
||
| Commercial CAC and HP (Water- and Evaporatively-Cooled)
|
EPACT 1992 | 2012 |
2013
|
DOE |
2020 |
2023 |
||
| Commercial Clothes Washers
|
EPACT 2005 | 2014 |
2018
|
DOE |
2022 |
2025 |
||
| Commercial Dishwashers
|
CO CO
DC DC
MA MA
MD MD
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||||||
| Commercial Fryers | CO CO
DC DC
MA MA
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||||||
| Commercial Ovens | MA MA
NJ NJ
NV NV
RI RI
WA WA
|
|||||||
| Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
|
EPACT 2005 | 2014 |
2017
|
DOE |
2020 |
2023 |
||
| Commercial Steam Cookers | CO CO
DC DC
MA MA
MD MD
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||||||
| Commercial Warm Air Furnaces | EPACT 1992 | 2016 |
2023
|
DOE |
2024 |
2029 |
||
| Commercial Water Heaters
|
EPACT 1992 | 2001 |
2003
|
DOE |
2018 |
2021 |
||
| Compressors | 2020 |
2025
|
DOE |
2028 |
2031 |
CA CA
CO CO
VT VT
VT
WA WA
|
||
| Computer Room Air Conditioners
|
EPACT 1992 | 2012 |
2013
|
DOE |
2018 |
2021 |
||
| Direct Expansion-Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems | ||||||||
| Distribution Transformers | EPACT 1992 | 2013 |
2016
|
DOE |
2021 |
2024 |
||
| Electric Motors
|
EPACT 1992 | 2014 |
2016
|
DOE |
2022 |
2025 |
||
| Fans and Blowers | EPACT 1992 | N/A |
||||||
| Hot Food Holding Cabinets | CA CA
CO CO
CT CT
DC DC
DC
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NH NH
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
RI RI
RI
VT VT
WA WA
WA
|
|||||||
| Packaged Terminal AC and HP | EPACT 1992 | 2015 |
2017
|
DOE |
2023 |
2026 |
||
| Pre-Rinse Spray Valves
|
EPACT 2005 | 2016 |
2019
|
DOE |
2024 |
2027 |
||
| Pumps, Commercial and Industrial | EPACT 1992 | 2016 |
2020
|
DOE |
2024 |
2027 |
||
| Refrigerated Beverage Vending Machines | EPACT 2005 | 2016 |
2019
|
DOE |
2024 |
2027 |
||
| Single Package Vertical Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps | EPACT 1992 | 2015 |
2019
|
DOE |
2023 |
2026 |
||
| Small Electric Motors
|
EPACT 1992 | 2010 |
2015
|
DOE |
2018 |
2021 |
||
| Uninterruptible Power Supplies | 2020 |
2020
|
DOE |
2028 |
2030 |
|||
| Unit Heaters | EPACT 2005 | 2005 |
2008
|
Congress |
||||
| Urinals
|
EPACT 1992 | 1992 |
1994
|
Congress |
CA CA
CA
CO CO
DC DC
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NJ NJ
NV NV
NY NY
RI RI
TX TX
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||
| Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
|
EISA 2007 | 2014 |
2017
|
DOE |
2020 |
2023 |
||
| Water Coolers | CA CA
CO CO
CT CT
DC DC
DC
MA MA
MD MD
MD
ME ME
NH NH
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
OR
RI RI
RI
VT VT
WA WA
WA
|
|||||||
| Water-Source Heat Pumps | EPACT 1992 | 2015 |
2015
|
DOE |
2023 |
2026 |
Residential
= Water Savings Standards = Missed DOE Deadline
| Product Covered | Initial Legislation | Last Standard Published | Compliance Date | Issued By | Proposed Standards Due | New Final Standard Due | Potential Compliance Date | States With Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air cleaners | 2023 |
Congress |
DC DC
MD MD
NJ NJ
NV NV
WA WA
|
|||||
| Battery Chargers | EPACT 2005 | 2016 |
2018
|
DOE |
2024 |
2026 |
CA CA
CA
OR OR
OR
|
|
| Boilers | NAECA 1987 | 2016 |
2021
|
DOE |
2024 |
2029 |
||
| Ceiling Fans | EPACT 2005 | 2017 |
2020
|
DOE |
2025 |
2028 |
||
| Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps | NAECA 1987 | 2017 |
2023
|
DOE |
2025 |
2030 |
||
| Circulator Pumps | ||||||||
| Clothes Dryers
|
NAECA 1987 | 2011 |
2015
|
DOE |
2019 |
2022 |
||
| Clothes Washers
|
NAECA 1987 | 2012 |
2018
|
DOE |
2020 |
2024 |
||
| Compact Audio Equipment | CA CA
CT CT
OR OR
|
|||||||
| Computers and Computer Systems | N/A |
CA CA
CO CO
DC DC
HI HI
MA MA
ME ME
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
VT VT
WA WA
|
||||||
| Cooking Products
|
NAECA 1987 | 2009 |
2012
|
DOE |
2017 |
2020 |
||
| Dedicated-purpose pool pump motors | ||||||||
| Dehumidifiers | EPACT 2005 | 2016 |
2019
|
DOE |
2024 |
2027 |
||
| Direct Heating Equipment
*
|
NAECA 1987 | 2010 |
2013
|
DOE |
2021 |
2024 |
||
| Dishwashers
*
|
NAECA 1987 | 2012 |
2013
|
DOE |
2021 |
2024 |
||
| DVD Players and Recorders | CA CA
CT CT
OR OR
|
|||||||
| Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment | MA MA
NV NV
RI RI
WA WA
|
|||||||
| External Power Supplies
|
EPACT 2005 | 2014 |
2016
|
DOE |
2021 |
CA CA
CA
|
||
| Faucets
|
EPACT 1992 | 1992 |
1994
|
Congress |
CA CA
CO CO
CO
DC DC
HI HI
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NJ NJ
NV NV
NY NY
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||
| Furnace Fans | EPACT 2005 | 2014 |
2019
|
DOE |
2022 |
2025 |
||
| Furnaces | NAECA 1987 | 2007 |
2015
|
DOE |
2016 |
|||
| Game Consoles | N/A |
|||||||
| Gas fireplaces | N/A |
NV NV
RI RI
|
||||||
| General Service Lamps | 2016 |
2020
|
DOE |
2022 |
2025 |
|||
| Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures | 2014 |
2017
|
DOE |
2019 |
2022 |
|||
| Microwave Ovens
|
NAECA 1987 | 2013 |
2016
|
DOE |
2021 |
2024 |
||
| Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products | 2016 |
2019
|
DOE |
2024 |
2027 |
|||
| Pool Heaters
|
NAECA 1987 | 2010 |
2013
|
DOE |
2018 |
2021 |
||
| Pool Pumps | 2017 |
2021
|
DOE |
2025 |
2028 |
|||
| Portable Air Conditioners | 2020 |
2025
|
DOE |
2028 |
2031 |
|||
| Portable Electric Spas | AZ AZ
CA CA
CA
CA
CO CO
CT CT
DC DC
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
OR
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
WA
|
|||||||
| Refrigerators and Freezers
|
NAECA 1987 | 2011 |
2014
|
DOE |
2019 |
2022 |
||
| Residential Ventilating Fans | CO CO
DC DC
MA MA
MD MD
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
WA
|
|||||||
| Room Air Conditioners
|
NAECA 1987 | 2011 |
2014
|
DOE |
2019 |
2022 |
||
| Set-top Boxes | N/A |
|||||||
| Showerheads
|
EPACT 1992 | 1992 |
1994
|
Congress |
CA CA
CO CO
DC DC
HI HI
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NJ NJ
NV NV
NY NY
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||
| Spray Sprinkler Bodies
|
CA CA
CO CO
DC DC
HI HI
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NJ NJ
OR OR
RI RI
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||||||
| Televisions | NAECA 1987 | N/A |
CA CA
CA
CT CT
CT
OR OR
OR
|
|||||
| Toilets
|
EPACT 1992 | 1992 |
1994
|
Congress |
CA CA
CA
CO CO
DC DC
GA GA
MA MA
MD MD
ME ME
NJ NJ
NV NV
NY NY
RI RI
TX TX
WA WA
|
|||
| Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps | ||||||||
| Water Heaters
|
NAECA 1987 | 2010 |
2015
|
DOE |
2018 |
2023 |
Lighting
= Water Savings Standards = Missed DOE Deadline
| Product Covered | Initial Legislation | Last Standard Published | Compliance Date | Issued By | Proposed Standards Due | New Final Standard Due | Potential Compliance Date | States With Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candelabra & Intermediate Base Incandescent Lamps | 2007 |
2012
|
Congress |
|||||
| Ceiling Fan Light Kits | EPACT 2005 | 2016 |
2019
|
DOE |
2024 |
2027 |
||
| Compact Fluorescent Lamps | EPACT 2005 | 2005 |
2006
|
Congress |
||||
| Deep-Dimming Fluorescent Ballasts | CA CA
|
|||||||
| Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts
|
NAECA 1988 1988 | 2011 |
2014
|
DOE |
2019 |
2022 |
||
| General Service Fluorescent Lamps | EPACT 1992 | 2015 |
2018
|
DOE |
2023 |
2026 |
||
| HID Lamps | EPACT 1992 | 2015 |
DOE |
2020 |
2023 |
|||
| High Light Output Double-Ended Quartz Halogen Lamps | OR OR
|
|||||||
| HIgh-CRI Linear Fluorescent Lamps | CO CO
DC DC
HI HI
MA MA
NJ NJ
NV NV
OR OR
VT VT
WA WA
|
|||||||
| Illuminated Exit Signs | EPACT 2005 | 2005 |
2006
|
Congress |
||||
| Incandescent Reflector Lamps | EPACT 1992 | 2009 |
2012
|
DOE |
2014 |
2017 |
||
| Incandescent Reflector Lamps (includes certain BR and Other Exempted IRLs) | EPACT 1992 | N/A |
||||||
| Luminaires | EPACT 1992 | N/A |
||||||
| Small-Diameter Directional Lamps | CA CA
|
|||||||
| Torchiere Lighting Fixtures | EPACT 2005 | 2005 |
2006
|
Congress |
||||
| Traffic Signals | EPACT 2005 | 2005 |
2006
|
Congress |
