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.

Timeline

Federal Date States
  2024 MD Standard Effective
  2024 WA Standard Effective
  2023 NV Standard Effective
  2023 ME Standard Effective
  2023 RI Standard Effective
  2022 MD Standard Adopted
  2022 WA Standard Adopted
  2022 DC Standard Effective
  2022 MA Standard Effective
  2022 OR Standard Effective
  2022 NJ Standard Effective
  2021 ME Standard Adopted
  2021 RI Standard Adopted
  2021 OR Standard Adopted
  2021 NV Standard Adopted
  2021 MA Standard Adopted
  2021 NJ Standard Adopted
  2021 CO Standard Effective
  2020 DC Standard Adopted
  2020 VT Standard Effective
  2020 CA Standard Effective
  2019 CA Standard Adopted
  2019 CO Standard Adopted
  2019 CA Standard Effective
  2018 VT Standard Adopted
  2018 CA Standard Adopted
  2012 AZ Standard Effective
  2010 WA Standard Effective
  2009 OR Standard Effective
  2009 AZ Standard Adopted
  2009 WA Standard Adopted
  2009 CT Standard Effective
  2007 OR Standard Adopted
  2007 CT Standard Adopted
  2006 CA Standard Effective
  2004 CA Standard Adopted