Federal Appliance Standards

Federal appliance efficiency standards set minimum performance requirements for many household appliances—from refrigerators and water heaters to air conditioners and furnaces—to ensure they use less energy and reduce operating costs over time. You don't need to apply; these standards apply automatically to new appliances sold in the U.S., so any appliance you purchase meets these federal efficiency baselines established by the Department of Energy.

All new appliances and equipment you sell must meet federal efficiency standards established by the DOE under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and subsequent legislation; the standards cover consumer appliances, commercial equipment, lighting, and plumbing products. You should verify that your products comply with current federal standards for the appliance category, as federal standards preempt state standards even when state rules are more stringent, and standards are updated periodically as the DOE issues final rulings.

Federal appliance efficiency standards are mandated by Congress (originally via the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, amended by the 2005 Energy Policy Act and 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act) and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, which sets minimum efficiency levels at the maximum technologically feasible and economically justified point. The program covers consumer appliances (clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, water heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers), lighting, industrial motors, and plumbing products; standards apply nationwide, preempt state standards, and are updated through DOE rulemakings when technology or economics justify stricter requirements.