Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Appliances A Reference Brief from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) Minimum standards of energy efficiency for many major appliances were established by the U.S. Congress in the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) of 1987, and in the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988. Appliances covered by NAECA included refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, room air conditioners, fluorescent lamp ballasts, incandescent reflector lamps, clothes dryers, clothes washers, dishwashers, kitchen ranges and ovens, pool heaters, television sets (withdrawn in 1995), and water heaters. Standards for some fluorescent and incandescent reflector lamps, plumbing products, electric motors, and commercial water heaters, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were added in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). EPACT also allowed for the future development of standards for many other products. Appliance manufacturers must produce products that either meet the minimum level of energy efficiency, or that consume no more than the amount of energy that the standard allows. These rules do not affect the marketing of products manufactured before the standards went into effect. Any products already made and in stock can be sold. The new standards will stimulate energy savings that benefit the consumer, and reduce fossil fuel consumption, thus reducing air pollution emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for developing the test procedures for the Appliance Standards Program. These procedures are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Chapter II, Part 430). The DOE periodically issues new standards or rulemakings for specific appliances. These are published in the Federal Register (FR). Information on the rulemaking process and FR notices are available at the DOE’s Office of Codes and Standards’ World Wide Web site at URL: www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes_standards/. The Federal Register is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954; Phone: (202) 512-1800; Fax: (202) 512-2250; World Wide Web: www.access.gpo/su_docs. The following is a list of residential appliances and associated standards and the date(s) they went or will go into effect. Only standards for products that are likely to be used in a home are listed here. DOE is instructed to periodically update existing standards. Any new or amended standard must achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that DOE determines is technologically feasible and economically justified. Please refer to the Glossary and Conversion Factors below for definitions and metric conversions. This information was updated in May 2001. Air Conditioners - Central Air and Heat Pumps Product Class.....SEER and HSPF.....Effective Date 1. Split systems..... 10.0 and 6.8.....01/01/92 2. Single package systems.....9.7 and 6.6.....01/01/93 Note that new standards for central air conditioners were issued in Federal Register, January 22, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 14): Final Rule for New Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, but a postponement of the effective date of the standard was subsequently issued in Federal Register, April 20, 2001 (Vol. 66, No. 77). Air Conditioners – Room [ Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners, Federal Register, 62FR50121, September 24, 1997. ] Product Class.....EER Effective 01/01/90 and 10/01/2000 1. Without reverse cycle and with louvered sides; less than 6,000 Btu/h.....8.0 ...9.7 2. Without reverse cycle and with louvered sides; 6,000 to 7,999 Btu/h.....8.5 ...9.7 3. Without reverse cycle and with louvered sides; 8,000 to 13,999 Btu/h.....9.0 ...9.8 4. Without reverse cycle and with louvered sides; 14,000 to 19,999 Btu/h.....8.8 ...9.7 5. Without reverse cycle and with louvered sides; 20,000 and more Btu/h.....8.2 ...8.5 6. Without reverse cycle and without louvered sides; less than 6,000 Btu/h.....8.0 ...9.0 7. Without reverse cycle and without louvered sides; 6,000 to 7,999 Btu/h.....8.5 ...9.0 8. Without reverse cycle and without louvered sides; 8,000 to 13,999 Btu/h.....8.5 ...8.5 9. Without reverse cycle and without louvered sides; 14,000 to 19,999 Btu/h.....8.5 ...8.5 10. Without reverse cycle and without louvered sides; 20,000 and more Btu/h.....8.2 ...8.5 11. With reverse cycle and with louvered sides, and less than 20,000 Btu/h.....8.5 ...9.0 12. With reverse cycle and without louvered sides, and less than 14,000 Btu/h.....8.0 ...8.5 13. With reverse cycle and with louvered sides, and 20,000 Btu/h or more....8.5 ...8.5 14. With reverse cycle and without louvered sides, and 14,000 Btu/h or more....8.5 ...8.5 15. Casement-Only ...NA ...8.0 16. Casement-Slider ...NA ...9.5 Clothes Dryers Product Class.....EnergyFactor (Lbs./Kwh) - All Effective 05/14/94 1. Electric—standard (4.4 ft3 or greater capacity).....3.01 2. Electric—compact [120v] (less than 4.4 ft3 capacity).....3.13 3. Electric—compact [240v] (less than 4.4 ft3 capacity).....2.90 4. Gas.....2.67 * Gas clothes dryers manufactured after 01/01/88 shall not be equipped with a constant burning pilot. Clothes Washers [Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 9, January 12, 2001: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Clothes Washer Energy Conservation Standards; Final Rule and subsequently confirmed in Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 74, Tuesday, April 17, 2001: Consumer products; Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards-Clothes Washers; Effective Date Confirmed.] Effective to 1/01/2004
Product Class.....Energy Factor (Ft3/Kwh/Cycle)
1. Top loading-compact (1.6 ft3 capacity or less).....0.90 2. Top loading-standard (1.6 ft3 to 2.74 ft3 capacity or greater)....1.18 * Clothes washers manufactured after 01/01/88 shall have an unheated rinse option. Effective 1/01/2004 to 1/01/2007
Product Class.....Modified Energy Factor (Ft3/Kwh/Cycle)
1. Top loading-compact (1.6 ft3 capacity or less) .... 0.65 2. Top loading-standard (1.6 ft3 to 2.74 ft3 capacity or greater) .... 1.04 3. Front Loading .... 1.04 * Clothes washers manufactured after 01/01/88 must have an unheated rinse option. Effective 1/01/2007
Product Class.....Modified Energy Factor (Ft3/Kwh/Cycle)
1. Top loading-compact (1.6 ft3 capacity or less) .... 0.65 2. Top loading-standard (1.6 ft3 to 2.74 ft3 capacity or greater) .... 1.26 3. Front Loading .... 1.26 * Clothes washers manufactured after 01/01/88 must have an unheated rinse option. Heating Equipment - Furnaces and Boilers Product Class.....AFUE (%) .....Effective Date 1. Furnaces (excluding classes noted below).....78.....01/01/92 2. Mobile home furnaces.....75..... 09/01/90 3. Boilers (excluding gas steam).....80.....01/01/92 4. Gas steam boilers.....75.....01/01/92 Heating Equipment - Direct (Or Space) Heaters Product Class.....AFUE (%) All Effective 01/01/90 1. Gas wall fan type up to 42,000 Btu/hr.....73 2. Gas wall fan type more than 42,000 Btu/hr.....74 3. Gas wall gravity type up to 10,000 Btu/hr.....59 4. Gas wall gravity type 10,001 to 12,000 Btu/hr.....60 5. Gas wall gravity type 12,001 to 15,000 Btu/hr.....61 6. Gas wall gravity type 15,001 to 19,000 Btu/hr.....62 7. Gas wall gravity type 19,001 to 27,000 Btu/hr.....63 8. Gas wall gravity type 27,001 to 46,000 Btu/hr.....64 9. Gas wall type more than 46,000 Btu/hr.....65 10. Gas floor up to 37,000 Btu/hr.....56 11. Gas floor more than 37,000 Btu/hr.....57 12. Gas room up to 18,000 Btu/hr.....57 13. Gas room 18,001 to 20,000 Btu/hr.....58 14. Gas room 20,001 to 27,000 Btu/hr.....63 15. Gas room 27,001 to 46,000 Btu/hr.....64 16. Gas room more than 46,000 Btu/hr.....65 Kitchen Ranges and Ovens Effective 01/01/90, gas kitchen ranges and ovens with an electrical supply cord shall not be equipped with a constant burning pilot. Lamps - Flourescent Lamp Type: Lamp Wattages.....Minimum CRI .. /.. MALE* .....Effective Date 1. 4-foot, medium bi-pin: > 35W.....69 CRI; <= 35W.....45 CRI ../.. 75 LPW for both.....10/31/95 2. 2-foot, U-shaped: > 35W.....69 CRI ../.. 68 LPW; <= 35W.....45 CRI ../.. 64 LPW .....10/31/95 3. 8-foot, slimline: > 65 W.....69 CRI; <= 65W.....45 CRI ../.. 80 LPW for both.....4/30/94 4. 8-foot, high output: > 100W.....69 CRI; <= 100W.....45 CRI ../.. 80 LPW for both .....4/30/94 * MALE = Minimum Average Lamp Efficacy in lumens per watt (LPW). Lamp (Flourescent) Ballasts For Operation of: .....Ballast Input Voltages.....Total Nominal Lamp Watts.....Ballast Efficacy Factor 1. One F40T12 lamp.....120 and 277V.....40W.....1.805 2. Two F40T12 lamps.....120V.....80W.....1.060; 277V.....80W.....1.050 3. Two F9T12 lamps.....120 and 277V.....150W..... 0.570 4. Two F96T12HO lamps .....120V.....220W.....0.390 * These standards apply to lamp ballasts: manufactured on or after 01/01/90; sold by the manufacturer on or after 04/01/90; incorporated into a luminary by a luminary manufacturer on or after 04/01/91. These standards do not apply to 1) a ballast which is designed for dimming or for use in ambient temperatures of 0o F or less, or 2) a ballast which has a power factor of less than 0.90 and is designed for use only in residential building applications. Lamps - Incandescent Reflector</P> Nominal Lamp Wattage.....Minimum Average Lamp Efficacy (in LPW) All Effective 10/31/95 40-50W.....10.5 51-66W.....11.0 67-85W.....12.5 86-115W.....14.0 116-155W.....14.5 156-205W.....15.0 Pool Heaters Effective 01/01/90, the thermal efficiency of pool heaters must be no less than 78%. Refrigerators/Refrigerator-Freezers/Freezers [ Final Rule: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers and Freezers, Federal Register, 62FR23102, April 28, 1997. ] Product Class.....Maximum Annual Energy Consumption (Kwh) in 1/01/93.....after 07/01/2001 (See explanation of formulas below.) 1. Refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers—manual defrost.....13.5 AV + 299..... 8.82AV + 248.4 2. Refrigerator-freezers—partial automatic defrost.....10.4 AV + 398 ... 8.82AV + 248.4 3. Refrigerators—automatic defrost and refrigerator-freezers— automatic defrost with top-mounted freezer without ttd* ice service.....16.0 AV + 355 ... 9.80AV + 276.0 4. Refrigerator-freezers—automatic defrost with side-mounted freezer without ttd* ice service..... 11.8 AV + 501 ... 4.91AV + 507.5 5. Refrigerator-freezers—automatic defrost with bottom-mounted freezer without ttd* ice service.....16.5 AV + 367 ... 4.60AV + 459.0 6. Refrigerator-freezers—automatic defrost with top-mounted freezer with ttd* ice service.....17.6 AV + 391 ... 10.20AV + 356.0 7. Refrigerator-freezers—automatic defrost with side-mounted freezer with ttd* ice service.... 16.3 AV + 527 ... 10.10AV + 406.0 8. Upright freezers—manual defrost.....10.3 AV + 264 ... 7.55AV + 258.3 9. Upright freezers—automatic defrost.....14.9 AV + 391 ... 12.43AV + 326.1 10. Chest Freezers and all other Freezers except Compact Freezers .... 11.0 AV + 160 ... 9.88AV + 143.7 11. Compact Refrigerators and Refrigerator-Freezers with Manual Defrost ... 13.5AV + 299 ...10.70AV+299.0 12. Compact Refrigerator-Freezer with partial auto defrost ... 10.4AV + 398 ... 7.00AV + 398.0 13. Compact Refrigerator-Freezers—automatic defrost with top-mounted freezer and compact all-refrigerators—automatic defrost ... 16.0AV + 355 ... 12.70AV + 355.0 14. Compact Refrigerator-Freezers—auto defrost with side-mounted freezer ... 11.8AV + 501 ... 7.60AV + 501.0 15. Compact Refrigerator-Freezers—auto defrost with bottom-mounted freezer ... 16.5AV + 367 ...13.10AV + 367.0 16. Compact Upright Freezers with Manual Defrost ... 10.3AV + 264 ... 9.78AV + 250.8 17. Compact Upright Freezers with Automatic Defrost ... 14.9AV + 391 ... 11.40AV + 391.0 18. Compact Chest Freezers ... 11.0AV + 160 ... 10.45AV + 152.0 * ttd = through-the-door AV = total adjusted volume expressed in ft3 An adjustment factor accounts for the differing electricity requirements of refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The adjustment factors for these product classes are: all refrigerators—1.0; basic refrigerators—1.44; refrigerator-freezers—1.63; freezers—1.73. Other features of the refrigerator/freezer, such as whether the unit has automatic or manual defrost or through the door services, are also considered. Most refrigerator-freezers purchased in the United States are automatic defrost with a top-mounted freezer and without through-the-door ice service. Here is an example of how to determine the maximum annual energy consumption using this standard. AV = fresh food volume in ft3 + (adjustment factor × freezer volume in ft3) If the volume of the fresh food compartment is 14.5 ft3 and if the volume of the freezer compartment is 3.8 ft3 and the adjustment factor for a refrigerator-freezer is 1.63, then: AV = 14.5 ft3 + (1.63 × 3.8 ft3)
AV = 14.5 ft3 + 6.19 ft3
AV = 20.69 ft3 Now that the AV has been determined, plug it into the formula listed in the chart above. The formula for the 1/01/93 standard for an automatic defrost with top-mounted freezer and without through-the-door ice service refrigerator-freezer (see #3 in chart) is 16.0 AV + 355, therefore: kWh/yr = 16 AV + 355
kWh/yr = 16 (20.69 ft3) + 355
kWh/yr = 331 ft3 + 355
kWh/yr = 686 Note that a model meeting the 7/01/2001 standard will consume about 479 kWh/year. Showerheads and Faucets Effective 01/01/94, the standard for showerheads, lavatory Faucets, lavatory Replacement Aerators, kitchen faucets, and kitchen replacement aerators, is 2.5 Gallons per Minute (at 80 Lbs/Square Inch pressure); for metering faucets the standard is 0.25 gallons/cycle. Water Closets and Urinals Product Class.....Water Use [In Gallons Per Flush; (gpf)].....Effective Date Gravity tank-type toilets.....1.6.....1/1/94 Flushometer tank toilets.....1.6.....1/1/94 Electromechanical hydraulic toilets.....1.6.....1/1/94 Blowout toilets.....3.5.....1/1/94 Flushometer valve toilets.....1.6.....1/1/94 Urinals.....1.0.....1/1/94
Water Heaters
Effective to 01/20/2004
Product Class.....Energy Factor 1. Gas fired .....0.62 - (0.0019 × rated storage volume in gallons) 2. Oil fired .....0.59 - (0.0019 × rated storage volume in gallons) 3. Electric .....0.93 - (0.00132 × rated storage volume in gallons) 4. Tabletop.....0.93 - (0.00132 × rated storage volume in gallons) 5. Instantaneous Gas-fired .....0.62 - (0.0019 × rated storage volume in gallons) 6. Instantaneous Electric.....0.93 - (0.00132 × rated storage volume in gallons) * Rated storage volume = the water storage capacity of a water heater, in gallons, as specified by the manufacturer Effective on 01/20/2004
[Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 11, January 17, 2001: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Water Heaters; Final Rule and subsequently confirmed in Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 74, Tuesday, April 17, 2001: Consumer products; Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards-Water Heaters; Effective Date Confirmed.] Product Class.....Energy Factor 1. Gas fired .....0.67 - (0.0019 × rated storage volume in gallons) 2. Oil fired .....0.59 - (0.0019 × rated storage volume in gallons) 3. Electric .....0.97 - (0.00132 × rated storage volume in gallons) 4. Tabletop.....0.93 - (0.00132 × rated storage volume in gallons) 5. Instantaneous Gas-fired .....0.62 - (0.0019 × rated storage volume in gallons) 6. Instantaneous Electric.....0.93 - (0.00132 × rated storage volume in gallons) * Rated storage volume = the water storage capacity of a water heater, in gallons, as specified by the manufacturer Conversion Factors Standard (IP) Metric (SE) 1 U.S. gallon = 3.785 liters 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters 1 square inch = 6.452 square centimeters 1 foot = 0.3048 meters 1 square foot = 0.0929 square meters 1 cubic foot = 0.0283 cubic meters 1 Btu = 252 gram-calories or 1.055 kilojoule (kJ) 1 Btu/hour = 0.2931 watts 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3.60 Megajoules (MJ) 1 pound (lb.) = 453.6 grams 1 lb/square inch (psi) = 6.895 kilopascals (kPa) Temperature: oF - 32 / 1.8 = Deg oC Temperature: oC x 1.8 + 32 = oF Glossary - All-Refrigerator: A refrigerator that does not include a compartment for the freezing and long term storage of food below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. - AFUE; Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency: The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a furnace or boiler. It takes into account the cyclic on/off operation and associated energy losses of the heating unit as it responds to changes in the load, which in turn is affected by changes in weather and occupant controls. - Ballast Efficacy Factor: The measure of the efficiency of fluorescent ballasts. It is the relative light output divided by the power input. - Basic Refrigerator: A refrigerator that includes a compartment for the freezing and short term storage of food or ice. - CRI; Color Rendering Index: A measure of light quality. The maximum CRI value of 100 is given to natural daylight and incandescent lighting. The closer a lamp’s CRI rating is to 100, the better its ability to show true colors to the human eye. - EER; Energy Efficiency Ratio: The measure of the efficiency of room air conditioners. It measures instantaneous efficiency and is the cooling capacity in Btu/hr divided by the watts of power consumed for a specific outdoor temperature (usually 95 degrees Fahrenheit). - Energy Factor: The measure of overall efficiency for a variety of appliances. For water heaters, the energy factor is based on three factors: 1) the recovery efficiency—how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water; 2) standby losses—the percentage of heat lost per hour from the stored water compared to the heat content of the water: and 3) cycling losses. For dishwashers, the energy factor is defined as the number of cycles per kWh of input power. For clothes washers, the energy factor is defined as the cubic foot capacity per kWh of input power per cycle. A Modified Energy Factor, to be used for testing washers to meet the standards that go into effect in 2004 and 2007, incorporates clothes dryer energy conservation by consideration of the remaining moisture content (RMC) of clothes leaving the clothes washer, different water temperatures, and using cloth loads. For clothes dryers, the energy factor is defined as the number of pounds of clothes dried per kWh of power consumed. - HSPF; Heating seasonal Performance Factor: The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a heat pump operation in the heating mode. It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of heat delivered for every watt-hour of electricity used by the heat pump over a heating season. - Lumens: This is an empirical measure of the quantity of light. It is based upon the spectral sensitivity of the photosensors in the human eye under high (daytime) light levels. - LPW;Lumens per Watt: A measure of the efficacy (efficiency) of lamps. It indicates the amount of light (lumens) emitted by the lamp for each unit of electrical power (watt) that is used. - PF; Power Factor: The ratio of real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA) at any given point and time. - SEER; Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio: The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a central air conditioner or air conditioning heat pump. It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of cooling delivered for every watt-hour of electricity used by the heat pump over a cooling season.
This brief was updated in May 2001. EREC is operated by NCI Information Systems, Inc. for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory/U.S. Department of Energy. The content of this brief is based on information known to EREC at the time of prepartion. No recommendation or endorsement of any non-US Government product or service is implied if mentioned by EREC. Your interest in energy efficiency and renewable energy is greatly appreciated. For further assistance, please contact: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC)
P.O. Box 3048 Merrifield, VA 22116
Voice (USA only): 800-DOE-EREC (363-3732)
Email: doe.erec@nciinc.com
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