Implementation, Certification & Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) currently has certification, compliance, and enforcement regulations for certain consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment covered under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended. These regulations provide for sampling plans used in determining compliance with existing standards, manufacturer submission of compliance statements and certification reports to DOE, maintenance of compliance records by manufacturers, and the availability of enforcement actions for improper certification or upon a determination of noncompliance.

Learn more about the following topics:

Certification
Enforcement
Testing
Regulations

Certification Reporting System (CCMS)

The U.S. Department of Energy has established a web-based system that allows manufacturers of covered products and equipment to submit compliance and certification information electronically. This system is known as the Compliance and Certification Management System, or CCMS.
Go to the Compliance and Certification Management System.

Compliance Certification Database

The certification database houses certification reports and compliance statements submitted by manufacturers for covered products and equipment subject to Federal conservation standards. The database offers users an easy-to-use search function for existing records in an easily downloadable format.
Go to the Compliance Certification Database

Enforcement Activities

As the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is ramping up its focus on energy-efficiency, the Office of the General Counsel is stepping up enforcement and verification efforts to ensure manufacturers meet the energy and water conservation standards expected of them and save energy for American consumers and businesses. Recent enforcement initiatives go beyond compliance with energy-efficiency standards. DOE is working to protect consumers through verification and supporting the enforcement of ENERGY STAR specifications to ensure that manufacturers offer the energy savings they advertise. For more information see the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement's webpage.

File a complaint to energyefficiencyenforcement@hq.doe.gov.

Standardized Templates for Reporting Test Results

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is developing standardized templates for reporting the results of tests conducted in accordance with current DOE test procedures. Templates are required for use by third party laboratories under contract with DOE for ENERGY STAR verification, round robin, assessment testing, enforcement testing, or other testing supporting energy conservation standards. Template use is suggested for other labs testing to DOE test procedures, but is not required. Templates for download are available here.

Round Robin Testing Program

The objective of DOE's round robin test program is to perform an assessment of the repeatability and reproducibility of DOE test procedures for various appliances. Currently, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Appliance Technology Evaluation Center (ATEC), the National Institute of Standards (NIST), and many third party and manufacturer-operated facilities perform these tests. The round robin testing will document the variability of test results, both within a single test lab (repeatability) and from test lab to test lab (reproducibility), and seek to identify the potential contributors to variability. The results will form the basis of recommended corrective actions for facilities and are expected to highlight needed clarifications or modifications to DOE test procedures.

Round Robin Documents

FAQ for Round Robin Test Program, May 3, 2011.
Subcontract Agreement Template for Round Robin. Note: Posting of the subcontract template on the DOE website is for "informational purposes only" and does not constitute any kind of DOE endorsement of that document
Statement of Work Template for Round Robin. Note: Posting of the statement of work template on the DOE website is for "informational purposes only" and does not constitute any kind of DOE endorsement of that document.