Residential Boilers
The Department of Energy (DOE) has regulated the energy efficiency level of residential boilers since 1987. Residential boilers include gas, electric, and oil-fired boilers that are used to provide central heating to residential dwellings. Boilers heat water, providing either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can either be distributed via baseboard radiators, radiant floor systems, or can heat air via a coil.
Standards were implemented for residential boilers in 1992 and will save approximately 1.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $16.1 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 1992-2021. The standard will avoid about 69 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 13.5 million automobiles.
Standards mandatory in 2012 for residential boilers will save approximately 0.5 quads of energy and result in approximately $6.5 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2012-2036. The standard will avoid about 28.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 5.6 million automobiles.
Recent Updates | Standards | Test Procedures | Waiver, Exception, and Exemption Information | Statutory Authority | Historical Information | Contact Information
DOE has published a Federal Register correction to the final rule pertaining to energy conservation standards for residential boilers. 81 FR 4574 (January 27, 2016). For more information please see the rulemaking wepbage.
DOE has published a Federal Register final rule pertaining to energy conservation standards for residential boilers 81 FR 2320 (January 15, 2016). For more information please see the rulemaking wepbage.
DOE has published a Federal Register notice of final rule pertaining to test procedures for consumer furnaces and boilers. 81 FR 2628 (January 15, 2016). For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage.
Standards for Residential Boilers
The following content summarizes the energy conservation standards for residential boilers. The text is not an official reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations and should not be used for legal research or citation
Current Standard
Residential boilers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291 (16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32(e)(2). This information is also available in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
Residential boilers manufactured on or after September 1, 2012, shall not have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of less than the following and must comply with the following design requirements:
Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Boilers On or After September 1, 2012
| Boiler Product Class |
AFUE1(percent) |
Design Requirements |
| (A) Gas-fired hot water boiler
|
82 |
Constant burning pilot not permitted.
Automatic means for adjusting water temperature required (except for boilers equipped with tankless domestic water heating coils).
|
| (B) Gas-fired steam boiler
|
80 |
Constant burning pilot not permitted. |
| (C) Oil-fired hot water boiler
|
84 |
Automatic means for adjusting temperature required (except for boilers equipped with tankless domestic water heating coils). |
| (D) Oil-fired steam boiler |
82 |
None. |
| (E) Electric hot water boiler |
None |
Automatic means for adjusting temperature required (except for boilers equipped with tankless domestic water heating coils. |
1 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, as determined in section 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2). (NOTE: The CFR refers to 10 CFR 430.22(n)(3), which is a misprint. The correct section is 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2) as listed above.)
A boiler that is manufactured to operate without any need for electricity or any electric connection, electric gauges, electric pumps, electric wires, or electric devices is not required to meet the AFUE or design requirements applicable to the boiler requirements of Table 1. However, such boilers must have a minimum AFUE of 80 percent except for gas steam boilers, which must have a minimum AFUE of 75 percent.
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
Current Test Procedure
To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 430.23(n) for residential boilers. The methods to conduct the test procedure are further specified in 10 CFR 430 Appendix N to Subpart B. These are also in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
Waivers
Test procedure waivers have not been issued for residential boilers.
For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for residential boilers.
For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption
DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the Federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.
Small Business Exemptions
Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.
The current energy conservation standards for residential boilers are mandated by Part A, the "Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles" of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5)) These appliances are covered products under Part A. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5)).
The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 amended EPCA by establishing energy conservation standards for residential boilers and requiring DOE to consider amending standards in two subsequent rulemakings. In 2007, DOE published a final rule that amended standards for residential boilers. Following the publication of the 2007 final rule, Congress enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, which amended the energy conservation standards for boilers. DOE codified the EISA 2007 energy conservation standards for boilers in a 2009 final rule technical amendment.
In 1997, DOE published a final rule that amended the original test procedure for boilers. The rule amended the test procedure to incorporate provisions contained in test procedure waivers granted to different manufacturers from 1985 to 1996 and to include test procedures for new product designs.
In 2010, DOE published a final rule that amended the original test procedure for residential boilers to include standby and off mode energy use.
Previous Test Procedures
Helpful Links and Contact Information
Helpful Links
Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.
DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR® products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified boilers use about 6% less energy than a standard boiler.
For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:
residential_furnaces_and_boilers@ee.doe.gov
