U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Room Air Conditioners Rulemaking

This page describes rulemaking activities and regulations regarding energy efficiency for residential room air conditioners.

Statutory Authority

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) (42 U.S.C. 6291, et seq.) established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other than Automobiles, covering major household appliances including room air conditioners. The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 subsequently amended EPCA by establishing energy conservation standards for room air conditioners. The U.S. Department of Energy is currently developing the second rulemaking to review and amend energy conservation standards pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(c)(2).

Negotiated Rulemaking Activity

• Materials provided in support of stakeholder negotiations

Energy Conservation Standards

• Final Rule (Amending Compliance Dates)
• Notice of Effective Date and Compliance Dates for the Direct Final Rule
• Direct Final Rule
• Direct Final Rule Technical Support Document
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Preliminary Analysis
• Framework
• Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

The following link provides information on the calculation of DOE's new CEER standards levels adopted in the direct final rule for room air conditioners:

• Calculations of Room Air Conditioner CEER Standard Levels Adopted in the Direct Final Rule

After a regulatory action has been issued, Section 6(a)(3)(E) of EO 12866 requires agencies to identify in a complete, clear, and simple manner, the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and identify those changes in the regulatory action that were made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA. The documents at the links below are intended to comply with this requirement.

• Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners Direct Final rule submitted to OMB on March 4, 2011 COMPARE with notice concluded on April 8, 2011

Test Procedures

• Test Procedure Final Rule for Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners (January 2011)
• Test Procedure Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Test Procedure Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Past Rulemakings

• Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners, Final Rule, Federal Register, September 24, 1997
• Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners, Technical Support Document, Volume 1 – The General Methodology
• Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners, Technical Support Document, Volume 2 – Detailed Analysis of Efficiency Levels

Contact Information

Stephen Witkowski, P.E.
Project Manager
(202) 586-7436