Residential Water Heaters

This page describes rulemaking activities and regulations regarding energy efficiency for residential water heaters.

Statutory Authority

Title III of 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 water heaters and home heating equipment. Subsequent amendments expanded title III of EPCA to include additional consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including residential pool heaters. (42 U.S.C. 6291, et seq.) Furthermore, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA) amended EPCA by establishing energy conservation standards for residential water heaters, "direct heating equipment" (replacing the term "home heating equipment" previously used in EPCA), and pool heaters (collectively referred to as residential heating products), as well as requirements for determining whether these standards should be amended. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(1) through (4))

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed the second rulemaking to review and amend energy conservation standards for residential water heaters under section 325(e)(4)(B) of EPCA. Information on this most recently completed rulemaking can be found below, under "Energy Conservation Standard." DOE is currently conducting a test procedure rulemaking to review and amend the test procedures for water heaters. More information can be found below, under "Test Procedures" and "Public Meetings." Documentation and materials associated with the prior rulemaking can also be found below, under "Previous Federal Register Notices and Documents."