ATTENTION: This site is no longer being maintained. Please find the latest Appliance Standards information at the following site: https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/standards-and-test-procedures

Important Note: The content on this page is archived and is no longer actively maintained.
Please visit the new product standard page for the latest information.

Rulemaking for Definitions for Consumer Water Heaters

Sign up for e-mail updates on regulations for this and other products

DOE proposes to amend its definitions pertaining to residential water heaters and to clarify the applicability of energy conservation standards for residential water heaters that are utilized as a secondary back-up heat source in solar-thermal water heating systems. Specifically, DOE is proposing to create a definition for “solar-assisted fossil fuel storage water heater” and “solar-assisted electric storage water heater” and clarify that water heaters meeting these definitions are not subject to the amended energy conservation standards for residential water heaters established by the April 2010 final rule.

Recent Updates

DOE has issued a pre-publication final rule regarding grid-enabled water heaters. (August 4, 2015)

DOE published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking regarding definitions for consumer water heaters. 80 FR 18784 (April 8, 2015)

Public Meeting Information

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time

Submitting Public Comments

Comments are not accepted at this time.

Any comments submitted must identify the NOPR for Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Water Heaters, and provide docket number EERE-2014–BT–STD–0045 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) number 1904-AD48. Comments may be submitted using any of the following methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

2. E-mail: ResWaterHeater2014STD0045@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number and/or RIN in the subject line of the message.

3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a CD. It is not necessary to include printed copies.

4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC, 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.

Milestones and Documents

The residential water heaters rulemaking docket EERE-2014-BT-STD-0045 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents. For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

Request for Information	Request for Information, Federal Register, 79 FR 62891 (October 21, 2014) Comment deadline: Closed
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Final Rule	Notice of Proposed Rulamaking, Federal Register, 80 FR 18784 (April 8, 2015) Comment deadline: May 8, 2015 Final Rule, pre-publication, Federal Register (August 4, 2015)

Related Rulemakings

There are no related rulemakings.

Statutory Authority

Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.; hereinafter “EPCA”) sets forth various provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. Part A of title III of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) establishes the “Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles,” which covers consumer products and certain commercial products (hereinafter referred to as “covered products”). These covered products include residential water heaters, which are the subject of this notice. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(4))

Contact Information

For more information related to this rulemaking, please email:

water_heaters@ee.doe.gov