DOE Issues New Efficiency Standards for Appliances and Equipment

October 18, 2005

DOE announced on October 18th that it published a final rule setting new energy efficiency standards for 15 types of residential appliances and commercial equipment. The standards were established as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Seven of the new standards apply to lighting equipment, including medium-base compact fluorescent lamps; fluorescent lamp ballasts; ballasts for mercury vapor lamps; torchieres; ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits; illuminated exit signs; and traffic signal and pedestrian crossing light modules. Five standards apply to commercial equipment only, including pre-rinse spray valves; package air conditioning and heating equipment; refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers; automatic ice makers; and clothes washers. The remaining three standards pertain to low-voltage dry-type distribution transformers, unit heaters, and dehumidifiers. See the DOE press release.

DOE is continuing its work to increase the transparency and speed of the appliance standards process, which is managed by the Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program, a part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.