Appliance Standards Summary

Appliance and equipment standards have been one of the most successful policies used by the federal and state governments to save energy. When the federal government or states establish appliance and equipment standards, they are setting the bar for the minimum efficiency of products. Standards require products, such as refrigerators or air conditioners, to meet specific minimum efficiency requirements thereby reducing energy use and consequently saving consumers money while improving the environment. Standards prohibit the production and sales of products less efficient than the minimum requirements, causing manufacturers to focus on how to incorporate energy-efficient technologies into their products at the least cost and hastening the development of innovations that bring improved performance. In doing so, standards provide all consumers with a minimum level of efficiency performance, making energy-efficient products more affordable and more widely available. Successful implementation at the state-level has often been followed by manufacturers and efficiency supporters negotiating consensus standards that are then recommended to Congress for adoption. Today the federal government often uses the standards set by states as a model for federal appliance standards.