Proposal to Increase Information on Energy Efficiency Label

The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed to extend the labelling and certification requirements for around 60 types of appliances.

The proposal affects are a variety of electric motor appliances and lighting equipment.

With the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles (42 U.S.C. §§ 6291–6309), a regulatory program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sets minimum energy efficiency standards for approximately 60 categories of appliances and equipment used in homes, businesses, and other applications.

The DOE has now proposed to amend certification provisions, labelling requirements, and enforcement provisions. The labels are to be extended for information related to energy efficiency, energy use and other measures of energy consumption, and instructions for maintenance and repair. Furthermore, the law gives detailed requirements on how the label must be displayed. Regarding certification, the amendment includes a number of reporting requirements for the different types of equipment.

In scope of the regulation are electric motors including heating, ventilating, commercial refrigerators, but also traffic signal modules, compressors, pumps and small electric motors. Furthermore, the regulation includes lighting equipment like fluorescent and LED lamps, exit sign lamps and traffic signals.

Interested parties can provide feedback and comments until November 28, 2023. The proposed rule can be retrieved here.