Refrigeration products includes refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers, which are cabinets chill and preserve food and beverages, provide ice and chilled water, and freeze food. Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for refrigeration products since 1990.
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DOE has published a Federal Register direct final rule pertaining to energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. In this direct final rule, DOE is adopting amended standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. DOE has determined that the amended standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.
- The effective date of this rule is May 16, 2024.
- DOE published a notice on June 13, 2024 confirming the effective date and compliance date upon determining that the comments received in response to the direct final rule do not provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule. Accordingly, the effective date is May 16, 2024. Compliance with the new standards established in the direct final rule is required on either January 31, 2029 or January 31, 2030 depending on product class.
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.
Standards
Confirmation of Effective and Compliance Dates - Federal Register, 89FR50205, (June 13, 2024)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 89FR2886 (January 17, 2024)
Direct Final Rule - Federal Register, 89FR3026 (January 17, 2024)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Announcement of Public Meeting - Federal Register, 88FR12452 (February 27, 2023)
Notification of a Webinar and Availability of Preliminary TSD - Federal Register, 86FR57378 (October 15, 2021)
- Technical Support Document
Request for Information; Comment Extension
Request for Information
The consumer refrigerators and freezers rulemaking docket EERE-2017-BT-STD-003 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
The comment period is closed.
Test Procedure
Final Rule; Correction Notice - Federal Register, 88FR7840 (February 7, 2023)
Final Rule - Federal Register, 86FR56790 (October 12, 2021)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Comment Period Extension
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Request for Information - Federal Register, 82FR29780 (June 30, 2017)
The consumer refrigerator and freezer test procedure rulemaking docket EERE-2017-BT-TP-0004 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
The comment period is closed.
Consumer refrigerators and freezers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(a).
To determine that residential refrigerators and freezers that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix A and Appendix B.
Compliance
DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429. These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement. More information on these regulations is available here.
Waivers
For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage.
For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for refrigeration products.
For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions
For information on further guidance and answers to frequently asked questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database.
State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption
DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.
Small Business Exemptions
Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.
ENERGY STAR®
DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR® products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.
For more information related to this product, please email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov