This page provides acquisition guidance for buying room air conditioners. Federal laws and requirements mandate that agencies purchase ENERGY STAR®-certified products or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products for all covered product categories except as specifically exempted by law.
FEMP's acquisition guidance and associated ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements for room air conditioners apply to casement-only and casement-slider window air conditioners, through-the-wall air conditioners, and reverse cycle room air conditioners. All other air conditioners are excluded, including but not limited to packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC), portable air conditioners, models equipped with electric resistance heating elements, and products like dehumidifiers covered by other ENERGY STAR program requirements.
This acquisition guidance was updated in December 2024.
How To Find Product Efficiency Requirements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides room air conditioner efficiency levels and product specification information on its ENERGY STAR website. Manufacturers meeting these requirements are allowed to display the ENERGY STAR label on complying models. Get a list of ENERGY STAR-certified room air conditioners.
How To Determine Cost Effectiveness
An efficient product is cost effective when the lifetime energy savings exceed the up-front cost premium (if any) compared to a less efficient option. Find more information about determining life cycle cost effectiveness on FEMP’s general federal purchasing requirements page.
See Table 1 below for an example comparing the life cycle cost savings of a base model (less efficient than the ENERGY STAR required efficiency), a model meeting the ENERGY STAR efficiency, and a model with the highest available efficiency.
Example: Room Air Conditioner (Without Reverse Cycle)
FEMP has calculated that the required ENERGY STAR-qualified room air conditioner saves money if priced no more than $167 (in 2023 dollars) above the less efficient model. The best available model saves up to $189 (or $22 more than the required model).
Table 1. Lifetime Savings for Efficient Room Air Conditioner Models
| Performance | Best Available | ENERGY STAR | Less Efficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER) | 15.4 | 14.7 | 10.9 |
| Annual Energy Use (kWh) | 584 | 612 | 826 |
| Annual Energy Cost | $64 | $67 | $91 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost (9 years) | $458 | $480 | $648 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost Savings | $189 | $167 | ===== |
Energy Use and Cost Assumptions
Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER): Based on the federal standards for room air conditioners without reverse cycle, with louvered sides, and between 8,000 to 13,999 Btu/h; ENERGY STAR requirements; and ENERGY STAR product data.
Annual Energy Use: Based on the test method referenced in 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix F for a room air conditioner with a capacity of 12,000 Btu/h operated for 750 hours per year, listed in kilowatt-hours.
Annual Energy Cost: Calculated based on an assumed electricity price of 11.1¢/kWh, which is the average electricity price at federal facilities throughout the United States as of July 2024. Learn more about Federal Government Energy/Water Use and Emissions.
Lifetime Energy Cost: Calculated as the sum of the discounted value of the annual energy cost over the assumed product life of 9 years, from DOE's Energy Conservation Standards for Room Air Conditioners (EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059). Future electricity price trends and a 3% discount rate are adopted from Annual Supplement to NIST Handbook 135, Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis – 2024 (NISTIR 85-3273-39).
Lifetime Energy Cost Savings: The difference between the lifetime energy cost of the identified models.
Model Efficiency Levels
Best Available: Based on the model with the highest efficiency in the ENERGY STAR Qualified Products List as of December 2024. More efficient models may have entered the market after FEMP's acquisition guidance was created.
ENERGY STAR: Calculated based on December 2024 ENERGY STAR efficiency levels; values shown are rounded to the nearest dollar. Federal agencies must purchase products that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR efficiency levels.
Less Efficient: Calculated based on typical products used in non-federal applications.
Where To Buy Compliant Products
Buyers can make sure the product they purchase will be compliant by incorporating federal acquisition regulation language into contracts. Compliant products can also be found using federal supply sources and product codes. See FEMP’s general federal purchasing requirements webpage for more details on buying compliant energy-using products.
Room Air Conditioner Product Codes
The Defense Logistics Agency Environmental Attribute Code (ENAC) identifies items with energy characteristics that meet standards set by an approved third party, such as FEMP and ENERGY STAR. Purchasers can also use a United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) to identify and buy products and to track purchases.
The DLA ENAC for room air conditioner models is "LM."
The UNSPSC for room air conditioners is 40101701.
Buyer Tips: Make Informed Product Purchases
Select room air conditioners that are an appropriate size for the spaces to be cooled. Oversizing room air conditioners will increase the purchase cost and lead to higher energy consumption and poor humidity removal due to excessive on-off cycling. Guidance on proper sizing is available on many websites, including ENERGY STAR and others.
Some utilities offer rebates or other incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products. Use the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder to see if your local utility offers these incentives.
Refrigerants with ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used many years ago in room air conditioners and other appliances. Products manufactured today use refrigerants that have a much lower ozone-depleting effect. The Clean Air Act requires that the refrigerant be recovered from appliances prior to final disposal. Learn more about EPA's Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements.