E E RE I nformation C enter

P rograms and O ffic es

Searc h Help M ore Searc h O ptions

P rintable V ersion

Refrigerator, Refrigerator-Freezer

and Freezers Rulemaking

This page describes rulemaking activities and

regulations regarding energy efficiency for residential

refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.

Statutory Authority

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) (42

U.S.C . 6291, et seq.) established the Energy

Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other

than Automobiles, covering major household

appliances including residential refrigerators,

refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The National

Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987

subsequently amended EPCA by establishing energy

conservation standards for residential refrigerators,

refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The Energy

Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) then

required the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to

review and amend energy conservation standards for

residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and

freezers. DOE is currently developing amended

standards pursuant to 42 U.S.C . 6295(b)(4) and an

amended test procedure pursuant to 42 U.S.C .

6293(b)(1).

Some of the following documents are available as

Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Acrobat Reader.

Conservation Standards Rulemaking

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(September 2010)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking document

Public Meeting Information

Technical Support Document

Analytical Tools

Negotiated Rulemaking Activity

Materials provided in support of

stakeholder negotiations

Preliminary Analysis

Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of

the Preliminary Technical Support

Document

Public Meeting Information

Preliminary Technical Support Document

Preliminary Analytical Tools

Framework Document

Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of

the Framework Document

Public Meeting Information

Framework Document

Test Procedures Rulemaking

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Public Meeting Information

Past Rulemakings

Energy Efficiency Standards for Refrigerators,

Refrigerator-Freezers and Freezers Technical

Support Document , October 2005

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

Products: Test Procedure for Refrigerators and

Refrigerator-Freezers Direct Final Rule ,

Federal Register, March 7, 2003

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

Products: Test Procedure for Refrigerators and

Refrigerator-Freezers Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking , Federal Register, March 7, 2003

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

9/24/2010 Appliances and Commercial Equipment...

...energy.gov/.../refrigerators_freezers.... 1/2

EERE-2008-BT-STD-0012 COMMENT 58
Products: Energy Conservation Standards for

Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers and

Freezers Final Rule , Federal Register, April 28,

1997

Proper Implementation of RefrigeratorFreezer Test Procedure

On December 18, 2009, DOE issued additional

guidance regarding the application of the current test

procedures for testing energy consumption of

refrigerator-freezers with automatic ice makers .

DOE issued this guidance to ensure the consistent

application of the current test procedure to

refrigerator-freezers with French doors, bottommounted freezers, and through-the-door (TTD) ice

service (French door TTD models).

In January 2009, DOE issued a public statement on

the proper implementation of the DOE refrigeratorfreezer test procedure , including the industry test

procedure which is incorporated by reference

(American National Standards Institute/Association of

Home Appliance Manufacturers Standard HRF-1-1979,

Household Refrigerators, Combination RefrigeratorFreezers and Household Freezers).

Contact Information

Subid Wagley

202-287-1414

P rintable V ersion

Building Technologie s Program Hom e | EERE Hom e | U.S. Departm ent o f Energy

Webm aster | Web Site Policie s | Security & Privacy | USA.gov

Content Last Upda ted: 09/24/2010

9/24/2010 Appliances and Commercial Equipment...

...energy.gov/.../refrigerators_freezers.... 2/2

EERE-2008-BT-STD-0012 COMMENT 58