DOE announces new efficiency standards for commercial water heaters
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced three new energy efficiency actions that will save Americans more than $1 billion in utility bills every year. The Congressionally mandated final standards for commercial water heaters and dedicated-purpose pool pump motors along with the proposed standards for residential boilers will each conserve energy and water while cutting harmful carbon pollution. The DOE expects the final standards for commercial water heaters will save American businesses approximately $149 million per year on energy costs, while the final standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps and proposed standards for residential boilers will save American consumers approximately $926 million per year on their utility bills. These actions represent DOE’s latest steps — together with the private-sector — to promote innovation and reduce costs for American families and businesses through appliance efficiency, as directed by Congress.
The efficiency standards being adopted for commercial water heaters, which have not been revised since 2003, will result in significant gains in energy efficiency and savings for American businesses. For commercial gas-fired storage, instantaneous, and hot water supply boilers, DOE is adopting a performance standard that will require condensing technology for new models starting in 2026. The energy savings over 30 years of shipments is 0.7 quadrillion British thermal units, which represents a savings of 5.6 percent relative to the energy use of products currently on the market. DOE estimates that the standards would result in cumulative emission reductions of 38 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—an amount roughly equivalent to the combined annual emissions of 4.8 million homes.