U.S. DOE HVAC and Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards — Process Rule Amendment Proposal and the "Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026"

Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has periodically revised minimum energy conservation standards for residential and commercial HVAC equipment, water heaters, and appliances. During the Biden administration, stringent standards were adopted across many product categories (such as heat pump preferences and higher efficiency requirements for gas appliances). In July 2026, however, DOE under the Trump administration published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to revert the procedural framework governing standard-setting (the Process Rule) to the industry-favorable 2020 version. Separately, Republican-led legislation—the "Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026"—was introduced in the U.S. Senate, aiming to establish a legal framework restricting the adoption of overly stringent energy efficiency standards and preventing increased manufacturing costs and reduced consumer choice.