U.S. Energy Star Latest Technical Standards: Details and Integrated Administration Under the DOE Transfer
Overview
ENERGY STAR's product category-specific technical standards (version specifications) are periodically revised to keep pace with technological advances. As of 2026, the latest specifications apply to residential HVAC (Central Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps v6.1), commercial refrigeration equipment, lighting products, and other categories. In 2024, the latest specifications for major product categories (TVs v9.1, refrigerators v5.1, etc.) were finalized and took effect.
The program was established by EPA in 1992 and has long been jointly administered by EPA and DOE, but since June 2026 administration has been transferring to DOE. While the standard-setting and certification process itself remains unchanged, the point of contact and administrative structure are expected to shift to being DOE-led going forward. DOE already administers minimum energy efficiency standards under the federal appliance standards program (EPCA), and integrated management and updating of ENERGY STAR technical standards alongside minimum efficiency standards is expected to progress.
Enforcement Timeline
1992: The program is established under EPA administration
2024: Latest specifications for major product categories (TV v9.1, refrigerators v5.1, etc.) are finalized and take effect
May 2025: EPA under the Trump administration considers eliminating the program; over 1,000 companies request its continuation
January 2026: Congress passes a $33 million budget for the program's continuation
March 3, 2026: EPA and DOE sign the MOA transferring administration
June 2026: Restructuring toward integrated energy standard administration with the federal appliance standards program (EPCA) under DOE leadership is underway
Business Impact
For companies seeking certification under the latest ENERGY STAR standards, the consolidation of leadership under DOE—which administers the federal appliance standards program (EPCA) that underpins the technical standards—is expected to bring greater transparency to the medium- to long-term standard revision process and closer alignment of technical evaluations. However, because the version revision schedule for each product category remains unchanged, ongoing compliance with individual technical requirements (such as COP and SEER2 efficiency metrics) continues to be required.