FAQ

Table of contents

 

What is eeCompass?

eeCompass is a comprehensive resource for researching, evaluating and comparing the energy efficiency of modern consumer appliances.

What products are included in eeCompass?

eeCompass includes consumer appliances that are subject to federal energy conservation standards that manufacturers have submitted certification and compliance reports for within the past year.

What appliances are subject to federal conservation standards?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) implements minimum energy conservation standards for more than 65 categories of appliances and equipment through its Appliance and Equipment Standards Program. Consumer appliances covered under these standards include:

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Products
  • includes air conditioners, heat pumps, ceiling fans, furnaces, direct heating equipment, pool heaters, water heaters, and dehumidifiers
Bathroom Appliances and Plumbing Products
  • includes faucets, showerheads, urinals, and flush toilets
Kitchen Appliances
  • includes dishwashers, gas cooking products, and microwave ovens    
Laundry Products
  • includes clothes washers and dryers
Lighting Products
  • includes fluorescent lamps and incandescent lamps

What is the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program?

The DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program requires that certain appliances meet energy conservation standards, which means that each covered appliance must be tested and the results certified before it can be offered for sale in the U.S. Not only must manufacturers certify the performance of their appliances to demonstrate compliance with the standards, they must also make this information available to the public.

What if an appliance doesn’t meet federal energy efficiency standards?

Appliance manufacturers must ensure certification and compliance with DOE standards in order to legally offer their products for sale in the U.S.

How can I determine the energy efficiency of my appliance?

You can search eeCompass to determine the energy efficiency of your appliance by either entering the model number in the search bar near the top of each page or by clicking the “Consumers” heading and then selecting a product family. You can then click browse to view all models by product type.

I searched for my model number and got no results. What should I do?

If the model number you enter does not match the database exactly, you may not see results. If this happens, try again by entering only a few characters of the model you are searching for, for example 4 consecutive characters from the middle of the model number.

If you still don’t get the result you are looking for, try clicking the “Consumers” heading and then selecting a product family. You can then click browse to view all models by product type.

My appliance isn’t listed in eeCompass. Is it illegal?

Not necessarily. eeCompass only includes appliances that manufacturers have submitted certification and compliance reports for within the past year. Older models may not be included.

Why is energy efficiency important?

Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to reduce utility bills for consumers.

Why are there energy efficiency standards?

Appliances vary greatly in terms of energy efficiency and operating cost, but consumers can’t tell by appearance whether one appliance will require more energy and cost more to operate than another. Standards ensure a minimum level of energy efficiency, which means reduced energy consumption along with consumer energy bill savings over the operational life of their appliances.

Efficiency standards also prohibit the production and import or sale of appliances less efficient than minimum requirements established by the DOE.

How do energy efficiency standards benefit consumers?

Standards implemented since 1987 have saved American consumers $63 billion on their energy bills in 2015 alone, a savings of about $320 a year for the typical household.

Why are some products covered by efficiency standards and others aren’t?

DOE determines whether an appliance warrants a minimum efficiency standard in part by analyzing the following:

  • Average household energy use of the product. 
  • Total energy use of the product across the country. 
  • Whether an improvement in energy efficiency is technologically feasible and economically justified.
  • If DOE determines that the product warrants a minimum efficiency standard, DOE then begins the standards initiation process.  

How does eeCompass compare to Energy Star?

Energy Star is a voluntary program whereby manufacturers can choose to submit their products for Energy Star certification based on meeting Energy Star’s specifications.

Products listed within eeCompass are subject to DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program’s energy conversation regulations. Manufacturers have certified that their products are in compliance with those requirements in order to legally offer their products for sale in the U.S.