The California Energy Commission (CEC) first developed the Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards in 1977. They apply to appliances sold or are offered for sale in California. These standards include minimum levels of operating efficiency, and other cost-effective measures, to promote the use of energy- and water-efficiency appliances.
After standards are adopted, the CEC informs stakeholders and manufacturers of the final appliance efficiency testing requirements, certification instructions, and procedures to comply with the standards.
To be sold or offered for sale in California it is the responsibility of appliance manufacturers selling their products to test them at CEC-approved laboratories and receive third-party certification. Once certified, manufacturers are required to submit their documentation and data to the CEC to be uploaded into the agency’s online Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS). A regulated appliance that is not certified cannot be legally sold or offered for sale in the state of California.
This page provides manufacturers and stakeholders with appliance-specific information.
Outreach and Education Materials by Appliance Category
Appliance Type
- Air Filters
- Computer Room Air Conditioner
- Evaporatively-Cooled Air Conditioner
- Large and Very Large Air Conditioner
- Small Air-Cooled Air Conditioner
- Water Cooled Air Conditioner
Program Bulletins
Appliance Type
- Gas Fired Heat Pump
- Geo Heat Pump
- Heat Pump Water Heating Packages
- Large and Very Large Heat Pump
- Small Air Source Heat Pump
Appliance Type
- Computer Monitors
- Desktops, Thin Clients, and Mobile Gaming Systems
- Medical Computer Monitors
- Notebooks and Portable All-in-ones
- Small-Scale Servers and Rack-Mounted Workstations
Fact Sheets
- 2019 Computer Standards Tier 1 – Link to Energy Code Ace document
- California Appliance Efficiency Regulations for Computers – Link to Energy Code Ace document
- FAQs for California Energy Commission Computers and Displays Regulation
Appliance Type
- Clothes Dryers
- Clothes Washers
- Commercial Cooking
- Dishwashers
- Residential Cooking
Appliance Type
- Consumer and Audio and Video
- Federally Regulated Battery Chargers
- Large Battery Chargers
- Small Battery Chargers
- Televisions and Signage Displays
- External Power Supplies (Certification to MAEDbS not required)
Fact Sheets
- Federal and State requirements for Battery Chargers – Link to Energy Code Ace document
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Bulletins
- September 22, 2023 – Regulatory Advisory: Televisions and Signage Displays
- October 31, 2018 - Regulatory Advisory: Backup Battery Charger Systems
- June 7, 2018 - Regulatory Advisory: Federally Regulated Battery Chargers
Test Method for Large Battery Charger Systems
- Energy Efficiency Battery Charger System Test Procedure Version 2.2. November 12, 2008. Published by ECOS and EPRI Solutions
Appliance Type
- Ceiling Fans
- Dehumidifiers
- Residential Furnace Fans
- Whole House and Residential Exhaust Fans
Appliance Type
- Pumps
Appliance Type
- Boilers
- Combo Space Water Heaters
- Duct Furnaces and Unit Heaters
- Furnaces
- Gas Space Heaters
- Infrared Heaters
Appliance Type
- Spray Sprinkler Bodies
Frequently Asked Questions
Webinars
- September 3, 2020 – Spray Sprinkler Bodies
Appliance Type
- Ballasts
- Ballasts for Residential Recessed Luminaries
- Ceiling Fan Light Kit
- Compact Fluorescent Lamps
- Deep-Dimming Ballasts
- Emergency Lighting
- Lamps
- Metal Halide Luminaire
- Portable Luminaire
- State-Regulated Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lamp
- State-Regulated Small Diameter Directional Lamps
- Torchieres
- Traffic Signals
- Under Cabinet Luminaires
- General Service Lamps (Certification to MAEDbS not required)
Fact Sheets
- Residential Lighting Compliance for Title 20 and Title 24 part 6 – Link to Energy Code Ace document
- State-Regulated Lamps – Link to Energy Code Ace document
Frequently Asked Questions
- Title 20 Lighting – Link to Energy Code Ace document
- State-Regulated LED and Small Diameter Directional Lamps
Program Bulletins
- November 27, 2019 - Regulatory Advisory: General Service Lamps
- April 12, 2019 - Regulatory Advisory: State-Regulated LED Tier II
- October 24, 2018 - Time to Failure Ambient Air Temperature: Update to Test Procedure for State-Regulated LEDs and Small Diameter Directional Lamps
Appliance Type
- Compressors
- Electric Motors
- Small Electric Motors (Certification to MAEDbS not required)
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Bulletins
- October 8, 2018 - Regulatory Advisory: Commercial and Industrial Air Compressors
Webinars
- September 25, 2019 - Commercial and Industrial Air Compressors
Appliance Type
- Evaporative Coolers
- Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner and Heat Pump
- Portable Air Conditioner
- Room Air Conditioner and Heat Pump
- Spot Air Conditioner
Fact Sheets
- 2020 Requirements for Portable Air Conditioners – Link to Energy Code Ace document
Webinars
- January 7, 2020 - Portable Air Conditioners
Appliance Type
- Plumbing Fittings (Showerheads, Faucets, Tub Spout diverters, etc.)
- Plumbing Fixtures (Toilets and Urinals)
Appliance Type
- Gas-oil Pool Heaters
- Heat Pump Pool Heaters
- Portable Electric Spas
- Residential Pool Pumps
Fact Sheets
- Title 20 Residential Pool Pump Motors – Link to Energy Code Ace document
- Test Lab Approval for Testing Portable Electric Spas
Frequently Asked Questions
Appliance Type
- Automatic Ice Makers
- Commercial Refrigerators
- Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products
- Noncommercial Refrigerators
- Refrigerated Beverage Vending Machines
- Walk-in Cooler and Freezer Panels
- Water Dispensers
Appliance Type
- Transformers
APPLIANCE TYPE
- Commercial dishwashers
- Commercial Fryers
- Commercial Steam Cookers
Appliance Type
- Commercial Water Heaters
- Residential Water Heaters
- Residential-Duty Commercial Water Heaters