Appliance Standards Avoided Air Pollution

California appliance regulations, combined with federal standards, set minimum efficiency levels for energy and water consumption in products, such as consumer electronics, household appliances, and plumbing equipment. Reducing annual consumption of electricity, gas, and water avoids air pollutants. Standards adopted over the past 10 years avoided 9.9 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2025 alone—roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from 25 fossil gas–fired power plants.

This dashboard tracks the avoided air pollution impacts of the 15 most recent efficiency standards put into effect by the Appliance Efficiency Program, including Air Filters, Air Compressors, Battery Chargers, Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers, Computers, Computer Monitors, Lighting, Pool Pumps, Portable Electric Spas, Portable Air-Conditioners, Residential Faucets, Showerheads, Spray Sprinkler Bodies, Televisions, and Water Closets. These metrics reflect the impact of actions taken by the CEC from 2006 to 2026, building on a legacy of improving performance and reducing utility bills via cost-effective minimum standards stretching back to 1978.

Dashboard is best viewed from a computer. Visit Tableau for the full page layout of dashboard or download data.

Title 20 Statistic Dashboards in this Collection:
Appliance Standards Savings | Appliance Standards Electricity Savings | Appliance Standards Gas Savings | Appliance Standards Water Savings | Appliance Standards Avoided Air Pollution

Term:

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) — Carbon dioxide is an example of a greenhouse gas that is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds.
  • Air Pollutants — Physical, chemical, or biological agents, including gases, smoke, and dust that contaminate the indoor or outdoor atmosphere. These harmful substances, such as particle matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOX), originate from vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and natural sources like wildfires, often leading to severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and environmental issues.
  • Avoided Emissions and generation Tool (AVERT) — A tool with a simple user interface designed to evaluate changes in county-level emissions from electric power plants as a result of energy policies and programs such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. AVERT uses public data that are accessible and auditable.
  • CO-Benefits Risk Assessment Health Impacts Screening and Mapping Tool (COBRA) — A screening model that show how changes in air pollution from clean energy policies and programs, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, can affect human health at the county, state, and regional levels. Provides an estimate of the economic value of the health benefits associated with appliance efficiency programs.

Information
Standards adopted over the past 10 years avoided 9.9 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2025 alone—roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from 25 fossil gas–fired power plants.

Data last updated: Feb. 5, 2026

Data Collection Information
Data is compiled from CEC publications and stakeholder reports available in the California Energy Commission Dockets, or download Consolidated List.
Avoided Emissions and generation Tool (AVERT)
CO-Benefits Risk Assessment Health Impacts Screening and Mapping Tool (COBRA)

Citing
Please cite use of these data and images. California Energy Commission 2026. Appliance Standards Avoided Air Pollution. Data last updated Feb. 5, 2026. Retrieved [insert date retrieved] from [Dashboard URL]

Contact

Please submit questions and comments to Appliance Efficiency Regulations at appliances@energy.ca.gov.