About
ASAP

Room Air Conditioners

Last Updated: October 2007
See the federal standards main page to view current status

Room air conditioners were regulated by several states in the 1970s and 1980s and became federally regulated in 1987.  The standard varies as a function of cooling capacity and other features, but for the most common type of unit (a 8,000-13,999 Btu/hour unit with side-vents), the 1987 law required an efficiency of 9.0 EER, effective 1990. In 1997, DOE published a revised standard for room air conditioners, effective October 2000.  For the most common unit, the EER must be at least 9.8. 

• Federal Documentation (DOE Web site)

Update
DOE plans to begin the next revision of the standard in fall 2007, completing the rulemaking by June 2011 with an effective date in 2014. (January 2006)