Vermont Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards

October 28, 2024

Summary

Note: The federal government has imposed and updated appliance efficiency standards through several legislative acts*, and now has standards in place or under development for 30 classes of products. In general, states which had set standards prior to federal action may enforce their own standards until the federal standards take effect. States that had not set standards prior to federal action must use the federal standards. This summary addresses (1) state appliance standards that will be in place until the federal standards take effect and (2) products for which the federal government is not currently developing an efficiency standard. Much of the information in this summary comes from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP). Visit the ASAP web site for comprehensive information about appliance standards. See the Department of Energy Appliance Standards website for additional information on the federal standards.

In February 2006, Vermont established appliance efficiency legislation through bill H.0253, An Act Relating to Establishing Energy Efficiency Standards For Certain Appliances. This Act created minimum efficiency standards for certain products sold or installed in Vermont. Note, standards for medium voltage dry-type distribution transformers and metal halide lamp fixtures have been pre-empted by federal standards.

In May 2018, the Vermont Legislature passed H.410, an act relating to appliance efficiency, energy planning, and electric vehicle parking. Additionally, the state is phasing out the sale of fluorescent lighting. Screw-base CFL bulbs were phased out on February 17, 2023, and pin-base CFL and fluorescent tubes will be phased out on January 1, 2024. The following products with provisions included in the 2018 bill have an effective date of 01/01/2020 and are not preempted by federal law:

Air Compressors
Commercial dishwashers
Commercial Fryers
Hot-Food Holding Cabinets
Commercial Steam Cookers
Computers
Computer Monitors
Faucets
HIgh-CRI Linear Fluorescent Lamps
Portable Air Conditioners
Portable electric spas
Residential Ventilating Fans
Showerheads
Spray Sprinkler Bodies
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Urinals
Water Coolers

*These acts include the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Vermont
Incentive Type:	Appliance/Equipment Efficiency Standards
Web Site:	https://publicservice.vermont.gov/efficiency/vermont-appliance-efficiency-and-water-conservation-standards
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Lighting Boilers Air conditioners Compressed air Commercial Cooking Equipment Personal Computing Equipment
Equipment Requirements:	Specified in standards
Test Methods:	Specified in standards or Vermont residential building energy standards
Certification Requirements:	Manufacturers certify to the VT Department of Public Service that products are in compliance with minimum efficiency requirements. The DPS promulgates regulations governing the certification of products and may coordinate with the certification programs of other states and federal agencies.
Review:	Not specified; increased efficiency standards for the products currently covered may be adopted.
Implementing Agency:	VT Department of Public Service

Authorities

Name:

9 V.S.A. § 2791, et seq.

Contact

Name:	Public Information
Organization:	Vermont Public Service Department
Address:	112 State Street, Third Floor Montpelier VT 05620-2601
Phone:	(802) 828-2811

Name:	Brian Cotterill
Organization:	Vermont Public Service
Address:
Phone:	(802) 828-3212

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.