# Plain Language Summary: Room Air Cleaner Energy Standards Bill

This bill adds room air cleaners to the list of household appliances that must meet federal energy efficiency standards. Right now, the government sets energy requirements for things like refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners to make sure they don't waste electricity. This bill extends those same rules to portable air cleaning devices that people use in their homes and offices.

What this means in practice is that manufacturers of room air cleaners will have to design their products to use less energy while still doing their job of filtering the air. Just like how modern refrigerators use significantly less electricity than older models, new air cleaners would need to meet minimum efficiency requirements set by the Department of Energy. This could mean slightly higher upfront costs for these devices, but they'd cost less to run over time because they'd consume less power.

For consumers, the main benefit is lower electricity bills if you use a room air cleaner regularly. Someone running an air cleaner eight hours a day could see meaningful savings on their energy costs each month. The trade-off is that compliant models might initially cost a bit more to purchase, though that extra cost typically gets recovered through energy savings within a year or two. For manufacturers, it means they'll need to invest in more efficient technology, but it also creates a level playing field where all companies have to meet the same standards rather than competing on who can make the cheapest product regardless of energy use.

A bill to amend the Energy Policy Conservation Act to provide that consumer room air cleaners are covered products to which certain energy conservation standards apply, and for other purposes.

Shaheen, Jeanne

This bill establishes energy efficiency standards for consumer room air cleaners under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). The bill defines consumer room air cleaners as cleaners that (1) are portable or wall-mounted (fixed) units; (2) plug into an electrical outlet; (3) operate with a fan for air circulation; and (4) contain a means to remove, destroy, or deactivate particulates. The bill enumerates energy efficiency standards for air cleaners manufactured on December 31, 2023&#8211;December 30, 2025, as well as air cleaners manufactured on or after December 31, 2025. It also prescribes procedures to test the energy efficiency of air cleaners. Energy efficiency labeling requirements apply to air cleaners beginning on December 31, 2023.