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Closures at 29 West Coast marine ports in February 2015 due to a labor dispute have resulted in significant delays for certain goods entering the United States through those ports. DOE issued an enforcement policy not to seek civil penalties for violations of the energy and water conservation standards resulting from those delays under certain circumstances.

WASHINGTON – As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department today announced a new energy efficiency standard for furnace fans, the latest of eight finalized standards and nine proposed standards issued since the Climate Action Plan was announced last year.

These standards combined will help reduce harmful carbon pollution by up to 158 million metric tons – equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 21 million homes – and save businesses $26 billion on utility bills through 2030.

On June 27, 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a direct final rule (DFR) under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 6291-6309, which set forth amended energy conservation standards for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps, including regional standards for different product types in indicated States. 76 FR 37408.

The General Counsel's enforcement office settled an enforcement action against Whirlpool Corporation for $5,329,800.  Whirlpool agreed to the settlement after manufacturing and distributing refrigerator-freezers that consumed about 8% more energy than permitted under the appliance energy conservation standards.  This settlement reflects DOE's penalty policy.

As Part of Climate Action Plan, Standards to Help Move Communities to Greater Energy Efficiency

As Part of Climate Action Plan, Standards to Reduce Harmful Carbon Pollution

As part of the Energy Department’s efforts to develop efficiency standards that cut carbon pollution and save money by saving energy, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced that the Department has finalized new energy efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures.

Non-Regulatory Consensus Agreement to Cut Five Million Tons of CO2 Annually

The General Counsel's enforcement office settled an enforcement action against Ningbo Hicon International Industry Company, Ltd. for $1,927,097.  Ningbo Hicon is a Chinese company that manufactures consumer refrigeration products for a variety of private labelers.  Ningbo Hicon agreed to the settlement after manufacturing and distributing chest freezers that consumed about 30% more energy than permitted under the appliance energy conservation standards.  This settlement reflects the second largest penalty since the enforcement office was created in 2010.