DOE published a notice of public meeting and availability of the framework document regarding energy conservation standards for packaged terminal air conditioners and packaged terminal heat pumps on February 22, 2013.

DOE is initiating an energy conservation standard rulemaking for ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits as required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This rulemaking will consider amendments to the standards for these products to reflect technological advances.

On February 11, 2013, DOE published a notice of public meeting and availability of the framework document regarding energy conservation standards for residential boilers. A public meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2013, directly after the Residential Furnace and Boilers Test Procedure NOPR Public Meeting. The comment deadline is March 28, 2013.

Although currently there are no energy conservation standards for pumps, the Department of Energy (DOE) is conducting an analysis of the energy use, emissions, costs, and benefits associated with this equipment during the commercial and industrial pumps energy conservation standards r

On September 17, 2012 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule establishing new test procedures for residential dishwashers for the measurement of energy use in standby mode and off mode and a methodology for the measurement of fan-only mode energy use.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s (LBNL’s) Energy Efficiency Standards Group, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, is pleased to announce the second year of the Max Tech and Beyond Appliance Design Competition.

As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers, the Energy Department announced on August 23, 2012 that a University of Maryland team has won the Department's first Max Tech and Beyond Appliance Design Competition.

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its intention to use the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) to calculate full-fuel-cycle (FFC) measures of energy use and greenhouse gas and other emissions in the national impact analyses and environmental assessments included in future energy conservation standards rulemakings.

On May 14, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice proposing a direct final rule adopting more stringent energy and water efficiency standards for dishwashers and clothes washers.

On May 21, 2012 Greg Rosenquist and Alex Lekov, co-leaders of the Energy Efficiency Standards Group, were awarded Director’s Awards for Exceptional Achievement for the societal impact of their work.