Update on DOE extended product regulations — Pumps, fans & air compressors

The U.S. Department of Energy has regulated efficiency standards for electric motors since 1992. Recently they have begun the process of creating a rule to regulate the efficiency of motor driven systems - pumps, fans and air compressors. Significant energy can be saved with more efficient systems than by regulating components alone. These regulations are expected to have wide-ranging effect on the products that are available in the market. Pump systems have been studied and a final rule for pump testing was issued on January 26, 2016. The group studying the fan regulations has also started to discuss and a ruling is expected towards the end of 2016. The air compressor regulation is in process, lagging the fan rule by nearly one year and could be addressed in a future paper. Each of these rules is expected to go into effect in approximately five years after publication of their final rule. In parallel, IEC has been working on a system efficiency standard that will cover all types of systems and applications.