Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Standby Mode and Off Mode for Microwave Ovens

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment. Microwave ovens are covered products under EPCA, although there are no existing microwave oven standards. DOE has already previously determined that active mode standards are not warranted. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) amended EPCA to require any final rule adopted after July 1, 2010 establishing or revising energy conservation standards for covered products, including microwave ovens, to address standby mode and off mode energy use. In this final rule, DOE is only adopting energy conservation standards for microwave oven standby mode and off mode. It has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for these products in standby mode and off mode would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.