US DOE Proposes New Ceiling Fan Efficiency Standards

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) and an announcement of a public meeting about DOE’s proposed new and amended standards for ceiling fans.

Some important things to note:

1. Standard and hugger ceiling fans with representative values of blade span >53” will likely have to utilize DC motors to meet this proposed standard. Standard and hugger ceiling fans with representative values of blade span <53” will not be forced to DC motors to meet this proposed standard.
2. This DOE-proposed standard will significantly impact ceiling fan controls for standard and hugger blade spans >53” because DC motors require different controls than AC motor fans.
3. The proposed new standard uses the efficiency metric of cubic feet per minute per watt (CFM/W) for standard and hugger ceiling fans but uses the metric of ceiling fan energy index (CFEI) for large-diameter ceiling fans and high-speed belt-driven ceiling fans.
4. This proposed new standard does not address ceiling fan light kits (CFLK).

Additional information about the NOPR:

• The DOE pre-publication NOPR and public meeting announcement can be found here.
• DOE proposes that the updated standard would take effect starting three years after the publication date of the final rule for this rulemaking.
• DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR until 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.
• Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number EERE-2021-BT-STD-0011, by email (CeilingFans2021STD0011@ee.doe.gov), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).
• DOE will hold a webinar on Thursday, July 27, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Click here to register for the webinar

Image: US DOE NOPR

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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