NAECA | National Appliance Energy Conservation Act
Enacted in 1975, NAECA creates uniform efficiency standards for certain household appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers and water heaters.
New NAECA Standards
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as part of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA), issued Final Rule energy efficiency mandates in April 2010. While these mandates only apply to products manufactured for sale in the U.S., Canada will soon implement similar increases in efficiency standards. These far-reaching new requirements will have important impacts on water heating manufacturers, distributors, contractors and homeowners.
The Energy Factor
In order to effectively reduce home appliance energy use, conserve more natural resources and generate significant energy cost savings for homeowners, NAECA periodically requires higher energy efficiencies—as measured by Energy Factor or EF ratings—on almost all residential gas, electric, oil and tankless gas water heaters.
These higher energy efficiencies are based on the Energy Factor, or EF, of the unit, which indicates overall water heating efficiency by measuring how much of the energy delivered to the water heater from your power source is actually used to heat your water. The higher the EF, the more efficiently the water heater converts your power into hot water while reducing losses—and the more money you save on overall energy costs.
Increasing EF Requirements for Water Heaters
April 16, 2015
All residential water heaters manufactured in the U.S. on and after this date must meet the increased NAECA energy-efficiency standards.
Pre-Compliance Water Heaters
Water heaters manufactured before April 16, 2015 that do not meet new NAECA 2015 standards can still be sold and purchased after April 16, 2015. However, almost all new residential water heaters produced on or after this date will be affected according to their power source, technologies, size and other key design factors. What Products are Affected?
Benefits of Compliant Water Heaters
A NAECA 2015-compliant water heater will likely have distinct energy-saving and performance advantages over a non-compliant unit. So, even if you are able to purchase a non-compliant model, you may want to consider the long-term cost saving benefits of a higher-efficiency solution. Your independent Rheem Contractor can help explain the differences and benefits between water heaters, so you can choose which works best for you. Find a Contractor near you.
Almost all residential gas, electric, oil and tankless gas water heaters manufactured in the U.S. are affected.
Rheem is Ready
We have a long list, included below, of NAECA 2015-compliant tank-type and tankless water heater models available today. Any residential gas and electric Rheem water heaters included under the new regulations that do not currently meet new efficiency standards are being redesigned to offer greater energy savings and smarter performance.
Changes to Rheem Water Heaters
At Rheem, change means opportunity. Along with new energy- and cost-saving efficiencies, the advanced technologies of many NAECA 2015-compliant water heaters will create new considerations for unit transportation, storage, installation, installation location, operation and maintenance.
Shop Our NAECA 2015-Compliant Water Heaters
Choose from a wide range of Rheem products that currently meet efficiency requirements: