In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a withdrawal of the proposed rule that would have “established equipment classes and energy conservation standards for fans and blowers,” which was released the previous year.
Although the proposed standards are being withdrawn, this action “does not preclude DOE from proposing energy conservation standards for fans and blowers in the future, including new standards that may be substantially identical or similar to those previously proposed,” according to the public Federal Register notice.
Individual states are not prohibited from releasing their own energy conservation standards—including ones proposed by DOE—noting the institution estimates the standards would save significant amounts of energy and cost savings for consumers across the country.
The previously proposed standard categorized air circulating fans and blowers, and general fans and blowers (GFBs), and took into account their benefits and costs to consumers, impact on manufacturers, and national benefits and costs. It also identified use of the Fan Energy Index as the metric for GFBs.
Efficient fans can be used in many building types—including schools, hospitals, warehouses, and retail spaces—during retrofit, replacement, and new construction projects to facilitate the transfer of air. Read the complete details of the withdrawal of the Energy Conservation Standards for Fans and Blowers proposed rule on regulations.gov.