Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), DOE may set energy conservation standards for types of pumps, including circulator pumps (42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(A)). On February 3, 2016, DOE published a notice of intent to establish a working group for circulator pumps. The working group met to address potential energy conservation standards for circulator pumps and subsequently voted to approve recommendations related to energy conservation standards, applicable test procedures, labeling and certification requirements for circulator pumps and small vertical in-line pumps. 

DOE has tentatively determined that the standards proposed represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy. Specifically, with regards to technological feasibility, equipment achieving these standard levels are already commercially available. As for economic justification, DOE’s analysis shows that the benefits of the proposed standard exceed, to a great extent, the burdens of the proposed standards.