(Effective pursuant to Acts 2026, cc. 928 and 999, cl. 2) Minimum energy and water conservation standards for certain products
Va. Code Ann. § 45.2-1736
in effectA. If any product or product categories under 10 C.F.R. Parts 430 and 431 of the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163), as amended, are removed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government, the Department shall adopt energy or water conservation standards that shall be equivalent to the last applicable federal standards with a product compliance date of on or before December 31, 2025. No such new products may be sold or offered for sale, lease, or rent in the Commonwealth unless such products meet or exceed such standards.
B. In the event the Department adopts energy or water conservation standards pursuant to subsection A, it shall require a manufacturer that produces a product described in subsection A to test its products in accordance with the test procedures provided in 10 C.F.R. Parts 430 and 431 of the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163), as amended, as of December 31, 2025. The Department may adopt additional test methods when new versions of test methods become available or when an alternative test method has been adopted by another state or the federal government. Such manufacturers shall certify through a third-party database, such as the Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System, Home Ventilating Institute Products Directory, AHAM Verifide Certification and Verification Program Directories, or Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships State Appliance Standards Database, or any other database approved by the Department, and based on such test results, that its products comply with the provisions of this section.
C. Nothing in this section shall apply to (i) any energy or water conservation standard set aside by a court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 6306(b) or (ii) any product if federal law preempts the application of this section to such product, including any product or product categories where there is a requirement to develop a standard pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 6291 et seq. or where there is a standard developed pursuant to 10 C.F.R. Parts 430 and 431 of the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163), as amended.
2026, cc. 928 , 999 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/45.2-1736/Fetched: 10/16/2026