Energy Star Dehumidifier Requirements

What the Energy Star mark means on a dehumidifier

The Energy Star mark on a dehumidifier listing is a program label from the EPA and the Department of Energy. The program identifies products that meet its efficiency criteria. The Energy Star page for dehumidifiers states that a certified model uses more efficient refrigeration coils, compressors, and fans to remove the same amount of moisture as a similarly sized conventional unit but uses 20% less energy. That 20% figure is the program's own statement about the label, not a site measurement.

Energy Star certified models are available for both portable and whole-home dehumidifiers, according to the same page. The program also recognizes certain models as Energy Star Most Efficient, which the page describes as products that deliver cutting-edge energy efficiency and the latest in technological innovation. On a listing, the mark tells you that the model has earned the label; it does not describe how the unit will behave in a specific home.

Integrated energy factor: the efficiency rating on a listing

The efficiency number that may appear on a listing is the integrated energy factor, or IEF. The Energy Star page explains that IEF is measured in liters of water removed per kilowatt-hour of energy consumed, written as L/kWh. A higher IEF means a more efficient dehumidifier, in general.

IEF replaced an older metric, energy factor (EF), in June 2019, according to the Energy Star testing and capacity page. Unlike EF, IEF includes the energy a unit uses after it has cycled off. The same page states that the DOE measurement procedure now measures portable dehumidifiers at 65°F rather than 80°F, to reflect the conditions of a basement setting. That change is why a new model may carry a smaller pints-per-day figure than an older model that looks comparable. For more on the metric, see what the energy factor means.

The DOE minimum standards behind the rating

The Department of Energy page for consumer dehumidifiers explains that manufacturers have been required to comply with DOE energy conservation standards for residential dehumidifiers since 2007. The page lists minimum efficiency levels by capacity range, in liters per kilowatt-hour: up to 35.00 pints per day at 1.35 L/kWh, 35.01 to 45.00 pints per day at 1.50, 45.01 to 54.00 at 1.60, 54.01 to 75.00 at 1.70, and greater than 75.00 at 2.5 L/kWh.

These levels are the minimum every residential model must meet. The Energy Star label is a separate, voluntary tier beyond that minimum. A buyer who wants the label should look for the mark on a listing and confirm it with the maker's page, rather than assume that any DOE-compliant unit carries the mark.

How Energy Star certification differs from DOE compliance

Every residential dehumidifier sold in the United States must meet the DOE minimum standards. Energy Star certification is voluntary: it means a model goes beyond the minimum and meets the program's criteria for its category. The Energy Star page for dehumidifiers states that certified models use 20% less energy than a similarly sized conventional unit.

The Energy Star page also distinguishes two categories: portable room dehumidifiers, which are moved where they are needed, and whole-home dehumidifiers, which are typically installed through a home's air ducts and are often permanent. For a whole-home unit, the page advises that sizing and installation be handled correctly, and a licensed professional is the person to ask about ducted installation. The same page links to an Energy Star product finder, where a buyer can check a specific model.

For a direct comparison of two listings, see Energy Star vs non-Energy Star.

Reading a listing for the Energy Star mark

On a listing, the Energy Star mark may appear in the product image set, in the title, or in the spec list. Some listings name 'Energy Star' as a feature; others do not. The absence of the mark does not tell you whether a unit meets DOE minimums, because every residential unit must meet those minimums.

A listing may print a capacity figure from the older measurement method. The Energy Star testing page explains that starting in early 2020, a model that looks comparable to a previous one may carry a lower capacity rating because of the new measurement conditions. When two listings show different figures, read the maker's page for the conditions the maker states next to the capacity.

• Read on a listing: the Energy Star mark, the stated capacity in pints per day, the stated IEF if the maker prints it, and the drain and pump details.
• Read on a maker's page: certification status, the IEF rating, and the measurement conditions for the stated capacity.
• Check a model at the Energy Star product finder, linked from the Energy Star dehumidifiers page.

What a buying guide can and cannot say about energy use

A buying guide can explain what the Energy Star mark and the IEF mean. It cannot give a running cost, a wattage draw, or a savings amount for a specific model, because this site does not publish measured energy data. The only energy figure in this article is the 20% statement from the Energy Star program itself.

The guides on this site compare units on stated details: capacity, drain, pump, and features. The Energy Star mark is one of those details. To shop with the mark as a filter, start with the Energy Star dehumidifiers guide. For a general shortlist, see the main dehumidifier guide.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does an Energy Star dehumidifier use less energy than one without the mark?

The Energy Star program states that certified models use 20% less energy than a similarly sized conventional unit. The figure is the program's description of the label, not a promise about any single home.

What does IEF stand for on a dehumidifier?

Integrated energy factor, a rating in liters of water removed per kilowatt-hour. A higher IEF means a more efficient unit, in general, per the Energy Star page.

Is every dehumidifier required to be rated with IEF?

Since June 2019, DOE standards for residential dehumidifiers use IEF as the efficiency metric. All new units are rated under the DOE measurement procedure, which measures portable units at 65°F.

Why does a new model show a smaller pints-per-day figure than an older one?

The DOE measurement temperature for portable units changed from 80°F to 65°F to match a basement setting. Cooler air holds less moisture, so a comparable new model may carry a lower stated capacity.

Can the buying guides tell me what a unit costs to run?

No. The guides compare stated details and do not give figures for running cost or energy use. The Energy Star mark is explained as a program label only.