Why did ENERGY STAR stop labeling central air conditioners?

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary label run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For years it covered central air conditioners and heat pumps under one specification. On February 1, 2026, EPA “sunset”, in its word, the part that covered central air conditioners.

What exactly changed?

EPA finalized the decision in a letter to manufacturers dated December 2, 2024, and set out the steps:

Date	Milestone
April 2024	Revised sunset proposal released for comment
December 2, 2024	EPA finalizes the sunset, effective February 1, 2026
July 15, 2025	No new partnership agreements or new certifications for central air conditioners accepted
February 1, 2026	Certified central air conditioners no longer recognized; the ENERGY STAR name and mark may not be used on those manufactured on or after this date

Manufacturers were allowed to use up printed material and packaging already made, to avoid waste. So a box with an ENERGY STAR mark may still turn up on older stock.

Heat pumps were not affected. The ENERGY STAR specification still sets criteria for them, including the Cold Climate designation for cold-climate heat pumps. Furnaces were not sunset either.

Why did EPA do it?

According to the letter, most comments on the proposal supported the sunset. Commenters pointed to the voluntary nature of the program and noted that homeowners can still buy central air conditioners if they meet their needs. Some were concerned that continuing to endorse central air conditioners could hold back decarbonization and heat pump installation goals.

A minority opposed it. They cited continued energy savings from efficient air conditioners and homes with no heating need or that are poor candidates for a heat pump. Others asked for more time because of market readiness, contractor training and the affordability of efficient heat pumps.

EPA’s answer, in December 2024, was that it expected efficient heat pumps to become more affordable through Inflation Reduction Act benefits and utility incentives, and it considered the small increase in price marginal given a heat pump’s added heating capability. One of those benefits has since ended: the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (section 25C) is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under Public Law 119-21.

Does this mean central air conditioners are being phased out?

No. The sunset only removes a voluntary label. Central air conditioners are still sold and installed, and they must still meet the federal efficiency standards that took effect on January 1, 2023. Refrigerant rules are a separate matter, covered in our guide to the R-410A phase-down.

How do I compare air conditioners without the label?

Use the federal ratings, which every central air conditioner carries:

• SEER2 is seasonal cooling efficiency. The federal minimum for split-system air conditioners made from 2023 is 13.4. In the Southeast and Southwest, split systems under 45,000 Btu/h must reach 14.3. For reference, ENERGY STAR’s last criteria for split central air conditioners were SEER2 15.2 or higher.
• EER2 is efficiency at peak load. DOE describes EER as the ratio of cooling capacity to power input at 95 °F (35 °C), when the system is working hardest; EER2 is the same kind of metric measured under the new test. DOE notes it matters most in hot-dry climates.

Commenters on the sunset also pointed to other ways to find efficient models, such as the Consortium for Energy Efficiency performance tiers and the EnergyGuide label.

If you are replacing a central air conditioner and also heat your home, it is worth pricing a heat pump as well: it does the same cooling job and can also heat.