Energy efficiency policy
Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS)
Definition
A minimum energy performance standard is a regulatory requirement that sets the maximum amount of energy a product — such as a refrigerator, air conditioner, lamp or motor — may consume in order to be sold. MEPS eliminate the least efficient products from the market and are among the most widely used and cost-effective energy efficiency policies worldwide.
References
definition, policy role, net-zero alignment benchmarks
application to appliances and buildings
Overview
What it means
MEPS are usually paired with energy labels that steer consumers toward better-than-minimum models, and are tightened in stages (Japan's Top Runner approach sets future standards from today's best performers). Standards can be technology-neutral to avoid locking in legacy technologies.
How it is used
Governments adopt MEPS for appliances, lighting, buildings and vehicles; the IEA and U4E publish model regulation guidelines that align national standards with net-zero pathways.
Why it matters
MEPS deliver large, durable energy and emissions savings at low cost to consumers, and raising their ambition is a core IEA recommendation for meeting net zero by 2050. **Note:** In-batch merge: 1734 "MEPS" → this entry.