What is covered under these standards?

Above-ground, portable electric spa units are covered by

these standards. The spas are electrically heated and not

permanently installed in the ground or attached to a pool.

They are supplied with heaters, pumps, and jets for heating,

circulation, and filtration.

The standards apply to standard, inflatable, exercise or swim,

and combination spas. There are more than one million spas

in California and tens of thousands are sold each year.

Why update standards for portable

electric spas?

The California Energy Commission adopted the first

efficiency standards and test procedures for portable electric

spas in 2004. Since then, manufacturers have improved

insulation techniques and design, providing an opportunity

to save energy while being cost effective.

Portable electric spas are kept in standby mode year-round,

when not in use, to circulate and filter the water, and to maintain

a set water temperature. Over the lifetime of a standard unit,

the standby mode represents about 75 percent of the energy

consumed. Much of the savings happens during standby mode.

THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION | EFFICIENCY DIVISION

Energy Efficiency Standards for Portable Electric Spas

MARCH 2018

What was adopted?

The standards clarify the subcategories of portable electric

spas, which include standard, exercise, combination, and

inflatable spas.

The standards update standby power performance for

standard, exercise and combination spas. It tightens power

consumption on larger spas while having less of an impact

on smaller spas. For inflatable spas, a separate standby

power performance standard was adopted to encourage the

development of more efficient inflatable spas.

The standards update the test procedure to accommodate

exercise spas and to clarify the method for testing

combination spas.

Portable electric spas will have a new energy labeling

requirement. This will help consumers make informed

choices based on energy use. Each spa will have an easy

to read, uniform label displaying the least efficient spa unit-

cover combination and additional spa covers that can be

sold with the spa.

When would standards start?

June 1, 2019, but dealers will be able to sell all units in their

existing inventory.

Save enough energy to power about

30,000 average California homesfor one year

energy.ca.gov | facebook.com/CAEnergy | twitter.com/calenergy

CALIFORNIAENERGY COMMISSION

Edmund G. Brown Jr. Governor

Robert B. Weisenmiller, Ph.D. Chair

Drew Bohan Executive Director

Commissioners Karen Douglas, J.D. David Hochschild J. Andrew McAllister, Ph.D. Janea A. Scott, J.D.

What will this cost and how much will consumers save?

Standard Spa

(over 10 years) $100Additional Cost

$569Energy Savings

$2,645Energy Savings

Exercise Spa (over 10 years)

$230Additional Cost

$3,047Energy Savings

Combination Spa(over 10 years)

$230Additional Cost

Inflatable Spa

(over 3 years) $100Additional Cost

$657Energy Savings

Standard Spa

The energy savings of a standard spa is nearly $600

over 10 years with an initial cost increase of about $100.

Seventy-nine percent of today’s models already comply

with the standards.

Exercise Spa

The energy savings of an exercise spa is more than $2,500

over 10 years with an initial cost increase of about $230.

Fifty-eight percent of current models already comply with

the standards.

Combination Spa

The energy savings of a combination spa is more than

$3,000 over 10 years with an initial cost increase of about

$230. Forty-four percent of today’s models already comply

with the standards.

Inflatable Spa

The energy savings of an inflatable spa is more than $600

over three years with an initial cost increase of about

$100. No models currently comply. Innovative design and

insulation technology makes compliance technically feasible.