CA AB2581

Authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to consider and recognize voluntary agreements in lieu of appliance efficiency regulations and requires the commission to adopt a process for repealing or suspending enforcement of standards found to be duplicative or inconsistent with federal or state law.

Requires the commission to approve and make publicly available a public domain computer program at least 6 months before efficiency standards become effective, including preliminary testing results to ensure usability by contractors, builders, architects, engineers, and government officials.

Mandates that any labeling requirements allow manufacturers to use electronic labeling and requires the commission to consider the most current data before publishing proposed standards and explain in final statements how that data was considered.

Requires the commission to ensure energy assessment tools for existing single-family and multifamily residential dwellings (up to 4 units) are routinely adjusted for accuracy and that consumers receive notices explaining the assumptions used in assessments and how they may differ from actual usage patterns.