ENERGY STAR^® Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS) Testing and Certification Solutions

UL Solutions is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a SHEMS Certification Body, delivering testing and certification aligned to ENERGY STAR^® Smart Home Energy Management Systems requirements. Our team helps verify that your smart appliances and smart home energy management system meets program specifications for residential energy efficiency and user‑centric controls. 

From energy efficiency and safety to EMC/wireless, interoperability, cybersecurity and functional safety, we provide a comprehensive suite of testing and evaluation solutions so you can bring your products to market with confidence. 

Whether you build connected devices or assemble multi‑device packages, UL Solutions supports your path to ENERGY STAR^® SHEMS certification.  

Our breadth across instruments and controls, plus energy efficiency programs, helps align diverse stakeholders around a single certification outcome for smart home energy management systems.

Certified SHEMS packages enable centralized control over lighting, entertainment, appliances, EV charging and solar, while guiding energy‑saving actions using occupancy information. Consumers benefit from a smart home experience designed to reduce energy use without sacrificing convenience. 
Program features include limits on standby power and the ability to set daily kWh budgets for lighting while away, helping transform smart home behavior into measurable residential energy savings. 

As a full‑service ENERGY STAR^® partner, UL Solutions can combine program evaluations with broader energy efficiency testing and then list certified products in a searchable database—supporting visibility and market uptake. You can also use the Energy Efficiency Certification Mark to promote qualified products. 

For component and system manufacturers, upstream certification pathways under Instruments and Controls can accelerate device readiness and reduce time to market for SHEMS packages.

To qualify, a SHEMS package must include an ENERGY STAR^® certified connected thermostat and connected lighting, plus plug load devices and occupancy sensors, under a central service that enables scheduling, remote control and automated actions. 

These minimums indicate that the residential energy management system can coordinate core loads and reduce waste through occupancy‑aware controls and practical automation. 

UL issued its first ENERGY STAR^® SHEMS certification to BGE’s Smart Home Solutions after assessing its Connected Home and Small Business prototype to EPA requirements. The certification validates SHEMS as a practical route for utilities and program administrators to deliver efficiency benefits. 
As part of certification, BGE provided anonymized statistical data from six months of operation in an Annapolis demonstration with about 200 residents and small businesses, supporting evaluation of energy reduction and user outcomes. 
The project highlights how scheduling, remote device control and occupancy‑based automation can reduce standby power and enhance residential energy management at scale. 
It also shows how utility programs can align smart home technologies with grid objectives, including demand response readiness and time‑of‑use strategies.