Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may be capable of operating according to a first transmission efficiency operating mode and a second transmission efficiency operating mode that is less power efficient than the first transmission efficiency operating mode. The first transmission efficiency operating mode may be associated with a first undesired emission level that is greater than a second undesired emission level associated with the second transmission efficiency operating mode. The UE may select to operate in one of the two transmission efficiency operating modes based on one or more communication parameters (e.g., indicated by control signaling received from a base station). For example, the UE may select to operate in the first transmission efficiency operating mode based on determining that one or more of the communication parameters satisfies at least one parameter criterion for operating in the first transmission efficiency operating mode.