US DOE Proposes Changes to Energy Standards Process for HVAC Equipment

US DOE Proposes Changes to Energy Standards Process for HVAC Equipment

US: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise the process used to establish federal energy conservation standards for household appliances and equipment, including air conditioning systems. According to the DOE, the proposal aligns with President Donald Trump's Executive Order, Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation, and would modify the process used to develop future energy conservation standards rather than change existing efficiency requirements. Proposed revisions include reinstating several provisions from the 2020 Process Rule, defining "significant energy savings", restoring comparative efficiency analyses, establishing economic thresholds, and requiring additional evidence that new standards are technologically feasible and economically justified.

The proposal also places greater emphasis on consumer costs, manufacturer impacts, market competition and stakeholder input when developing future standards. The DOE will accept public comments on the proposed rule for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and has also issued a Request for Information seeking feedback on the methodologies used to develop energy conservation standards, with comments accepted for 60 days following publication.

Source: Contracting Business