DOE Says 'No Sale' to PHCC Sell-through Request; Denies New Furnace Rating Methodology

WASHINGTON, DC - September 2021 - For the time being, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has denied a request by Plumbing - Heating - Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) and other industry stakeholders to allow a nine-month sell-through period for air conditioning equipment when new standards take effect in January 2023, reported Chuck White, vice president of PHCC Regulatory Affairs, in a PHCC regulatory report.

At issue is equipment that will be compliant with the regional standards approach to air conditioners, specifically equipment in the south and southwest regions. As written, equipment that is not compliant with the new January 1, 2023, standard efficiency level must be physically installed by the date of implementation (January 1, 2023). The industry cited its efforts to overcome supply chain issues that have occurred as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. DOE does not agree with the industry assessment but is willing to consider any future submitted specifically quantifiable data supporting the disruption should it persist and continue towards the date of implementation. Contractors and suppliers in those parts of the country should be aware of this possibility as the year 2022 progresses and prepare for January 1, 2023, implementation date.         

IN RELATED NEWS, Chuck White reported that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has also denied a petition from the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) seeking to establish a new rating methodology for residential gas furnaces. PHCC and other industry groups were co-proponents of this proposal.

The intent was to include the combustion related efficiency, fan efficiency, and standby/off power consumption ratings into one listing. As currently enforced, the three component ratings happen on different calendar schedules which force manufacturers into more frequent product revisions. DOE voiced significant concern that this approach would allow some components to come out of compliance with targeted energy savings, White reported.