The Department of Energy (DOE) and the American Public Gas Association (APGA) recently reached an agreement on the application of new Federal Regional Efficiency Standards, which will go into effect January 1, 2015.

1. What You Should Know About the New HVAC Federal Regulations
2015 will be seeing some big changes
in the HVAC manufacturing and
contracting world. The Department of
Energy (DOE) and the American Public
Gas Association (APGA) recently
reached an agreement on the
application of new Federal Regional
Efficiency Standards, which will go into
effect January 1, 2015. The regulations
will apply to air conditioners and heat
pumps, both split system and
packaged. (Conversely, the regional
furnace efficiency standards are currently being reassessed.) These new standards
can be a bit convoluted, as they affect contractors, distributors, and manufacturers
in separate ways, depending on their geographic area and equipment type. For
those affected by these new regulations and those consumers who are interested
in environmental conservation and energy efficiency, here are a few highlights
from the new HVAC federal regulations.
The main objective of the Regional Efficiency Standards is to make sure that more
efficient HVAC systems are installed across the country, thereby making the U.S.
less dependent on fossil fuel and other energy sources. Under this five-part
agreement, the U.S. is divided into three regions: the North, the South (AL, AR,
DE, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, DC), and the Southwest
(CA, NV, AZ, NM).
For the very first time, each region has its own unique minimum federal efficiency
standards for air conditioners, and there is a new national standard for heat
pumps.
According to the Department of Energy document outlining the new regulations,
“Federal Regional Standards for cooling equipment will go into effect as planned on
January 1, 2015. All air conditioners (A/C) and heat pumps (H/P) (split system and
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2. packaged) manufactured after December 31, 2014 must comply with these
Federal Regional Standards.
The Federal Regional Standards for air conditioners sold in the south and the
southwest are based on the date of installation; however, the industry will have an
18 month sell-through or grace period (starting on 1-1-2015). Original equipment
manufacturers, distributors and dealers will be allowed to buy, sell, ship and/or
install non-compliant products (13 SEER) during this period as long as they are
manufactured prior to January 1, 2015.
Split system and packaged heat pumps are not subject to the 18 month sell-through
or grace period, as the standard applied is based on the date of
manufacture. Split system and packaged heat pumps manufactured before
January 1, 2015 can be sold after January 1, 2015 for as long as inventory exists.”
For more information, visit the Department of Energy’s page on Residential Central
Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps.
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