“1975 Called:" AHRI Takes EPCA Reform Message to Capitol Hill With Ice Cream Truck Campaign

WASHINGTON — More than 600 House and Senate members and staff visited The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)'s EPCA Modernization Ice Cream Truck on Capitol Hill last month to raise awareness of the importance of updating the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).

AHRI has made EPCA modernization one of its top federal legislative priorities, arguing that the law governing appliance and equipment energy-efficiency standards has not kept pace with today’s technologies, manufacturing practices, or consumer needs. Originally enacted in 1975 in response to the energy crises of the 1970s, EPCA established the framework for federal energy conservation standards and granted the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) authority to regulate the efficiency of a wide range of residential and commercial products, including HVACR and water-heating equipment. According to AHRI, the statute has remained largely unchanged for decades despite significant advances in equipment performance, controls, refrigerants, and manufacturing processes.

"EPCA, a law that was passed more than 50 years ago, is long overdue for an update that will help our federal appliance standards program conform to the modern HVACR and water heating market," says Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of AHRI. "Ensuring regulatory predictability, extending the time between regulations, and modernizing compliance protocols will enable U.S. industry not only to better plan for future regulations, but also provide the breathing room necessary to innovate the next generation of energy-efficient equipment Americans have come to expect."

Through its Act on EPCA campaign, AHRI is urging Congress to update the nearly 50-year-old law to better reflect modern market realities while preserving the benefits of a national energy-efficiency framework. AHRI maintains that modernizing EPCA would provide manufacturers with greater regulatory certainty and flexibility, allowing them to invest in U.S. facilities, accelerate product development, and support domestic manufacturing jobs.

A key focus of AHRI’s lobbying effort is strengthening federal preemption provisions to avoid a patchwork of state and local regulations that could create compliance challenges for manufacturers and contractors. The organization contends that a consistent national standard helps reduce costs, streamline product development, and ensure consumers across the country have access to affordable heating, cooling, refrigeration, and water-heating technologies. AHRI has also called for reforms that would improve regulatory predictability, including maintaining anti-backsliding provisions, establishing longer review cycles for efficiency standards, and ensuring that future regulations are technologically feasible and economically justified.

The association’s advocacy campaign comes as lawmakers and industry groups increasingly debate the future of appliance efficiency regulations. AHRI has joined a broader coalition of manufacturing organizations that argue EPCA should be updated to account for decades of technological progress and evolving consumer expectations.

The HVACR industry alone supports more than 700,000 U.S. jobs and generates more than $200 billion in annual economic activity, giving the outcome of EPCA reform significant implications for manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and consumers alike. AHRI leaders say the goal is not to weaken efficiency standards, but to create a more transparent and predictable framework that balances energy savings, affordability, innovation, and consumer choice.

Recent congressional discussions and proposed legislation have elevated the issue in Washington, with AHRI members meeting lawmakers and pressing for what they describe as “commonsense” reforms. The group believes modernizing EPCA can help prevent stranded inventory, improve compliance processes, encourage investment in next-generation technologies, and provide a clearer path for future efficiency standards. As Congress considers potential updates, AHRI is positioning EPCA reform as a critical issue for the HVACR industry’s long-term competitiveness, affordability, and ability to meet evolving customer demands.

To learn more about AHRI’s policy priorities on EPCA modernization, visit ActOnEPCA.org.