Department of Energy Seeks to Revise Energy Standards Process for HVAC Equipment
Why It Matters
- Revising the Department of Energy's rulemaking process may influence how future energy conservation standards for air conditioning and other HVAC equipment are developed.
- If future regulations become less restrictive, contractors may have access to a broader range of HVAC products and efficiency options to meet varying customer needs.
- Contractors, distributors, and manufacturers should monitor the rulemaking process to understand how future federal efficiency requirements could affect product selection and business planning.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would revise the agency's Process Rule 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 is intended to revise the agency's approach to developing energy conservation standards for products such as air conditioning units, gas stoves, water heaters, refrigerators, washers, and dryers.
The proposed rule would revise how the DOE develops future energy conservation standards rather than immediately changing existing efficiency requirements. According to the document, the DOE would reinstate several provisions from its 2020 Process Rule, including making portions of the Process Rule binding on the agency, defining what qualifies as "significant energy savings," restoring a comparative "walk-up" analysis for evaluating efficiency levels, establishing certain economic thresholds, and requiring clearer evidence that new standards are technologically feasible and economically justified. The proposal would also place greater emphasis on consumer costs, manufacturer impacts, market competition, and stakeholder input before new or revised standards are adopted.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the proposed rule is intended to preserve consumer choice while reducing costs associated with federal appliance regulations. Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Audrey Robertson said the proposal is designed to promote affordability, transparency, and due diligence in future regulatory actions.
The Department of Energy will accept public comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.
In addition to the proposed rule, the DOE issued a Request for Information seeking public input on the methodologies used to develop energy conservation standards for covered appliances and equipment. Comments on the Request for Information will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.