DOE Reconsiders Efficiency Standard

The U.S. Department of Energy has reconsidered its decision to propose a 30-percent increase in the minimum energy-efficiency standard for air conditioners and heat pumps, opting instead for a 20-percent efficiency increase.

“The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) supports a 20-percent increase in the national standard,” said ARI President Clifford H. “Ted” Rees, Jr. “We are concerned that the 30-percent increase proposed earlier would be counterproductive and slow the movement to higher efficiency equipment because of higher costs.” (See “ARI Sees Flaws in DOE’s Energy-Efficiency Plan,” in April 2001 issue of C-SE ).

DOE’s new proposal would raise the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) from 10 to 12 for central air conditioners and heat-pump units by 2006.

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