The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Proposes Backing Off Sunsetting Residential Fuel Fired Furnaces from its Energy Star Program – Request Comments by December 19, 2024.

As reported in the May 19, 2023 Update on End Use Codes and Standards, the EPA announced that “Consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) focus on the potential for electric heat pumps to deliver energy-efficiency gains, pollution reduction and cost-savings to consumers, the ENERGY STAR program is proposing to sunset the certification pathway to the ENERGY STAR label for residential furnaces and central air conditioners (CACs). This will allow EPA to evolve the ENERGY STAR portfolio of product specifications toward identifying the most efficient electric equipment now available to consumers.”  Specifically, EPA  proposed to sunset the ENERGY STAR Version 4.1 Specification for Furnaces effective December 30, 2024, with no new certifications accepted after December 30, 2023.  On June 22,.2023, AGA filed comments objecting to the EPA proposed elimination of the ENERGY STAR program for residential fuel fired furnaces.  Also on June 22, 2023, AGA joined six other organizations, including the National Propane Gas Association, the American Public Gas Association, the National Energy & Fuels Institute, the Energy Marketers of America, the Oilheat Manufacturers Association, and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors – National Association on joint comments (attached) also strongly objecting to the EPA’s proposal to sunset the ENERGY STAR certification for residential fuel fired furnaces.

Yesterday, the EPA distributed the attached Final Draft of the Version 5.0 ENERGY STAR Furnace Specification that maintains the Energy Star program for residential fuel fired furnaces but modified the criteria for compliance. Specifically, the revised performance requirements for gas furnaces are 97 AFUE for the North (currently 95 AFUE)  and 95 AFUE (currently 92 AFUE) for the South. EPA is proposing that the effective date for the revised compliance requirements is July 31, 2026.  AGA is pleased that the EPA has withdrawn its proposed elimination of Energy Star for residential fuel fired furnaces and maintaining a separate requirement for the Northern and Southern climates. We are, however continuing to review the revised criteria and request the BECS committee do the same and provide us with your comments as soon as possible noting that comments to EPA are due no later than December 19, 2024, to [email protected] . Finally, we would like to thank the BECS Committee members who filed comments in support of keeping the Energy Star program for residential fuel fired furnaces whose filed comments were instrumental in getting the EPA to at this point, back away from eliminating the recognition all together.  

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.