DOE Federal Register Notice on the Availability of Preliminary Technical Support Document, Request for Comment and Webinar Pertaining to Standards for Weatherized Gas Furnaces.

Following up on last week’s report,  on Tuesday, DOE issued a Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of the preliminary analysis it has conducted for purposes of evaluating the need for amended energy conservation standards for oil-fired furnaces (NWOFs), mobile home oil-fired furnaces (MHOFs), weatherized gas furnaces (WGFs), weatherized oil-fired furnaces (WOFs), and electric furnaces (EFs). Of particular interest to the gas industry are weatherized gas furnaces (WGFs). The analysis is provided in a preliminary technical support document (TSD) for this rulemaking. DOE will hold a public meeting on December 19, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 ET via webinar to discuss and receive comment on the preliminary analysis. The meeting will cover the analytical framework, models, and tools used to evaluate potential standards; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE; the potential standard levels derived from these analyses (if DOE determines that proposed amendments are necessary); and other relevant issues. Click here to register for the webinar.  In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects.  DOE will accept comments and information regarding this notice by January 30, 2023.  Comments can be  submitted to docket number EERE-2021-BT-STD-0031, by email [email protected])  and the  Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov). You can Click here to view the TSD.  Find product information for Consumer Furnaces including current standards and test procedures, statutory authority, waivers, exceptions and contact information. AGA BECS staff continues to review the TSD and request that BECS Committee members also do the same and identify any issues with the technical support document as it impacts natural gas weatherized furnaces.