AGA Comments on the EPA Modified Criteria for the ENERGY STAR Program for Gas Furnaces.

In the April 19 BECS Update on End Use Codes and Standards, we reported on the EPA proposal to rescind the elimination of the ENERGY STAR program for natural gas furnaces and proposing new criteria for including them into the ENERGY STAR program. EPA proposed an alternative to the full product specification sunset that included increasing the residential gas furnace requirement to 97 AFUE from the current requirement of 95 AFUE in the northern states and 92 AFUE in the southern states beginning in 2026 thus eliminating the regional distinction for ENERGY STAR furnaces. AGA has concerns with the new criteria and attached are the comments AGA filed yesterday with EPA regarding the proposed revisions to the ENERGY STAR furnace specifications.  Specifically, while EPA changed its proposed sun setting and is no longer seeking to remove gas furnaces from the program, a major concern is its proposal to remove the regional distinction (North/South) which is currently part of the program. Also attached are comments AGA joined with the National Propane Gas Association, the American Public Gas Association, and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors- National Association on the proposal. Additionally, attached are comments of the regional gas associations, which AGA also joined. We will provide the EPA reply on comments submitted when available. 

AGA Sponsors the International Code Councils (ICC) Building Safety Month.

Again, this year, AGA is a Foundation Sponsor of the ICC’s Building Safety Month (BSM) held each May.  Details of the events and programs that will be held during May can be found here: 2024 Building Safety Month – ICC (iccsafe.org) . Below is a brief summary of the purpose of the ICC’s BSM:

About Building Safety Month

“Building Safety Month is an international campaign that takes place in May to raise awareness about building safety. This campaign reinforces the need for the adoption of modern, regularly updated building codes, and helps individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.

The International Code Council, its members, and a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety communities come together with corporations, government agencies, professional associations, and nonprofits to promote building safety through proclamations, informational events, legislative briefings and more. We come together to support Building Safety Month because we understand the need for safe and sustainable structures where we live, work and play.

All communities need building codes to protect their citizens from disasters like fires, weather-related events, and structural collapse. Building codes are society’s best way of protecting homes, offices, schools, manufacturing facilities, stores, and entertainment venues. Code official’s workday in and day out to keep the public safe.”

AGA is proud to support and participate in the ICC’s BSM to further demonstrate our and our members commitment for maintaining and improving safety provisions for the built environment.