Residential Furnaces and Boilers

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The Department of Energy (DOE) has regulated the energy efficiency level of residential furnaces and boilers since 1987. Residential furnaces and boilers include gas, electric, and oil-fired furnaces and boilers that are used to provide central heating to residential dwellings. Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts. Boilers heat water, providing either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can either be distributed via baseboard radiators, radiant floor systems, or can heat air via a coil.

The standards for residential furnaces and boilers implemented in 1992 will save approximately 3.9 quads of energy and result in approximately $46.2 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 1992-2021. The standard will avoid about 206 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 40.4 million automobiles.

Standards mandatory in 2012 for residential boilers will save approximately 0.5 quads of energy and result in approximately $6.5 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2012-2036. The standard will avoid about 28.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 5.6 million automobiles.

Standards mandatory in 2013 for residential furnaces will save approximately 2.4 quads of energy and result in approximately $46.4 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2013-2042. The standard will avoid about 126 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 24.7 million automobiles.

Standards mandatory in 2015 for residential boilers will save approximately 0.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $5 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044. The standard will avoid about 17.7 million metric

Recent Updates

DOE published a notice of public meeting and availability of the framework document regarding energy conservation standards for residential boilers. 78 FR 9631 (February 11, 2013). For more information, please see the rulemaking page.

DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding test procedures for two-stage modulating condensing furnaces and boilers. 78 FR 7681 (February 4, 2013). For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage

DOE published a request for information for test procedures for residential furnaces and boilers. 78 FR 675 (January 4, 2013). For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage

Standards for Residential Furnaces and Boilers

The following content summarizes the energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and boilers. The text is not an official reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations and should not be used for legal research or citation.

Current Standard

Residential furnaces and boilers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291 (16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32(e)(1)(i) and (e)(2)(i). This information is also available in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of residential furnaces shall not be less that the following for non-weatherized furnaces manufactured before May 1, 2013, and weatherized furnaces manufactured before January 1, 2015:

Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces
Furnace Product Class	AFUE¹ (percent)
(A) Furnaces (excluding classes noted below)	78
(B) Mobile home furnaces	75
(C) Small furnaces (other than those designed solely for installation in mobile homes) having an input rate less than 45,000 Btu/h Weatherized (outdoor) Non-weatherized (indoor)	78 78

¹ Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, as determined in section 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2).

The AFUE of residential non-weatherized furnaces manufactured on or after May 1, 2013, and weatherized gas and oil-fired furnaces manufactured on or after January 1, 2015 shall be not less than the following:

Table 2. Energy Conservation Standards for Non-Weatherized Furnaces and Weatherized Gas and Oil-Fired Furnaces
Furnace Product Class	AFUE¹ (percent)
(A) Non-weatherized gas furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces)	80
(B) Mobile Home gas furnaces	80
(C) Non-weatherized oil-fired furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces)	83
(D) Mobile Home oil-fired furnaces	75
(E) Weatherized gas furnaces	81
(F) Weatherized oil-fired furnaces	78
(G) Electric furnaces	78

¹ Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, as determined in section 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2).

Products in product classes (A) and (B) that are manufactured on or after May 1, 2013, and installed in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, shall have an AFUE not less than 90 percent.

Furnaces manufactured on or after May 1, 2013, shall have an electrical standby mode power consumption (P_W,SB) and electrical off mode power consumption (P_W,OFF) not more than the following:

Table 3. Electrical Standby Mode Power Consumption and Electrical Off Mode Power Consumption for Furnaces
Furnace Product Class	Maximum standby mode electrical power consumption, P_W,SB (watts)	Maximum off mode electrical power consumption,P_W,OFF (watts)
(A) Non-weatherized gas furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces)	10	10
(B) Non-weatherized oil-fired furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces)	11	11
(C) Electric furnaces	10	10

Notice of Effective Date and Compliance Dates for Direct Final Rule, Federal Register, 76 FR 67037 (Oct. 31, 2011)
Correction to the Final Rule: Standards, Federal Register, 76 FR 39245 (July 6, 2011)
Final Rule: Standards, Federal Register, 76 FR 37408 (June 27, 2011)
Technical Support Document
Docket No. EERE–2011–BT–STD–0011 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

After a regulatory action has been completed, Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to identify the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and to identify those changes made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA. The document below provides more information:

Direct Final Rule submitted to OMB on March 4, 2011 COMPARE with notice concluded on June 3, 2011

The AFUE of residential boilers manufactured before September 1, 2012 shall not be less than the following:

Table 4. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Boilers Before September 1, 2012
Boiler Product Class	AFUE¹ (percent)
(A) Boilers (excluding gas steam)	80
(B) Gas steam boilers	75

¹ Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, as determined in section 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2). (NOTE: The CFR refers to 10 CFR 430.22(n)(3), which is a misprint. The correct section is 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2) as listed above.)

For boilers, the AFUE of residential boilers manufactured on or after September 1, 2012, shall not be less than the following and must comply with the design requirements as follows:

Table 5. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Boilers On or After September 1, 2012
Boiler Product Class	AFUE¹ (percent)	Design Requirements
(A) Gas-fired hot water boiler	82	Constant burning pilot not permitted. Automatic means for adjusting water temperature required (except for boilers equipped with tankless domestic water heating coils).
(B) Gas-fired steam boiler	80	Constant burning pilot not permitted.
(C) Oil-fired hot water boiler	84	Automatic means for adjusting temperature required (except for boilers equipped with tankless domestic water heating coils).
(D) Oil-fired steam boiler	82	None
(E) Electric hot water boiler	None	Automatic means for adjusting temperature required (except for boilers equipped with tankless domestic water heating coils

A boiler that is manufactured to operate without any need for electricity or any electric connection, electric gauges, electric pumps, electric wires, or electric devices is not required to meet the AFUE or design requirements applicable to the boiler requirements of Table 5, but must meet the requirements of Table 4, as applicable.

Technical Amendment to the Final Rule: Standards for Boilers, Federal Register, 73 FR 43611 (July 28, 2008)
Technical Support Document
Docket No. EERE-2006-STD-0102 contains the final rule with technical amendments to the standard as mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007). The technical support document is in the Docket No. EERE-2009-BT-STD-0010 for the April 2, 2009 final rule implementing EISA in general.

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

Test Procedure for Residential Furnaces and Boilers

Current Test Procedure

To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 430.23(n) for residential furnaces and boilers. The methods to conduct the test procedure are further specified in 10 CFR 430 Appendix N to Subpart B. These are also in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 75 FR 64621 (Oct. 20, 2010)
Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-TP-0020 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

Waivers, Exceptions, and Exemptions

Waivers

Test procedure waivers have not been issued for residential furnaces and boilers.

For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27

Exceptions

DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for residential furnaces and boilers.

For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.

State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption

DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the Federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.

Small Business Exemptions

Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.

Statutory Authority

The current energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and boilers are mandated by Part A, the "Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles" of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5),/a>) These appliances are covered products under Part A. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5)).

Historical Information

The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 amended EPCA by establishing energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and boilers and requiring DOE to consider amending standards in two subsequent rulemakings. In 2007, DOE published a final rule that amended standards for residential furnaces and boilers. Following the publication of the 2007 final rule, Congress enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, which amended the energy conservation standards for boilers. DOE codified the EISA 2007 energy conservation standards for boilers in a 2009 final rule technical amendment. In 2011, DOE published a direct final rule that amended standards for residential furnaces.

In 1997, DOE published a final rule that amended the original test procedure for furnaces and boilers. The rule amended the test procedure to incorporate provisions contained in test procedure waivers granted to different manufacturers from 1985 to 1996 and to include test procedures for new product designs.

In 2010, DOE published a final rule that amended the original test procedure for residential furnaces and boilers to include standby and off mode energy use.

Previous Test Procedures

Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 62 FR 26140 (May 12, 1997)

Helpful Links and Contact Information

Helpful Links

Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.

DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR^® products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified boilers use about 6% less energy than a standard boiler, while qualified oil furnaces are up to 4% more energy efficient than baseline models and can save an average of $66 in energy costs per year.

Contact information

For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:

residential_furnaces_and_boilers@ee.doe.gov