Residential Furnaces
The Department of Energy (DOE) has regulated the energy efficiency level of residential furnaces since 1987. Residential furnaces include gas, electric, and oil-fired furnaces that are used to provide central heating to residential dwellings. Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts.
The standards for residential furnaces implemented in 1992 will save approximately 2.6 quads of energy and result in approximately $30.1 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 1992-2021. The standard will avoid about 137 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 26.9 million automobiles.
Recent Updates | Standards | Test Procedures | Waiver, Exception, and Exemption Information | Statutory Authority | Historical Information | Contact Information
DOE has published a Federal Register notice of final rule pertaining to test procedures for residential furnaces and boilers. 81 FR 2628 (January 15, 2016). For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage.
DOE has published a Federal Register notice reopening the comment period regarding the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) concerning residential furnaces. 80 FR 64370 (October 23, 2015). The comment period was reopened until November 6, 2015. For more information, please see the rulemkaing webpage.
Standards for Residential Furnaces
The following content summarizes the energy conservation standards for residential furnaces. 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 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). 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 than the following for non-weatherized gas-fired furnaces manufactured before November 19, 2015; non-weatherized oil-fired furnaces manufactured before May 1, 2013; and weatherized furnaces manufactured before January 1, 2015:
Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces
| 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 furnaces shall not be less than the following starting on the compliance date shown in the table:
Table 2. Energy Conservation Standards for Non-Weatherized Furnaces and Weatherized Gas and Oil-Fired Furnaces
|
Furnace Product Class
|
AFUE1 (percent)
|
Compliance Date
|
|
(A) Non-weatherized gas furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces)
|
80
|
November 19, 2015
|
|
(B) Mobile Home gas furnaces
|
80
|
November 19, 2015
|
|
(C) Non-weatherized oil-fired furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces)
|
83
|
May 1, 2013
|
|
(D) Mobile home oil-fired furnaces
|
75
|
September 1, 1990
|
|
(E) Weatherized gas furnaces
|
81
|
January 1, 2015
|
|
(F) Weatherized oil-fired furnaces
|
78
|
Janurary 1, 1992
|
|
(G) Electric furnaces
|
78
|
Janurary 1, 1992
|
1 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, as determined in section 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2).
Furnaces manufactured on or after May 1, 2013, shall have an electrical standby mode power consumption (PW,SB) and electrical off mode power consumptions (PW,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, PW,SB (watts) | Maximum off mode electrical power consumption, PW,OFF (watts) |
(A) Non-weatherized oil-fired furnaces (not including mobile home furnaces) | 11 | 11 |
(B) Electric furnaces | 10 | 10 |
- Final Rule Technical Amendment, Federal Register, 79 FR 43927 (July 29, 2014)
- 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:
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
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. 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, Pre-publication, (December 29, 2015)
- Final Rule Technical Correction: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 78 FR 53625 (August 30, 2013)
- Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 78 FR 41265 (July 10, 2013)
- Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-TP-0008 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
Test procedure waivers have not been issued for residential furnaces.
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.
The current energy conservation standards for residential furnaces 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)).
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. 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. 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 to include standby and off mode energy use.
Previous Test Procedures
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 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.
For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:
residential_furnaces_and_boilers@ee.doe.gov
