ATTENTION: This site is no longer being maintained. Please find the latest Appliance Standards information at the following site: https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/standards-and-test-procedures

Important Note: The content on this page is archived and is no longer actively maintained.
Please visit the new product standard page for the latest information.

Rulemaking for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Energy Conservation Standard

Sign up for e-mail updates on regulations for this and other products

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for residential central air conditioner and heat pump products. According to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act’s 6-year review requirement (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)), DOE must publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to propose new standards for residential central air conditioner and heat pump products or a notice of determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended by June 6, 2017. DOE will determine whether amended standards for residential central air conditioner and heat pump products would result in a significant amount of additional energy savings and whether those standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified in this rulemaking.

Recent Updates

DOE will host an open public webinar pertaining to the central air conditioners and heat pumps working group. The webinar will focus on approval of a final term sheet based on the decisions and voting of the working group through the January 12, 2016 meeting. (January 14, 2016).

Public Meeting Information

DOE will host an open public webinar pertaining to the Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group.

• January 19, 2016; 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST

To register and receive call-in information click here.

Submitting Public Comments

DOE will accept comments, data, and other information regarding this NODA and its related analyses no later than December 31, 2015.

Interested person may submit comments and an application for membership (including a cover letter and resume), identified by docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048 any of the following methods:

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

2. E-mail: ASRAC@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048 in the subject line of the message.

3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.

4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.

No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted.

Milestones and Documents

The Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Energy Conservation Standard rulemaking docket EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents. For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

Request for Information Notice of Intent Notice of Data Availability Notice of Public Meeting	Request for Information, 79 FR 65603 (November 5, 2014). Comment Deadline: Closed Notice of Intent, 80 FR 40938, Federal Register (July 14, 2015). Notice of Data Availability, pre-publication, Federal Register, (August 21, 2015) Technical Support Document Life Cycle Cost Analysis National Impact Analysis Government Regulatory Impact Analysis Notice of Public Meeting, Federal Register, 80 FR 81785, (December 31, 2015)

Related Rulemakings

DOE is currently conducting a negotiated rulemaking for the enforcement of regional standards for air conditioners. For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage.

DOE is currently conducting a rulemaking on the test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps. For more information, please see the rulemaking webpage.

Statutory Authority

Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA or the Act), Pub. L. 94-163, (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309, as codified) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency and established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles, a program covering major household appliances (collectively referred to as “covered products”), including residential central air conditioners and heat pumps that are the subject of this rulemaking. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(3))

Contact Information

For more information related to this rulemaking, please email:

central_air_conditioners_and_heat_pumps@ee.doe.gov