On August 24, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a pre-publication notice announcing a public meeting and extension of the comment period for its proposed minimum appliance efficiency standards for residential furnaces, also known as the Furnace Rule. DOE’s notice also announced the availability of an updated data spreadsheet, which DOE uses to support its rulemaking.
The Furnace Rule proposes to set minimum efficiency standards at a condensing-only level for the appliance. While APGA is generally supportive of improved efficiency, we remain concerned that this proposed rule will have negative effects on consumers, primarily because condensing furnaces are not an easy one-for-one swap out with an existing non-condensing furnace. Due to venting incompatibilities, replacing older furnaces under this new rule will require costly retrofits – if even possible – else require fuel switching. Accordingly, APGA continues to oppose this proposed rule.
On July 25,
APGA and other trade associations requested an extension of the Furnace Rule’s comment period. During the DOE’s public webinar discussing the rule on August 3, APGA verbally raised concerns with the inability of stakeholders’ technical experts to duplicate DOE’s analysis values and reiterated our request for an extension of the comment period, as well as requesting a workshop during which DOE could work with stakeholders to discuss concerns with the modeling. Joined by other trade associations,
APGA also submitted a written letter to reiterate this request. The public meeting, extension of the comment period, and release of the updated spreadsheet are all in response to our request, as well as similar asks from other entities.
APGA will continue to weigh in on DOE’s appliance efficiency rulemakings that impact gas-fired appliances, as our members provide the energy needed to fuel these appliances, thus making public gas systems critical stakeholders in these rulemakings. Those interested can register for the public meeting
here, which will be held on September 6 from 1-3 PM ET. Comments in response to the Furnace Rule are now due on October 6.
For questions on this article, please contact Renée Lani of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-0836 or by email at
rlani@apga.org.