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DOE Finalizes Consumer Water Heaters Rule

By Sydney Novoa posted 16 days ago

  
On April 30, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized the energy conservation standards for consumer water heaters. Notably, DOE chose to not set standards for instantaneous gas water heaters. APGA is still reviewing the rule. However, this delay in acting on this type of water heater, sometimes referred to as tankless, seems like a positive turn of events.
 
APGA previously engaged in September 2023, by jointly submitting comments in response to DOE’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer water heaters. In those comments, we asked DOE to take more time to evaluate the standards for instantaneous water heaters. Also, on February 23, 2024, APGA staff met with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to discuss the consumer water heater appliance efficiency rulemaking and urge delay in setting standards given the efficiency of tankless water heaters and the consumer demand for this type of water heater. DOE seems to have done what we asked by taking more time.
 
APGA will continue to work on this issue and will inform members of any future actions by DOE.
 
For questions on this article, please contact Sydney Novoa of APGA by phone at 202-464-0834 or email at snovoa@apga.org.

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