Regional Efficiency Standards Update

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We are five months away from the January 1, 2015, implementation date for the new efficiency standards which have been discussed in earlier posts on this site and others. Just to review, the regulations require all split AC systems in the southeast and southwest regions to move from the current 13 SEER to the new 14 SEER minimum. Also, all split system heat pumps in all regions will need to move from 13 SEER to 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF. Due to some legal challenges and lack of clarity on how the new regulations will be enforced, understanding what will happen after January 1 is not entirely clear. The following is a list of what we know and a list of some questions that remain at this point.

What we know:

  • All systems produced before the January 1 deadline will have the current SEER rating label (hang tag) and these systems can be sold in all regions (including the southeast and southwest regions) for an 18 month period which ends on July 1, 2016.
  • All systems produced after the January 1 deadline will have a “new” SEER rating label and the current design for this label features a range for the SEER level that can be achieved with various options for indoor coil matches.
  • Until the current rules are changed, systems built after January 1, 2015, that feature the new label and can achieve 14 SEER when matched with an available indoor coil, can be installed in the southeast and southwest regions.  The assumption is that in the southeast and southwest regions, that these systems will be matched with coils to achieve 14 SEER.
  • A working group of industry and government experts (Regional Standards Enforcement Working Group) will meet to discuss how the new regulations will be managed after January 1, 2015, and after July 1, 2016.  This group is expected to provide a recommendation by the end of October 2014.
  • If the recommendation from the working group involves any changes to the current rules (e.g. changes to the rating label design), these changes must be reviewed by the FTC in a rulemaking process and the new rule is not expected to be available until sometime in early 2015.

Some important questions still remain:

  • Will there be changes to the new rating label design, and if there are changes, how quickly will they be implemented and enforced?
  • What will be the means of enforcement of the new standards during the 18-month grace period in 2015 and early 2016, and also after July 1, 2016?
  • Will there be clarification on the legality of building and installing 13 SEER, “dry charged” systems in the southeast and southwest after January 1, 2015?

We will continue to post updates to this site as they become available.  Stay tuned!

Meeting the Comfort and Efficiency Needs of Restaurants

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Anyone who has ever eaten in a hot, humid restaurant would agree – comfort is critical to enjoying any dining experience.  Restaurants face tough air conditioning challenges.  Food preparation areas produce significant humidity from dish washing, cooking and hot beverage service.  Just a few feet away from the kitchen, customers and staff want a comfortable environment.  This imbalance often creates humidity control problems, temperature swings,  and over-cooling by traditional packaged rooftop units that cycle on and off.  To function effectively, the air conditioning system must closely match a range of latent and sensible loads.

Restaurant operators understand that the comfort of the customers and staff is important to creating a desirable environment.  But they also have to keep a close eye on the budget.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, restaurants use about five to seven times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings, such as office buildings and retail stores. High-volume quick-service restaurants  may even use up to 10 times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings.  Next to refrigeration, heating and cooling systems account for the largest portion of a restaurant’s annual energy use.

In restaurants, both a comfortable environment and energy costs matter a great deal.  Restaurant operators cannot afford to waste their operating budget on high energy costs driven by oversized mechanical equipment.  Recent advances in HVAC controls technology and capacity modulation methods are now featured on equipment that can closely match variable loads that are common in restaurants.  These facilities require equipment that can effectively and efficiently cool or heat large spaces when they are filled with people, large spaces with  just a few people, or during food preparation  – a real design challenge.  These modern HVAC systems with capacity modulation can quickly pay for themselves in restaurants simply through the energy savings generated from modulating back in off-peak conditions.  These systems also provide optimum comfort during both peak and non-peak periods.

HVACR compressor manufacturers strive to deliver high levels of efficiency, comfort, and reliability in a market that also demands affordability and compliance with environmental laws. Today, a complicated combination of regulatory requirements and customer preferences is driving manufacturers to achieve unprecedented levels of compressor efficiency without sacrificing reliability and comfort.

Compressor suppliers have responded to this demand by providing innovative products that can help air conditioning original equipment manufacturers improve system efficiency. This is achieved through modulating capacity technologies where the cooling capacity of the system is tied to the load, not an application’s peak requirements. Modulation makes it possible to tailor compressor performance to changes in ambient and varying load conditions, which eliminates big swings in temperature and relative humidity levels throughout a building.

These innovative products address the key needs of facilities where comfort and operating costs are critical to the success of the organization.  Ask your equipment distributor or contractor about new modulating capacity cooling systems for the most comfortable environment and the lowest energy costs.

Understanding Refrigerant Retrofits

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R-22 specified equipment makes up the largest portion of the current U.S. air conditioning residential installed base, and over the past few years the price of R-22 refrigerant has increased to the point where homeowners are starting to look for alternatives. Reasons for this search are typically tied around a system that has a leak, as refrigerant does not “wear out” or lose “potency” over time. Recently, this website has received several inquires about using R-410A to supplement this “loss of charge” situation amongst the R-22 install systems.

Can R-410A charge be added to “top off” an R-22 system?

The short answer “NO.”

To better understand this answer, let’s briefly take a look at each of these refrigerants. R-22, which is a HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon), is currently the most commonly found refrigerant in U.S. AC systems. ARI lists AC condition points as (45°F/130°F) for an R-22 (azeotropic) are listed as 297psig / 76psig. Service technicians use a PT (pressure/temperature) chart to understand these conditions and relate them back to a known pressure/temperature correlation. This means that a technician will use his manifold gauges (typically a “red’ and “blue” gauge set) to find the system pressures at a particular point, while the system is running. This pressure will then be used with the PT Chart to determine the temperature and chemical state of the refrigerant in that portion of the system. R-410A (zeotropic), which is an HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon), is listed under the same ARI condition points of (45°F/130°F) is 477pisg / 130pisg. When comparing the pressures of R-410A to that of R-22, R-410A is almost twice the pressure per the same temperature. Again, a service technician would also use this pressure/temperature correlation to determine the R-410A system conditions and the basis for making any adjustments.

Because each of these refrigerants has a known pressure/temperature point, which is determined using a known chemical manufacturers’ PT chart listing, mixing two different refrigerants with two completely different pressures, would produce a mixture of a new chemical blend without a known pressure/temperature correlation.  In other words, what chart would a technician use to determine system conditions containing a mixture of the two different refrigerants?  Along this same line, there are several other problems like mineral oil (use with R-22) and its lack of miscibility with R-410A refrigerant …but I think you get the point, and hopefully understand the answer a little better.

Variable Speed Air Conditioners – What You Need to Know

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There is no question we live in a world that is becoming increasingly more aware and focused on energy savings and efficiency.  Within the HVAC industry, this can be seen in an increased interest in those technologies that provide improved part-load efficiency to ultimately deliver tangible energy savings.  As a result, the words “variable speed” seem to be the key buzz words and, at times, are very loosely applied.

This article attempts to explain three distinct references of the words “variable speed,” and why it is important to understand the context of this technology application.  Many compressor manufactures have already launched variable speed products (or have plans to do so shortly) and this article should help frame your discussions in the best possible context.

So, what exactly is meant by the words “variable speed?”

It turns out that there may be three very relevant contexts as they apply to HVAC:

  1. The application of variable frequency drives (VFDs) on system return/supply fans
  2. The application of VFDs on fixed capacity compressors
  3. The application of VFDs with dedicated variable speed compressors

Let’s touch on each in greater detail…

  1. The application of variable frequency drives on system return/supply fans

This is likely the most widespread technology application that references the words variable speed.  Many major system manufacturers already apply variable frequency drives as a standard practice to their return or supply fans in order to realize significant energy savings.  Variable speed, in this context, means that OEMs can deliver greater end user benefit through the ability to match fan speed and therefore air volume to the corresponding load on the system.  In fact, many independent retrofit businesses have cropped up in recent years that install VFDs in aftermarket applications based upon the merits of energy savings alone.

  1. The application of VFDs on fixed capacity compressors

Several compressor manufacturers allow the use of VFDs with a standard, fixed capacity compressor even though it wasn’t originally designed for this purpose.  These compressors typically involve an AC induction motor qualified to operate within a narrow 45-65Hz frequency band.  Recently, manufacturers have expanded this range to 35-75Hz that allows for greater turn down and over-speeding capability when used in conjunction with a VFD.  This capability is only qualified for certain compressor models where adequate testing has been done to ensure proper lubrication of the motor and internal components for the highest possible reliability.  Although this approach is not considered to be a pure form of the technology, the words “variable speed” are often used in this context.

  1. The application of VFDs with dedicated variable speed compressors

This can be considered a “true” variable speed technology application.  In this case, compressors are specifically designed with an AC brushless permanent magnet motor (BPM) where the operating speed of the motor depends directly on the frequency applied.  Unlike an induction motor that relies on magnetizing current, most of the current supplied to a BPM is consumed to generate torque and provide smooth uniform rotation even at low speeds.  Each compressor is therefore paired, tuned, and optimized with a VFD, and in many cases, is agency approved as a package.  Compressor protection and diagnostic features are built directly into the drive to ensure maximum reliability.  Another distinguishing feature of true variable speed compressors is a positive displacement oil pump that is designed to provide adequate lubrication across a broad speed range.  This technology application offers the greatest turn down capability for optimal part load efficiency under light load conditions and allows for over-speeding capability particularly useful for heating capacity.

As the need for greater efficiency and energy savings grows, so too will the application of variable speed technologies.  Three very relevant examples exist today where variable speed plays a significant role.  So the next time you hear the buzz words, “variable speed,” be sure to ask one more question to clarify the context.

Floodback and HVAC Compressor Failure

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Understanding Compressor Failures in HVAC Systems

I recently stopped by an old friend’s house, at which his AC unit happened to be down. He was quick to explain that the AC unit would run fine, until about 4-5 minutes into the call for cooling cycle, in which the indoor blower motor would stop. Knowing that I have been working in the HVACR industry the past 25 years, he asked me to troubleshoot the cause of the malfunction.

In my opinion, indoor fan failure is the worst of the failure modes commonly found in HVAC equipment. If left unchecked, indoor fan failure directly relates to a “floodback” scenario which can lead to a compressor failure. In order to understand this failure scenario a little better, let’s take a minute to focus on floodback.

Floodback is simply defined as uncontrolled liquid returning to the compressor while the compressor is operating. Most commonly this liquid is refrigerant that has not boiled off in the evaporator. If the liquid refrigerant entering into the evaporator is not allowed to absorb heat by way of the indoor evaporator coil, it will not receive a change of state to a gas, thus allowing it to return to the compressor as a liquid.

In the case of a scroll compressor, as the liquid enters into the compressor, velocity separation takes place in which the liquid refrigerant is affected by gravity, follows the path of the oil to the bottom of the shell. This liquid refrigerant combines with the oil to produce an oil laden refrigerant mixture. Submersed into oil at the bottom of the shell is the drive shaft oil pickup point. This point is a drilled hole that runs through the center of the entire drive shaft and allows oil, through the use of cross sectioned holes to deliver oil to the bearing surfaces. If this oil laden mixture is allowed to be picked up, (remember refrigerant is heavier than oil) it will be delivered to the bearings. This oil laden mixture containing miscible refrigerant and oil is a poor lubrication mixture and can cause bearing wear to take place.

The air gap between the rotor and stator of the motor is only a few thousandths of an inch, and this can be negatively affected by the wear within the bearings tolerances. If this air gap between the rotor and stator is lost or impacted, the rotor will not rotate correctly causing the motor to essentially become a giant magnet. When this happens, there is a potential for the motor windings to short, causing a motor burn failure.

So what caused the motor to burn? Lightning? Poor wiring? Contactor? Short? Floodback? The answer for this scenario is floodback. But if the technician on the job doesn’t realize that the indoor blower is malfunctioning, which causes the domino effect to fail the motor, would he truly understand the solution? This failure is not only limited to an indoor blower malfunction, but any loss of load on the evaporator coil could cause this, blocked air filter, dirty blower wheel, crushed return duct, or the blower motor run capacitor.

In the case of my friend’s unit, with the unit power off, I felt the indoor blower motor with my hand. The high temperatures of the motor’s casing led me to believe it was tripping on internal overload after 4-5 minutes of run time. I inspected the run capacitor utilized by the blower motor and found it was leaking the dielectric oil from the capacitor casing. Replacing this capacitor solved the problem and prevented the unit from failing from a floodback scenario.

Why You Can’t Always Get What You Want Out Of a New AC System

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Why, in survey after survey, do consumers indicate they would pay a little extra for better comfort or energy savings but still continue to purchase the basic, minimum efficiency and lightly featured systems?  This past year, AC & Heating Connect worked with Triple Pundit (a new-media company for highly conscious business leaders focused on the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit)  to survey their readers on issues related to purchasing patterns of HVAC consumers.   Industry data indicates that 70 percent of consumers consistently purchase minimum efficiency and minimum featured HVAC systems and only 30 percent buy the higher featured and more efficient models. This is all true despite Emerson Climate Technologies’ sponsored research, which indicates that almost 70 percent of homeowners surveyed prefer systems that offer superior energy savings and comfort or created less impact on the environment.

According to a 2013 survey of more than 500 Triple Pundit readers, we found some indications about what might be going on with HVAC consumer buying behavior.  First, we asked if consumers would pay 20-30 percent more for a system that provided certain benefits.

85 percent would pay for better efficiency and reduced energy consumption

68 percent would pay for a lower overall impact on the environment

67 percent would pay for greater monthly energy savings

56 percent would pay for better overall comfort and indoor air quality

6 percent would just buy the lowest cost system no matter what

When asked to rank various HVAC features in order of importance, the respondents indicated the following priorities, in order:

1 – Improved energy efficiency for reduced operating costs

2 – Reliability

3 – Reduction in monthly operating costs

4 – Lowest environmental impact

5 – Improvements in comfort or air quality

6 – Low sound or operating noise

7 – Lowest initial cost to purchase

Again, in line with prior survey findings, the lowest initial consumer cost is ranked lowest by the respondents.

Next, we asked why they thought more people don’t choose to buy higher efficiency systems.

66 percent just don’t want to be uncomfortable (a pretty low threshold)

54 percent are too busy to do the research

45 percent think the terms and technology are too confusing

23 percent have no interest in efficiency or comfort – just want cold air when it is hot

Although the results are not conclusive, we believe these responses give some indication of what’s going on.   Confusion about what features are available in new systems and having the time and energy  to research all the tradeoffs before making an HVAC investment decision are common problems  for both consumers and contractors trying to satisfy their needs.  One of the goals of AC & Heating Connect is to clear up this confusion in an easy to access web site which reduces the time and effort required to make smart, informed decisions and help consumers get what they want and not just what they need to get by.  We are hoping our readers can take a few minutes to consider satisfying their comfort, efficiency or environmental needs before making another, large HVAC investment.

Providing High Efficiency Systems That Customers Will Want to Buy

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The demand for high efficiency central air conditioning systems in the U.S. can be segmented into several categories.

  • One type of efficiency buyer is mostly interested in the financial/economic incentives and these consumers tend to come and go with the vagaries of government and utility based incentives.
  • Another type of efficiency buyer tends to be influenced by either the current or anticipated future impact of energy costs and these consumers tend to come and go with fluctuations in various related and unrelated energy costs (e.g. electricity, oil, gasoline, natural gas, etc.).
  • The third type of efficiency buyer tends to be influenced less by economic concerns and is more influenced by environmental, comfort and technology concerns.  These high efficiency consumers tend to stay in the market irrespective of other factors but only to the point that the prices for high efficiency equipment are not too high.  At very high price points, these consumers typically decide to invest in other products and services to meet their needs.

In summary, we believe the communication of all the benefits of higher efficiency systems is important to maximize their adoption.  Communication should not be limited to only talking about energy savings or economic payback, but should always include the total benefits, such as environmental, technological and comfort considerations.

Copeland Climate Technologies, who sponsors this site, has identified a phenomenon related to what type of air conditioning equipment consumers “say” they would want to buy and what they actually buy as defined by industry statistics.  Basically, Copeland’s research suggests that almost 70 percent of consumers polled indicate they would purchase premium systems based on the factors discussed above (economic payback, energy savings, comfort, etc.) but in reality only about 30 percent actually purchase these systems.  Copeland has continued to research the reasons for this disparity and the initial findings suggest that while there are a number of factors affecting this decision, some of the major influencing elements are:

  1. The timing of the equipment replacement decision which limits the consumer’s ability to make good decisions (e.g. peak season failure), particularly if the homeowner had not planned for the financial investment for replacing the system
  2. The availability of basic information on all the factors which come to bear in their HVAC investment decisions, alternatives available, etc., leading to confusion and anxiety
  3. The effect of the poor state of the general economic recovery, high rates of unemployment and “underemployment” along with gloomy consumer expectations
  4. Skepticism about further investments in their homes due to lower real estate values and their ability to secure financing for home purchases and home improvements

Copeland believes continued consumer education programs focused on the above four areas is essential to a successful campaign to drive increased consumer adoption of higher efficiency central air conditioning systems.

In order to drive higher adoption of high efficiency systems, the industry should provide:

  • Affordable alternatives to basic, minimum efficiency systems
  • A “step change” in cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades that translates into quantifiable future cost savings
  • Equipment that can provide a noticeable improvement in other factors such as comfort and indoor air quality along with effective communications which can explain “comfort” to consumers
  • Some flexibility to zone off certain areas of the home – either manually or automatically without damaging their HVAC equipment
  • Easy installation into existing homes with ducted central AC infrastructure (75percent of segment)
  • Equipment that is sized to fit into the common space allowed for HVAC systems in existing homes
  • The optional ability to tie into peak-load management and other connected system controls where regional requirements require it

As an industry, we should continue to promote the development of superior HVAC systems that truly meet the needs of consumers and then also (and maybe more importantly) develop effective ways to communicate and sell these systems and the benefits they can provide.

New Commercial HVAC Standards Promote Part-Load Efficiency for Split, Package & Rooftop Systems

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Significant changes are coming to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010, which is the energy standard that covers most commercial buildings.  Contractors and facility managers should be aware of the impact of these higher requirements and of the many ways to reduce building energy use and costs.  The 2013 standard will be 40-50 percent more stringent than the 2004 standard.

The energy cost goals for the 2013 standard are:

  • Regulated Loads only – 50 percent reduction
  • Whole building – 40 percent reduction, which includes all energy end uses

The ASHRAE 90.1 standard offers specific recommendations for reducing building energy costs and defines several concepts that equipment manufacturers will work toward.  One of these is IEER, or Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio.  IEER is a measure that expresses cooling part-load EER efficiency for commercial air-conditioning and heat pump equipment on the basis of weighted operation at various load capacities.  IEER essentially replaces the metric Integrated Part Load Value (IPLV) as the part load energy efficiency descriptor for all commercial unitary products rated above 65,000 Btu/h.

In conjunction with the new standard and energy metrics, the Department of Energy joined industry partners in the Better Buildings Alliance to release a design specification for 10-ton capacity commercial air conditioners, also known as rooftop units (RTUs). The specification was a part of the High Performance Rooftop Unit Challenge initiative, to urge U.S. manufacturers to build and deliver innovative, competitively-priced, energy-saving rooftop units that meet the Commercial Building Energy Alliance-driven requirements for high-performance specification.

Units built according to the High Performance Rooftop Unit Specification are expected to reduce energy use by as much as 50 percent compared to the current ASHRAE 90.1 standard, depending on location and facility type. According to the Department of Energy, nearly half of the cooling-conditioned commercial floor space in the U.S. features rooftop units. Businesses nationwide would save roughly $1 billion each year collectively in energy costs if they replaced their 10- to20-ton commercial units with units that meet this specification.

One of the industry leading OEMs 10-ton unit exceeds the parameters of the RTU Challenge, providing an Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio of 20.8 – more than 15 percent more efficient than the required minimum of 18.0 IEER.

For more information on the new ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, visit www.ashrae.com

Understanding Residential Gas Furnace Standards in 2015

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You are probably aware of the new Regional efficiency standards affecting residential air conditioning and gas furnace systems as well as the lawsuit by APGA and HARDI challenging the Direct Final Rule for implementation. The settlement essentially remands the residential gas furnace standard and the Department of Energy (DOE) will likely be asked to start over on the rule making process for residential furnaces. This is a complicated and long process, so the new residential furnace standards are not expected to be announced for at least a few years. Based on this settlement, the residential gas furnace minimum efficiencies will now only be raised to a new national standard of 80 percent AFUE on January 1, 2015, which will be up slightly from the current minimum of 78 percent AFUE.

What about the furnace standard map that showed regions?

The maps you may have seen recently showed two geographic regions for furnace standards. This was part of the Direct Final Rule that was supposed to go into effect on January 1, 2015. The regions were based on the average Heating Degree Days (HDD). In general, all states with more than 5000 HDD are included in the North, but the map does not have much meaning now as it will soon revert back to a national standard. However, it is likely that the next furnace ruling will be regional, like the old map outlined.

What about air conditioners and heat pump standards?

On January 1, 2015, the standards for air conditioners and heat pumps will change. However, there is an 18 month “sell through” period when the rules will not be enforced so that dealers in South and Southwest can deplete inventory of 13 SEER products manufactured before January 1, 2015. You can read our latest update on the lawsuit settlement, “What Does the Regional Standards Lawsuit Settlement Mean for Contractors and Distributors” by clicking the following link.

http://www.ac-heatingconnect.com/what-does-the-regional-standards-lawsuit-settlement-mean-for-contractors-and-distributors/

Even though the final implementation is delayed, contractors should stay informed on the rules for their various regions and on further developments regarding how the new rules will be implemented. The DOE will soon start the process of enforcement rule making, and contractors will likely be affected by the decision. We will share updates here as soon as we learn more.

What Does the Regional Standards Lawsuit Settlement Mean For Contractors and Distributors?

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What happened?

On Tuesday March 11, a settlement motion was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  If the court were to accept the settlement, then what is specified in the joint agreement would determine how the law will be implemented.  A settlement was recently reached, and the following is our understanding based on the information that HARDI has released.

What is specified in the settlement agreement?

  1. On furnaces: The new 90 percent AFUE efficiency standards for non-weatherized furnace standards will be remanded, but the current national 78 percent AFUE minimum will still go to 80 percent in November 2015.  The Department of Energy will introduce a rule-making process to take furnace efficiency up again, but it will be a few years before it’s completed and new standards are implemented.
  2. On air conditioners and heat pumps:  The new regional standard for air conditioners will go into effect on January 1, 2015, as previously specified.  However, distributors in the South and Southwest will have an 18 month “sell through” period to sell any 13 SEER equipment manufactured before January 1, 2015.
  3. For distributors:  The DOE has agreed not to assess civil penalties upon distributors for violations related to the enforcement of regional efficiency standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps.
  4. Other points:  The DOE and The Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) will attempt to use a negotiated rule making process involving all stakeholders to determine an effective enforcement scheme.  In addition, the DOE will evaluate the Direct Final Rule process, which was used to establish the new standards and was the focus of the original lawsuit challenging the standards.

What does this mean for you?

If you are a contractor in the South or Southwest:  You can purchase and install 13 SEER equipment from distributors through the end of June 2016, provided it was manufactured before January 1, 2015.

  • Beginning July 1, 2016, contractors will have to comply with the new 14 SEER minimum.
  • It is likely that contractors will have to match outdoor units with indoor coils to achieve at least 14 SEER.
  • The enforcement methods and penalties are not yet determined.

If you are a distributor in the South or Southwest:  You can continue to purchase and sell 13 SEER equipment as long as it was manufactured before January 1, 2015.

  • Any 13 SEER equipment will have to be depleted before the end of the 18 month grace period, which ends on June 30, 2016.
  • Since 13 SEER equipment can still be installed in the North, it might be possible to ship excess 13 SEER AC inventory to that region for sale.
  • Since the 14 SEER heat pump minimum is a national standard, any 13 SEER heat pump inventory will be unsalable after June 30, 2016.

If you are a contractor or a distributor in the Southwest:  Life will be a little more complicated because in addition to the 14 SEER minimum, you will have to comply with the EER minimums (12.2 EER for smaller units below 45K BTUH and 11.7 EER for those above 45K BTUH).

  • After the grace period, some of the equipment you stock and sell into the Southwest will probably be unique to your region.
  • In addition to depleting any old 13 SEER inventory, you will need to stock up on your unique, higher EER models before the July 1, 2016, implementation date.

If you are a contractor or dealer in the North:  You basically only have to worry about transitioning to the new 14 SEER, 8.2 HSPF heat pumps.

  • You can still purchase and install 13 SEER AC equipment and continue to do so after June 30, 2016.
  • You can continue to sell 13 SEER heat pumps (manufactured before January 1, 2014) through the grace period, which ends on June 30, 2016.

We hope you find this summary helpful as you plan for the transitions happening at the end of 2014, and again after the grace period, which ends on June 30, 2016.  We will keep this site updated with the latest information on the enforcement discussions.  If you have additional information or insight on this topic, we’d love to hear from you.  It’s easy to do – just post a comment in the field below.