Regional standards for HVAC equipment have been a hot topic of discussion in the industry, and the proposed rule for the standards could be finalized next week. Currently, the Department of Energy (DOE) is making the rule available for public comment until today, Oct. 17. If DOE decides to proceed with the standards without making changes, the rule will go into effect next week, on Oct. 25. This would mean that new minimum efficiency standards based on geographic region would be applied in May 2013 for nonweatherized furnaces, and in January 2015 for weatherized furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps.