ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that it has submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requesting a delay of the compliance date for the regional efficiency standards to be applied to non-weatherized gas furnaces, and also the filing for a stay of the compliance date with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in the still-pending regional efficiency standards lawsuit.

In the letter to the DOE, AHRI states that because the American Public Gas Association (APGA) v. DOE lawsuit is still pending, DOE must delay the compliance date to provide certainty to the HVAC industry regarding the standards. The letter asks for an 18-month extension of the May 1, 2013 compliance date.

The motion for a stay asks the Court of Appeals to order DOE to delay the standards.