In May 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. In its second year, the competition featured teams from 245 buildings across the United States.

Production and importation of HCFC refrigerants including R-22 have been on hold since the first of the year while the industry waits for an official go-ahead from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

How much HCFC-22 will be available to contractors in 2012 is an unanswered question as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers a faster phaseout of HCFCs. The EPA began the year by issuing a proposal called Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Adjustments to the Allowance System for Controlling HCFC Production, Import, and Export.

HCFC-22 may not have been historically a refrigeration refrigerant, but it sure has been high on the minds of those wholesalers who deal with a lot of refrigeration products.

This year will bring plenty of changes to the Energy Star program, including implementation of Version 3 of its New Homes program. Most of the new guidelines became mandatory on Jan. 1. The rest kick in after July 1.

HVAC contractors are embracing Energy Star for New Homes Version 3, with many noting that even though they must now become certified to participate in the program its stricter guidelines improve quality, reduce callbacks, and raise the bar for the industry.

Canada reintroduced its Energy Star® specifications for gas-fired forced air furnaces, Feb. 1. Only models that have been third-party certified as meeting Version 3.0 or Version 4.0 requirements will appear on the Energy Star qualified product list.

Now that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has greenlighted the use of a number of hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants in certain refrigeration applications, many in the industry have questions about these refrigerants and their potential uses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that nearly half of the organizations recognized as Energy Star Leaders have improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Panasonic Home & Environment Co. the 2012 Energy Star® Sustained Excellence award in recognition of its continued leadership in manufacturing innovative and energy-efficient ventilation fans.