Carrier Corp. unveiled its newest residential heat pump during the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Conference and Indoor Air Expo - and now can boast the industry’s highest air-source Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) of up to 13. The cooling efficiency of up to 20 SEER is certainly no slouch either, but the HSPF was the real news.

A bill in the Senate aims to update the efficiency standards of appliances and building systems, including furnaces, heat pumps, and central air conditioners. Titled the “Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011,” it divides the nation into three regions with different efficiency standards for each. It also recommends more stringent building codes for new construction.

The HVAC landscape is changing now, as the tax credits have been reduced, the economy is still recovering, and prices on equipment keep increasing. Add in declining home values and higher-than-normal levels of unemployment, and many contractors are facing larger challenges when it comes to selling high-efficiency units.