The next steps in the lawsuit against the Department of Energy’s (DOE) regional efficiency standards for residential air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces have been announced by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Cause of Action has filed a joint brief in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) following what it says is DOE’s “move to impose unreasonable energy efficiency standards on distributors, installers, and users of residential heating and cooling products in the United States.”

Ah, the United States government. It does not matter how good the idea originally is, they will find a way to confuse and ruin it. The regional standards established by the Department of Energy (DOE) that are set to go into effect May 1, 2013, is one such instance.

In a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE), the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has requested an 18-month extension of the May 1, 2013 effective date for new regional efficiency standards for residential non-weatherized gas furnaces.

In response to the direct final rule establishing regional efficiency standards for residential central a/c, heat pumps, and furnaces, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed rule on new labeling requirements. The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that it has submitted comments on the proposed rule.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), requesting an 18-month extension for residential non-weatherized gas furnaces from the proposed May 1, 2013 implementation date set for the amended federal minimum efficiency standards.

Barring any changes stemming from the pending lawsuit against the Department of Energy (DOE), the new regional efficiency standards for residential furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps are scheduled to become effective May 1, 2013. What does that mean for you?

A 30-day mediation period has passed and the discussions have yet to yield a resolution, leaving the HVACR industry on hold regarding a decision on the pending regional energy-efficiency standards lawsuit.

The American Public Gas Association (APGA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have filed a settlement agreement with the court in the ongoing lawsuit over regional efficiency standards.

A proposed settlement in the regional energy-efficiency standards lawsuit would exempt nonweatherized gas furnaces from the law, thus eliminating a May 1, 2013 requirement that would mandate 90-percent AFUE furnaces in the North, and 80-percent AFUE furnaces in the Southeast and Southwest.