After much debate, new regional standards for HVAC equipment have become a reality. On Oct. 25, the Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed that it adopted new residential appliance standards for central air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team (STT) announced an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) third public review period for a new standard, “Existing Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement.”

Following its analysis that ASHRAE’s 2010 energy efficiency standard contains significant energy savings over the 2007 standard, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a ruling that establishes the 2010 standard as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is making contractors aware that tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at 9 a.m. EST, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will jointly host a public meeting on the enforcement of regional standards for HVAC equipment. Those who cannot travel to D.C. can participate remotely via webinar.

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) has announced plans to develop an American National Standards Institute third-party accredited standard for the construction of vertical boreholes used in closed-loop ground source heat pump systems.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® has announced the formation of a new committee to advance the standardization of the Modular Communications Interface (MCI) specification. CEA said the new standard will benefit manufacturers, utilities, service providers, and consumers as it creates a path to smart grid ready products.

Honeywell International recently announced an agreement with the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) to implement China’s first smart grid demand response project.

The Department of Energy (DOE) adopted new energy conservation standards for commercial ice-cream freezers; self-contained commercial refrigerators, commercial freezers, and commercial refrigerator-freezers without doors; and remote condensing commercial refrigerators, commercial freezers, and commercial refrigerator-freezers.

Although the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its final rule establishing regional standards for air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces last October, the fight is not over yet. Both the Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) and Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) have filed petitions to intervene through the United States Court of Appeals against the DOE.

Although the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its final rule establishing regional standards for air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces last October, the fight is not over yet. Both the Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) and Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) have filed petitions to intervene through the United States Court of Appeals against the DOE.