Nov. 1, 2011: Contractor, HARDI’s Talbot Gee Point Out Problems With Regional Standards
MAUI, Hawaii — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice on Oct. 25 confirming adoption of its direct final rule establishing regional efficiency standards for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps. Although the rule was opposed by a number of organizations, including the Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), DOE stated that “the adverse comments received in response to the direct final rule do not provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule.” At the 2011 Annual HARDI Conference, Dave Kyle, a Virginia-based HVAC contractor who has been working the Washington, D.C., corridor for nearly 20 years, participated in a contractor roundtable. The NEWS asked for his perspective on regional standards.
Kyle believes that the regional efficiency standards could be problematic. He said, “I am afraid for what it will do to our industry, perhaps negatively affecting credibility. For example, an unscrupulous contractor will be more likely (especially in areas near the proposed regional borders) to sell an unregulated furnace. Let’s say you have a single mom with a townhome who is upside down on her mortgage. Somebody offers her a solution that could cost a couple thousand dollars less, and the contractor can still make a handsome profit, compared to what I may be offering.”