The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that it has submitted comments on the FTC’s proposed rule. In its comments, AHRI recommends that the FTC:
• Continue to recognize the existing reporting mechanism through voluntary industry certification programs such as AHRI.
• Allow manufacturers that participate in AHRI’s certification programs the option of adding a reference in the EnergyGuide label to the AHRI directory of certified product performance.
• Not make Quick Response (QR) codes mandatory for manufacturers since there may not be enough space to add QR codes on EnergyGuide labels. In addition, the codes may end up confusing consumers, particularly when recognizing that not all consumers will have the capability to access such codes.
• Not impose additional disclosure burdens on manufacturers. Instead, recognize the fulfillment of the current appliance labeling requirements and the release of regional standards information by manufacturers will provide consumers with the necessary disclosure.
• Not limit the range of input capacities in the oil-fired furnace label and make the multiple input capacity and efficiency label format optional for oil-fired boiler manufacturers.
• Allow manufacturers to apply the new EnergyGuide labels when the final appliance labeling rule takes effect.
• Maintain the basic colors (yellow and black) that are used in the current appliance labeling rule.
Publication date: 8/13/2012
