On Jan. 3, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a final rule establishing test procedures for measuring the electrical consumption of furnace fans and blowers in weatherized and nonweatherized gas, oil, and electric furnaces. The rule, which went into effect Feb. 3, is the first step in the DOE’s quest to regulate the energy efficiency of such fans.
And while the test procedures themselves may not be the topic of any heated debate, there is growing concern that the DOE is placing undue regulatory burden on the HVAC industry — and especially on manufacturers — by regulating components of appliances that already meet energy-efficiency guidelines.