ATLANTA — Regulations are coming. The Fan Energy Rating (FER), in particular, which goes into effect on July 3, will require HVAC manufacturers to comply with the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) energy conservation standards for residential furnace fans. The DOE published a final rule (79 FR 38129) prescribing the standards for residential furnace fans on July 3, 2014. DOE predicts the new standard for furnace fans will save approximately 3.99 quads of energy, reduce carbon pollution by up to 34 million metric tons (equivalent to the annual electricity use of 4.7 million homes), and save Americans more than $9 billion in home electricity bills through 2030.
Regal Beloit Corp. has become an expert in FER compliance by redesigning its products to meet the new standards, including the Genteq® Ensite® motor, DEC Star® blower assemblies, and a new electronically commutated motor (ECM) to provide FER compliance for entry-level fans. These products were on display at the 2019 AHR Expo.