Just when you thought it was safe to count on the Department of Energy (DOE) to finally institute its long awaited new federal standard for central air conditioners and heat pumps — most likely, 12 SEER — California now weighs in with a proposed higher state standard of 13 SEER. Plus, to make the issue even more jumbled, the U.S. Senate is now debating its energy bill, which includes proposed language that would legislate 13 SEER nationally.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) recently voted to revise its Title 20 Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards to apply a standard of 13 SEER for residential split-system and single-package air conditioners and heat pumps of less than 65,000 Btuh. Commercial air conditioning and heat pump units from 65,000 to 135,000 Btuh would have a higher standard of 11 EER, with a 10.8 EER for products between 135,000 and 240,000 Btuh.