"Due to the likelihood of a long and uncertain legal process, ARI will no longer pursue litigation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, Va., so that manufacturers can prepare for a new, 13 SEER national minimum efficiency standard for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps that will go into effect on Jan. 23, 2006," said William Sutton, president of ARI.
In March of 2001, ARI had requested judicial review of the DOE's Jan. 22, 2001, final rule requiring a 30-percent increase in the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for residential air conditioners and heat pumps. ARI supported raising the current standard by 20 percent, from 10 SEER to 12 SEER.