While some are concerned the DOE may overstep its bounds again, others are hopeful the agency will continue to accept industry input and guidance as it develops its final rule.
HVAC Equipment Shipments Increase Almost 30 Percent
November 20, 2014
United States shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totaled 539,628 units in September 2014, up 29.7 percent from 416,179 units shipped in September 2013, according to the latest statistics from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
In an effort to make it easier for technicians to install, service, diagnose, and troubleshoot HVACR equipment, ACCA’s Board of Directors adopted a motion “to implore the manufacturers of HVAC equipment to develop and implement open [nonproprietary], universal, onboard diagnostic [OBD] communication protocols.”
Working with Mechanical Solutions Inc. (MSI), a small business in New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office has found a potential solution to allow for cold climate heat pumps: a “supercharger” that enables heat pumps to efficiently operate in the coldest U.S. climates, with zero backup heat.
The Robur RTAR is a modular, reversible cycle gas absorption heat pump system capable of producing hot water up to 140°F and chilled water down to 41°F.