Standards and Legislation

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On Dec. 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finalized new negotiated energy conservation standards for commercial air conditioners, heat pumps, and commercial warm-air furnaces, otherwise known as rooftop units (RTUs).

Dozens of regulations affecting HVACR equipment manufacturers, along with refrigerant regulations and technological innovations in variable-speed technology, have resulted in a bevy of change for condenser unit manufacturers.

The divisiveness of the presidential campaign on top of what was already a difficult political climate in Washington means pushing through any kind of legislation this year will be highly unlikely, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the trends aren’t moving in the right direction for ammonia and other natural refrigerants.

The two-day event drew a record number of distributors, wholesalers, manufacturers, and manufacturer’s representatives to Capitol Hill and included a legislative briefing, guest presentations from several members of Congress, networking events, and the opportunity for participants to meet with legislators from their districts.

The two day event, which was focused on helping dealers strengthen and grow their businesses, featured presentations on WaterFurnace products, marketing tools, training, financing, and more.

The supermarket industry realized a long time ago that it is impossible to solve environmental problems related to refrigerant leaks using a repair-based approach (i.e., with policies that focus on leak repair and record-keeping). Yet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) main regulatory program to address harmful refrigerant emissions reflects a repair-based policy.