PLEASE RESPOND TO:
WASHINCOTON**O~F!CE:** 2234 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE 8Ul!.D!NG WASH1NGTON, DC 20515--320[1 {202) 225-3461 FAx: {202) 226-4169 www.house.gov/meeks

P!STRiCl OFFiCES: 153-01 JAMAIC/\ AVENUE

JAMAICA, NY 11432

(718) 725-6000 

# <!tongrt!iB of 

# tbe Wntteb**~tates ~ouze**  

# ofl\cptcsentatlues GREGORY W, MEEKS FAx: (718) 725--9868 67-12 ROCKAWAY BEACH BOULEVARD ARVERNE, NY 11692

(347) 230-4032 FAX: j347) 230-4045

The Honorable Ernest Moniz Secretary ofEnergy US, Department ofEnergy 1000 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Secretary Moniz: 5TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK June 30, 2015 COMMITTEES: FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SUBCOMMllTEES: RN-;KING MEMBER, EUROPE, EURASIA, AND**EMERGl~JG** Tf!REATS WESTfoRN HEMISPHfORE
FINANCIAL SERVICES 8UBCOMM;1TEE: FINANCIAL INSTl1UTiONS AND**CONSUMiOI~** CREDll

CAPITAL MARl<ETS AND GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERl"ftlSES

I write to request further evaluation and postponement ofthe rulemaking regulating onnon-weatherized natmal gas furnaces, as set forth in the Federal Register 'notice 

## ofProposed RulemaiCing'(NOPR). Afiet**rev\e~iil'itile pt~posed** rule;'! 

## ap1 ·, ,·. concernedthatthere may be aiiomalies inthe methodology us,ed to analyze the rule's pdtentfal impact:· I fully support improving energy efficiency standards when they reduce monthly utility eosts and carbon emissions, but not when the standards potentially place an umeasonable bur.den on middle and low income households, The proposed rule in question mandates replacement ofthe rnrrent non" weatherized natural gas furnaces with newer and more energy efficient (condensing)

.. ''. ' ' - . ' . , ." ' ''. ·_, t'

. . . ·,'• ' '

. I· ' models, These more energy efficient models require**s1gnificantup~front** purchase and· installation costs, Also, resources are' limited for government incentives, thus the.

.. marginal cost increase to acquire andliistall conderising furnaces is borne solely by homeowners arid lartdloicls, 'on average,**cond~nsing** furriaces cost about $400 more than non-condensing models, and often require an additional investment ofbetween $1,500

- $2,200, This does not take into account the costs ofinstallations in older buildings and apartments where access to outside ventilation is often unavailable, The economic impact imposed by

## this rule on**rent6~s** and homeowners should be reevaluated priorto newstandar4sbeiJi'&**d~termined,** Manflow-income renters and homeowners lack access to lbw cost financing: Moreover, these households often do not possess suffiCient'equity or savings to afford the sighlficant upfront costs ofa condensing natural gas furnace: As a consequence, these homeoviners may adopt a furnace appliance that is less expensive to install'. less' energy efficient, 'and more expensive 

### to maintain and operate,

, I must reiterate that I fully support increased energy efficiency standhrds, but , pariieularly for those in vulnerable communities, higher standards that conie at a steep eco!lomic costmust be gradually ihtroduced, the public must be fully ihforllled, ,and the

### concern~ oflow and moderate incolne households cbnsidered, 

### I lirge th:e'Department of

. !' i /

... ,-.**:.riJGl.-~''.J_;-:! ~;·;-.fji"1;_,_ij**  :';,.-,;.•**1.~r~.::~·~r·-.1·** ..,-, ..,, - .·.. · .. :

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPEREnergy to delay implementation ofthe proposed rule until the Department is able to address the economic impact ofhigher standards onurban and rural areas. I would also like to encourage the Department to extend its outreach so that all stakeholders are made fully aware ofthe costs and opportunities associated with the proposed rule's implementation. Energy efficiency is crucial and important step to our economic growth and I look forward to working withyouto find a solution that meets the energy needs ofAmericans today, tomorrow and beyond. Sincerely,

# -=;~·u~ Gf6i!iQry W. Meeks Member ofCongressU.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, DC 20515-3205 PUBLIC DOCUMENT ..,,..,,,.,, __ OFFICIAL BUSINESS


# ,



# .

I ill 1111 II II, RQCt}fV@d .., 11

### ll
- 

### I! 

## ?nt!i 

## MAIL SANITIZED 

# I 

# t 

# I Tht: μo<\ofa..b\e_ f{nr2St- M1w1;z._

# ~<:...'-v-e..tf\-ry 

# Q·F CY\tYa:i\1

# V,~,**\)fl~l/),ftW\eVlt- o\~**  CYl.(v'jy 100 0 

# \vi.J.tfeV1.J eVt(.Q._ 

## AVtV\ve.. 

# S-W 

# W0c) h[ V\

## ~

## t0n1 

# DC ?.-0 

# s'11 ') M.C.