secretary Chu 

From: jsannes@kraftfoods.com 

Sent: Friday, September 28,2012 12:21 PM 

To: Secretary Chu 

Cc: SenteForStateRep@gmail.com; jsannes@kraftfoods.com 

Subject: Critical! RE: Amend the high-effic. furnace law (effective May 1, 2013) for 

townhouses/condos ASAP! 

Importance: High 

Dear Secretary, 

Key Point/Problems! : 

• Although I whole-heartedly support efforts to be green and keep America less polluted and energy efficient the 

current law has many flaws and forces undue and unacceptable financial hardships for most condo and 

townhouse assn. owners (that number in the millions in the northern states alone) - esp. for seniors owning 

these homes! 

• Poor PR on this lawl: This law was largely kept secret until this Fall when heating contractors informed 

residents about it when they scheduled their annual furnace cleanings/check-up! NOT GOOD and NOT FAIR 

(this gives home owners only a 6 mo. lead time for full compliance and requires major expenses!) 

• It does not take into account that most condos and townhouses have very small closets or laundry rooms 

where the furnace and water heater and washer and dryer are located (some on the first floor and some on 

the second floor). There are fire walls, pipes, space limitations, venting issues, no room to expand the closets or 

laundry rooms, limited space between units and outside wall venting and many other issues involved for these 

units to try and properly install and upgrade to the new requirements for a high-efficiency furnace. 

In short: The compliance expense for the majority of condo and townhouse assn. home owners would be very large 

more than 3 times the expense to a single family home owner! - up to tens of thousands of dollars plus the furnace 

expense for most condos and townhouses to comply and install a high-efficiency furnace (and it would also require 

revised Assn. By-Laws and inspections and may well need city zoning approval = a mess I 

Recommendations: 

• Extend the deadline for implementation of this law by a minimum of 4 years or / until the furnace industry 

designs and markets a special high efficiency furnace model that meets the restrictions/requirements of condo 

and townhouse special needs and publicize this extension properly! 

• Allow major tax credits - to include deductions for adjustments needed for compliance remodeling to condo 

and townhouse owners and associations and special-substantial tax rebates for the purchase and installation 

of these high efficiency furnaces for condo and townhouse owners (including more generous rebates and 

deductions for senior citizens on fixed incomes/social security - a large portion of condo and townhouse 

owners). 

• Give special incentives for the redesign and production of high efficiency furnaces built to fit and allay the 

issues for condo and townhouse owners to be in compliance without all the expensive modifications. 

• Give widespread PR on these law modifications, esp. the special breaks for senior condo and townhouse 

home owners and their associations, tax credits and rebates, and incentives for the redesign of special high 

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efficiency furnaces to fit the small and specially configured townhouse and condo furnace space and 

installation requirements. ' 

Summary: I am turning 64 in a few days and I have never seen such a poorly written, executed, and publicized law 

that penalizes a large group of outstanding citizens - esp. seniors - in a way that makes it almost impossible financially 

and time wise to comply! I will send this to my representatives and to both the democratic and republican parties. IT 

IS WRONG, UNFAIR, AND I HOPE THE COURTS SETTLE WITH THE PARTIES CURRENTlY SEEKING TO CHALLENGE IT AND 

THAT YOU TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO HAVE IT AMMENDED BEFORE AND INSPITE OF THIS LAW SUIT. 

• Terrible job Mr. Secretary! Please respond to me by mail ASAP and make the needed changes ASAP! 

Respectfully, 

Jill Sannes 

4448 W. Quill Lane 

Waukegan, IL 60085 

Townhouse owner in an Il assn. 

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