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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Penny Adams or John B. Townsend II November 24, 1999 202/586-5806



# DOE Identifies Potential Higher Efficiency Standards for Residential CentralAir Conditioners and Heat Pumps Higher Standards Would Save Energy, Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions; FinalRule Planned forDecember 2000 Secretary ofEnergy Bill Richardson announced today that the Department ofEnergy (DOE) is on track to speed up efficiency standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. The new standards will reduce homeowners' utility bills, save energy and improve air quality. Richardson had announced the acceleration ofthe new standards in July as part ofa six-point initiative to help prevent major power outages. "Air conditioning can account formore than 50 percent ofsummer household electricity consumption, and costs homeowners billions ofdollars each year," said Secretary Richardson. "By increasing the efficiency ofcentral air conditioners and heat pumps, we will help minimize the impact offuture heat waves on the U.S. power grid and help consumers and businesses save money and energy." The current air conditioner standard is a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of 10. The supplementary Advance Notice ofProposed Rulemaking published in today's Federal Register identifies potential higher efficiency standards ranging from 11

- 13 SEER. Ifadopted, a higher standard could represent an increase in efficiency of 10to 30 percent over today's central air conditioners. Higher minimum efficiency standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps can save significant amounts ofenergy. For example, increasing the existing minimum efficiency (MORE) R-99-312


## @ Printed withsoyinkon recycled paper U U.S. DepartmentofEnergy Office ofPublicAffairs · Washington, DC 20585 [ 

### NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Penny Adams orJohn B. Townsend II 202/586-5806 

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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 1999 

# DOE Identifies Potential HigherEfficiency Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Higher Standards Would Save Energy, Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Final Rule Planned forDecember2000 Secretary ofEnergyBill Richardson announced today that the Department ofEnergy (DOE) is on track to speed up efficiency standards for central airconditioners and heat pumps. The new standards will reduce homeowners' utility bills, save energy and improve air quality. Richardson had announced the acceleration ofthe new standards in July as part ofa six-point initiative to help prevent majorpower outages. "Airconditioning can account for more than 50 percent ofsummerhousehold electricity consumption, and costs homeownersbillions ofdollars each year," said SecretaryRichardson. "By increasingthe efficiency ofcentral air conditioners and heat pumps, we will help minimize the impact offuture heat waves on the U.S. power grid and help consumers and businesses save money and energy." The current air conditioner standard is a seasonal energy efficiencyrating (SEER) of 10. The supplementary Advance Notice ofProposed Rulemakingpublished in today's

### FederalRegister identifies potential higher efficiency standardsranging from 11

- 13 SEER. Ifadopted, ahigher standard could represent an increase in efficiency of 10 to 30 percent overtoday's central air conditioners. Higherminimum efficiency standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps can save significant amounts ofenergy. For example, increasing the existing minimum efficiency (MORE) , 

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Printed with soy Ink on rilcycled paper III U.S. Departmentof Energy OffICe of PublicAffairs o Washington., DC20585**~** 

### NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Penny Adams orJohn B. Townsend II 202/586-5806 

# /l./.-Kk

FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 1999 

# DOE Identifies Potential HigherEfficiency Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Higher Standards Would Save Energy, Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Final Rule Planned forDecember2000 Secretary ofEnergyBill Richardson announced today that the Department ofEnergy (DOE) is on track to speed up efficiency standards for central airconditioners and heat pumps. The new standards will reduce homeowners' utility bills, save energy and improve air quality. Richardson had announced the acceleration ofthe new standards in July as part ofa six-point initiative to help prevent majorpower outages. "Airconditioning can account for more than 50 percent ofsummerhousehold electricity consumption, and costs homeownersbillions ofdollars each year," said SecretaryRichardson. "By increasingthe efficiency ofcentral air conditioners and heat pumps, we will help minimize the impact offuture heat waves on the U.S. power grid and help consumers and businesses save money and energy." The current air conditioner standard is a seasonal energy efficiencyrating (SEER) of 10. The supplementary Advance Notice ofProposed Rulemakingpublished in today's

### FederalRegister identifies potential higher efficiency standardsranging from 11

- 13 SEER. Ifadopted, ahigher standard could represent an increase in efficiency of 10 to 30 percent overtoday's central air conditioners. Higherminimum efficiency standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps can save significant amounts ofenergy. For example, increasing the existing minimum efficiency (MORE) , 

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Printed with soy Ink on rilcycled paper III U.S. Departmentof Energy OffICe of PublicAffairs o Washington., DC20585**~**

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### standard for air conditioners and heat pumps by 10 percent to 20 percent would save enough energy over 25 years to supply electricity forup to 26 million homes in the U.S. for one year. In addition to the energy savings, more efficient air conditioners will substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions linked to global climate change. In making today's announcement, Secretary Richardson challenged industry representatives and energy efficiency advocates to reach an agreement similar to the one announced on October 15, which will improve the efficiency offluorescent lighting in commercial and industrial applications. That agreement, worked out between lamp ballast manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, marked a turning point in the process by which energy efficiency standards are set. There is a 75-day public comment period on the advance notice ofproposed rulemaking. The Energy Department will host a public workshop in Washington, D.C., on December 9, 1999, to present the results ofthe analyses and to receive comments in response to the issues listed in the supplementary ANOPR. Participants will include Energy Department staffand all interested parties, including representatives ofmanufacturers, trade associations, utilities, state energy offices, retailers, and consumer/environmental groups. The Department ofEnergy researches, develops and deploys clean, efficient and renewable energy technologies to help meet America's energy needs while protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Energy technologies supported and promoted by the department will play a key role in providing CleanEnergyforthe 21st Centuy;.-DOE
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- 2 - standard for air conditioners and heat pumpsby 10 percent to 20 percent would save enough energy over 25 years to supply electricity for up to 26 million homes in the U.S. for one year. In addition to the energy savings, more efficient air conditioners will substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions linked to global climate change. In making today's announcement, Secretary Richardson challenged industryrepresentatives and energy efficiency advocates to reach an agreement similarto the one announced on October IS, which will improve the efficiency offluorescent lighting in commercial and industrial applications. That agreement, worked out between lamp ballast manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, marked a turning point in the process by which energy efficiency standards are set. Thereis a 7S-day public commentperiod on the advance notice ofproposedrulemaking. The Energy Department will host a public workshop in Washington, D.C., on December 9,1999, to present the results ofthe analyses and to receive comments in response to the issues listed in the supplementary ANOPR. Participants will include Energy Department staffand all interested parties, including representatives ofmanufacturers, trade associations, utilities, state energy offices, retailers, and consumer/environmental groups. TheDepartment ofEnergy researches, develops and deploys clean, efficient and renewable energy technologies to help meet America's energy needs while protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Energy technologies supported and promoted by the department will playa key role in providing Clean Energy for the 2J sl Cenlury.-DOER-99-312 

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- 2 - standard for air conditioners and heat pumpsby 10 percent to 20 percent would save enough energy over 25 years to supply electricity for up to 26 million homes in the U.S. for one year. In addition to the energy savings, more efficient air conditioners will substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions linked to global climate change. In making today's announcement, Secretary Richardson challenged industryrepresentatives and energy efficiency advocates to reach an agreement similarto the one announced on October IS, which will improve the efficiency offluorescent lighting in commercial and industrial applications. That agreement, worked out between lamp ballast manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, marked a turning point in the process by which energy efficiency standards are set. Thereis a 7S-day public commentperiod on the advance notice ofproposedrulemaking. The Energy Department will host a public workshop in Washington, D.C., on December 9,1999, to present the results ofthe analyses and to receive comments in response to the issues listed in the supplementary ANOPR. Participants will include Energy Department staffand all interested parties, including representatives ofmanufacturers, trade associations, utilities, state energy offices, retailers, and consumer/environmental groups. TheDepartment ofEnergy researches, develops and deploys clean, efficient and renewable energy technologies to help meet America's energy needs while protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Energy technologies supported and promoted by the department will playa key role in providing Clean Energy for the 2J sl Cenlury.-DOER-99-312