II 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 920 

To create clean energy jobs and set efficiency standards for small-duct highvelocity air conditioning and heat pump systems, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 9, 2011 

Mr. BLUNT (for himself, Ms. STABENOW, and Mrs. MCCASKILL) introduced 

the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To create clean energy jobs and set efficiency standards 

for small-duct high-velocity air conditioning and heat 

pump systems, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘SDHV Energy Effi5 ciency Standards for America Act of 2011’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 

8 (1) The Department of Energy grouped small9 duct high-velocity systems with all air conditioners 


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1 and heat pumps in a final rule published on January 

2 22, 2001. 

3 (2) The Department of Energy subsequently 

4 published and established the minimum efficiency 

5 standard for small-duct high-velocity systems and in6 formed all manufacturers of these products to re7 quest exception relief in order to legally sell these 

8 products in the United States. 

9 SEC. 3. STANDARDS FOR SMALL-DUCT HIGH-VELOCITY AIR 

10 CONDITIONING AND HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS. 

11 (a) STANDARDS.—Section 325(d) of the Energy Pol12 icy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(d)) is amend13 ed— 

14 (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 

15 following: 

16 ‘‘(C) Small-duct high-velocity systems: 11.00 

17 for products manufactured on or after January 23, 

18 2006.’’; and 

19 (2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 

20 following: 

21 ‘‘(C) Small-duct high-velocity systems: 6.8 for 

22 products manufactured on or after January 23, 

23 2006.’’. 


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1 (b) DEFINITION.—Section 321 of the Energy Policy 

2 and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291) is amended by 

3 adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

4 ‘‘(67) SMALL-DUCT, HIGH VELOCITY SYSTEM.— 

5 The term ‘small-duct, high-velocity system’ means a 

6 heating and cooling product that contains a blower 

7 and indoor coil combination that— 

8 ‘‘(A) is designed for, and produces, at least 

9 1.2 inches of external static pressure when op10 erated at the certified air volume rate of 220– 

11 350 cubic feet per minute per rated ton of cool12 ing; and 

13 ‘‘(B) when applied in the field, uses high 

14 velocity room outlets generally greater than 

15 1,000 feet per minute that have less than 6.0 

16 square inches of free area.’’. 

17 (c) AMENDMENT OF STANDARDS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, by rule, 

19 amend the standards established for small-duct high20 velocity air conditioning and heat pump systems 

21 under the amendments made by this section. 

22 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Standards as amended 

23 pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not take effect less 

24 than 5 years after the final rule making the amend25 ment is published. 


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1 (3) DETERMINATION.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary shall publish a final rule to determine whether 

4 standards for small-duct, high-velocity systems 

5 should be amended. 

Æ 


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