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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, introduced the SMART Energy Efficiency Standards Act. The legislation would change the date that furnace, central air conditioner, and heat pump manufacturers must comply with regional energy efficiency standards to the date of manufacture instead of what it currently is, which is the date of installation. This action would bring the regulations into line with the rest of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).

“With current supply chain issues and delays, consumers need to be able to readily access appliances such as furnaces, AC units, and heat pumps when a replacement is needed,” said Latta. “The last thing consumers should experience during this costly and exhaustive process is to be unable to obtain these products due to uneven and confusing regulations. My legislation would simplify the process by ensuring the regional standards’ date of compliance is in sync with the rest of EPCA. In doing this, all products will be able to make their way through the supply and distribution chain without delay and still be available for sale and installation.”

Beginning in January, residential air conditioners (AC) will be required to meet new minimum energy efficiency requirements to help consumers reduce their energy usage. Manufacturers must re-test all existing AC models to meet the new metric, as well as re-write and re-distribute marketing literature, update model numbers, and re-list the equipment in certification programs to verify its efficiency and qualify for rebates.  Because these requirements will be applied to products based on their date of installation rather than their date of manufacture, it will result in the stranding of products that were previously legally manufactured, purchased, and distributed but now will no longer be eligible for installation.  The SMART Energy Efficiency Standards Act will prevent this problem from happening.

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