DOE Proposes Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnaces

On June 13, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of proposed rulemaking to set energy conservation standards for non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces. The proposal includes amended active mode energy conservation standards, along with new standby mode and off mode energy standards for consumer furnaces. DOE estimates the cumulative net present value of total consumer benefits from the proposed standards to be between $6.2 billion and $21.6 billion, and the cumulative emission reductions from the proposed standards to be 363 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 0.8 million tons of nitrogen oxides, and 5.1 million tons of methane.

DOE is accepting comments, data, and information regarding the proposal until September 6, 2022.