DOE Proposes Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnaces

On July 7, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed amended energy conservation standards for non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces. This rulemaking falls under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment. EPCA requires DOE to periodically determine whether more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings.

As part of this proposed rulemaking, DOE analyzed the benefits and burdens of 9 trial standard levels (TSLs) of efficiency. In the context of this rulemaking governing gas furnaces, efficiency standards are expressed in terms of minimum annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The scenarios explored by DOE range from TSL 9, the maximum technologically feasible energy efficiency, to TSL 1, the least rigorous standard, which would require 80-percent AFUE for certain small gas furnaces and 92-percent AFUE for larger gas furnaces. DOE proposes adopting TSL 8, the second-highest level, which consists of a national standard at an efficiency level of 95-percent AFUE for all regulated gas furnaces.

If adopted at TSL 8, DOE estimates that the proposed standards would result in cumulative emission reductions (over the same period as for energy savings) of 363 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 0.8 million tons of nitrogen oxides, and 5.1 million tons of methane. The proposed standards would result in cumulative emission increases of 52 thousand tons of sulfur dioxide, 0.3 thousand tons of nitrous oxide, and 0.3 tons of mercury. The increase in emissions of some pollutants is due to an anticipated increase in electricity consumption.

DOE is accepting comments, data, and information regarding this proposed rule until October 6, 2022. This comment period was extended following requests for an extension from industry organizations.