Executives of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Alliance to Save Energy (Alliance), and more than a dozen individual nation's leading manufacturers of residential central air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps recently signed an historic, voluntary agreement to call for regional efficiency standards to replace a quarter century of national standards, and it also recommends more stringent building code provisions for new construction.

To take effect from 2010, the agreement for the first time sets different standard levels in three climate regions - North, South, and Southwest - recognizing that appropriate investments in heating and cooling efficiency depend on usage. In addition, the agreement also allows states to include even higher efficiency levels for heating and cooling systems in new homes.

"In addition to saving significant amounts of energy for the nation - and saving consumers considerable money - this agreement provides industry with greater certainty in the marketplace, which enables more investment, enhances global competitiveness, and preserves jobs," said Stephen Yurek, president of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, the industry's trade association.
 
"We believe this proposal represents a large leap forward in improving our nation's energy efficiency, while also reducing consumer energy bills and helping to clean our environment. Regional standards are a major step for cost-effective savings and will help manufacturers meet the very different needs of homes in cold, hot-humid, and hot-dry climates," observed Steven Nadel, executive director of ACEEE.  

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