If you’ve shopped for a new furnace recently, you may have come across some confusing information about HVAC efficiency standards. Your confusion is warranted.

In 2011, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a ruling to change HVAC efficiency standards in May 2013. The new standard would have raised the existing standard of 80 annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) in the northern United States to 90 percent efficiency. The existing 80 AFUE standard would have remained the same in the southern states.

Before the effective date, however, various associations challenged the rule, explaining that replacing a mid-range 80 AFUE furnace with a condensing 90 AFUE model isn’t as simple as switching out the refrigerator or dishwasher. After all, high-efficiency condensing furnaces require a different exhaust system. This could result in the need to retrofit or abandon the gas water heater because the existing exhaust flue may not be able to accommodate the new furnace alongside the existing water heater.

The DOE was forced to postpone increasing HVAC efficiency standards. It could be several more years until a new ruling goes into effect. As it is, hardly any changes to HVAC efficiency requirements have been made since 1992 when the DOE set the minimum efficiency rating to 78 AFUE. In 2007, the DOE proposed raising the minimum to 80 AFUE, a change that had little significance since nearly all gas furnaces already meet that standard.

From an energy conservationist’s perspective, it’s a shame that the complication arose and thus delayed updating HVAC efficiency standards. Since about 40 percent of the energy delivered to homes in the U.S. goes toward space heating, and natural gas furnaces comprise a significant proportion of that energy consumption, keeping standards down is causing more waste and pollution.

Of course, you can always make the individual decision to invest in a higher-efficiency furnace for your home. Greater comfort, a lower carbon footprint and energy savings await.

To stay up-to-date with the changing HVAC efficiency standards, please contact Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating today. We proudly serve McKinney, Frisco and Allen residents.