Examining the DOE’s New Air Conditioner Standards

The Department of Energy has proposed a host of new air conditioning standards for 2016. To learn more about these new standards, look no further than a recent article from the Hill titled “DOE proposing air conditioner standards.”

Tim Devaney of the Hill writes, “The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing new efficiency rules for portable air conditioners that are expected to save consumers billions of dollars on their energy bills. The department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy submitted the proposed rules to the White House this week for approval. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget will have 90 days to review the proposal and make changes it deems necessary. The public will then have a chance to comment on the rules before they are finalized. This is the latest in a long list of energy conservation standards for household appliances from the Obama administration. But the air conditioner rules could outpace many of the other standards. The DOE listed the efficiency standards for air conditioners as an ‘economically significant’ rule, which means it is expected to have an impact on the economy of $100 million or more each year. The air conditioner efficiency standards will likely cost manufacturers millions to comply with, but save consumers even more money.”

The Energy Collective also takes a look at these new standards in a recent article titled “2015 Goes out with a Burst of New Efficiency Standards: 2016 Promises More Action.” According to the author of the article, “In total, DOE completed or proposed new standards for eight product categories in the closing weeks of 2015. The new commercial rooftop air conditioner standards, a product of a DOE-convened negotiated rulemaking process, made headlines with historic savings levels. But the other seven proposed or final standards also achieve significant savings, adding up to about 1.7 quadrillion Btus of savings over thirty years of product sales, or roughly enough energy to meet the needs of 9.5 million US households for a year. Savings are split among electricity (135 billion kWh in savings) and fossil fuels burned directly in appliances, mostly natural gas (about 440 trillion Btus in savings). DOE’s combined savings estimates for consumers of these products reaches about $9 billion after accounting for the slightly increased cost of more efficient products.”

If you’re looking for portable air conditioners, we’ve got you covered at AC World. Our ductless mini split air conditioner is a cost effective alternative to central air conditioning. Yes, it is slightly more than the typically wall or window air conditioner, but the minor additional cost is easily and quickly recouped in energy savings and home security. For example, since the compressor sits on the outside, the ductless mini split air conditioner is very quiet and efficient. Furthermore, they avoid the energy losses associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems.

Whatever portable air conditioner needs you might have, look no further than our team at AC World!