Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Summary: DOE has initiated a rulemaking to amend test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps (CAC/HPs). DOE has proposed to amend the Federal test procedure for CAC/HPs to incorporate by reference the latest versions of the applicable industry standards. Specifically, DOE proposes: to amend the current test procedure for CAC/HPs (appendix M1) for measuring the current cooling and heating metrics – seasonal energy efficiency ratio 2 (SEER2) and heating seasonal performance factor 2 (HSPF2), respectively; and to establish a new test procedure (appendix M2) for CAC/HPs that would adopt two new metrics—seasonal cooling and off-mode rating efficiency (SCORE) and seasonal heating and off-mode rating efficiency (SHORE). Testing CAC/HPs to the SCORE and SHORE metrics would not be required until such time as compliance is required with any amended energy conservation standard based on the new metrics.

Type of Regulation: Test Procedure

Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Website

Docket ID: EERE-2022-BT-TP-0028

Updates:

• Posted: January 24, 2023 — Request for Information
• Posted: April 5, 2024 — Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Comment Period Close Date: June 4, 2024

Where to Comment:  EERE-2022-BT-TP-0028

AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:

• 2023-02-02 — AHRI Request for extension of the public comment period from February 23, 2023, for an additional 30 days, to March 27, 2023
• 2023-02-23 — AHRI Comment response to the published Request for information

Staff Contact: Samantha Slater

N/A

Current Standard:

Map of Regional Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Residential central air conditioners and central air conditioning heat pumps manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at CFR 430.32(c)(3).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has amended the test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps that will be required for certification of compliance with applicable energy conservation standards starting January 1, 2023, to address a limited number of specific issues. DOE adopted updates to appendix M and M1 to subpart B of part 430, "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps," to fix typographical errors. DOE also adopted amendments to appendix M1 to address a limited number of issues regarding, among other things, variable-speed coil-only systems, default fan power values, and wet bulb temperature.

To determine that residential central air conditioners and heat pumps that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430.23(m)

Updates:

• Posted: March 24, 2022 — Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Posted: May 24, 2022 — Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Comment Period Reopened
• Posted: October 25, 2022 — Final Action
• Posted: November 25, 2022 — Final Action Effective
• Posted: January 24, 2023 — Request for Information
• Posted: April 5, 2024 — Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Announcement of Public Meeting

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.