More Efficient Central Air Rules
Washington Post, April 3, 2004

The government agreed yesterday to require new central air conditioners and heat pumps to be 30% more efficient beginning in 2006. The Energy Department said it would not challenge a January court ruling stopping it from replacing a Clinton administration rule with one requiring a less stringent standard. Department officials said they would tell manufacturers that they would enforce the tougher standard, although the department had tried to roll it back to 20%. The 30% increase would save consumers an estimated $3.4 billion in energy costs and avoid the construction of 150 power plants in 2020 when the new units are expected to be in wide use, said the Alliance to Save Energy, and advocacy group.
--Compiled from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters

DOE Drops Fight to Ease Energy Efficiency Standard
Washington Post, April 3, 2004

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that it will enforce a 13 seasonal energy efficiency rating or "SEER" standard for residential central air conditioners. This standard, which will apply to central air conditioners starting in January 2006, increases by 30% the SEER standard that applies to models sold today.

"At this point, all parties have had their day in court," Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Garman said. "DOE will enforce the 13 SEER standard. In the interest of giving consumers and industry the regulatory certainty they need, it is time for the government and for private parties to stop ligitigating, and start working towards complying with the 13 SEER standard."

The Energy Department had promulgated a 12 SEER standard in 2002, but earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the department had done so improperly. The air conditioner manufacturing industry had challenged the 13 SEER, which DOE had issued in January 2001, but recently withdrew its challenge.