Up until recently, sales of air-source heat pumps were on a tear, growing from 1.6 million units in 2009 to 2.3 million units in 2014, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). But, in 2015, sales of heat pumps slipped 3.6 percent from the previous year.

HVAC efficiency standards have changed in the U.S., creating an opportunity for Canadians dealers. Distributors and manufacturers in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the U.S. need to sell 13 SEER inventory by July 2016. Canadian dealers can purchase this equipment at significant savings.

The Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) has approved an agreement reached by manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates acting as part of a working group to set new energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers (WICF).

While older circulator pumps utilized single-speed motors and were largely inefficient, advances in motor technology, controls, and pump design have transformed the market and ushered in a new era of highly efficient products that feature variable-speed motors, easy installation and setup, remote connectivity, and more.

As the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) works on its final rule and Congress works on possibly delaying that rule, HVAC industry stakeholders have settled into a holding pattern with no other option than to wait and see what happens next.

The DOE’s proposed rule represents a significant increase in efficiency that would effectively eliminate noncondensing furnaces and significantly impact the design, installation, and cost of nonweatherized furnaces. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking and public meeting regarding energy efficiency standards for residential furnaces. DOE also announced that it will host a public meeting on March 26, 2015.