EPA Publishes Clarification to the ENERGY STAR Version 4.0 Light Commercial HVAC Specification
According to the EPA, the purpose of the clarification “is to account for DOE test standards being final and for upcoming test method compliance dates.”
The key points from the clarification include:
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Table 6 in the Test Requirements section now clarifies when to transition using the updated DOE test methods. DOE requires the use of the updated test methods to show compliance with new energy conservation standards starting on January 1, 2024, for some equipment and January 1, 2025, for other equipment.
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Table 6 includes a footnote which states "Table 1 includes guidance about the transition to updated test methods. All quantities reported to EPA shall use the same test method as the rated values reported to DOE at all times, regardless of whether they are rated values. For instance, when large CUHP are required to use Appendix D1 to rate their equipment to IEER, they shall also use Appendix D1 to measure EER for the purposes of this specification. "
The EPA stated that it “does not expect the transition to new test methods to require products to be recertified, but their performance may need to be updated to reflect new results.”
As members may recall, the ENERGY STAR Version 4.0 Light Commercial HVAC Specification went into effect January 1, 2023.
On March 21, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule pertaining to standards for air-cooled, three-phase, small commercial air conditioners and heat pumps and air-cooled, three-phase, variable refrigerant flow air conditioners and heat pumps.
The DOE noted “that compliance with the amended standards established in this final rule is required on and after January 1, 2025.”
Moreover, these “final rules do not require substantive change to the ENERGY STAR specification but allow EPA to clarify existing criteria.”
Members can visit ENERGY STAR for all materials related to the Version 4.0 Light Commercial HVAC Specification.
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