Proposed Amendments to Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations Open for Comment until August 29, 2026

 

HVACR systems and equipment are subject to a range of regulatory requirements. In addition to product safety and electrical requirements, many HVACR products are subject to federal energy-efficiency, testing, verification, labelling and reporting requirements under the Energy Efficiency Act and the Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016.

On June 20, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) pre-published the proposed Regulations Amending the Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 (Amendment 19) in the Canada Gazette, Part 1. 

The proposal is subject to a 70-day public comment period that will close on August 29, 2026 (11:59 pm Eastern). Final requirements are established through publication in Part II of the Canada Gazette.

Links to proposed regulatory amendments: 

English: https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2026/2026-06-20/html/reg4-eng.html 

French: https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2026/2026-06-20/html/reg4-fra.html 

HRAI is inviting members to contribute to industry comments concerning the HVACR and water heater products addressed by the proposal. If your company would like to participate in sessions on these proposed regulations, please click on the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/mfmtEfBGTx 

HRAI may also coordinate with other industry associations in developing its submission.

Members interested in contributing should contact Perry Chao, HRAI’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, at pchao@hrai.ca. 

 

Table: Summary of Amendment 19 Changes Relevant to HVACR and Water-Heating Products

Type of Change 

Products Affected 

Introduce new regulated product categories and associated efficiency, testing, verification, labelling and reporting requirements 

  • Air cleaners 

  • Computer room air conditioners 

  • Pool heaters 

  • Pool pump motors 

 

Expand product scope and introduce or update efficiency and testing requirements for currently regulated products 

  • Freezers 

  • Gas-fired instantaneous water heaters 

  • Gas-fired storage water heaters 

  • Commercial gas-fired furnaces 

  • Ground-source heat pumps 

  • Household oil-fired water heaters 

  • Recovery ventilators 

  • Refrigerators and combination refrigerator-freezers 

 

Changes to support trade and improve regulatory implementation, impacting the following HVACR product categories: 

 

 

 

 

Note: “Large condensing units” is a defined federal energy-efficiency product category, not all types of commercial refrigeration condensing unit 

  • Ceiling fans 

  • Central air conditioners and central heat pumps 

  • Commercial electric water heaters 

  • Oil-fired water heaters 

  • Gas fireplaces 

  • Household electric water heaters 

  • Internal water loop heat pumps 

  • Large condensing units 

  • Line voltage thermostats 

  • Miscellaneous refrigeration products 

Add product categories to the list of products for which requirements may subsequently be amended through ministerial regulations to maintain harmonization with another jurisdiction 

  • Air cleaners 

  • Commercial water heaters 

  • Computer room air conditioners  

  • Household water heaters 

  • Pool heaters 

Clarify which version continues to apply when an energy-efficiency standard or test procedure incorporated by reference from another jurisdiction is subsequently repealed or revoked in that jurisdiction 

  • All products subject to an energy efficiency standard or test procedure that is incorporated by reference 

Regroup certain product categories and remove references to outdated standards 

  • Pool heaters 

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