Proposed AC Efficiency Standards Could Yield Unprecedented Energy, Cost Savings

Proposed AC Efficiency Standards Could Yield Unprecedented Energy, Cost Savings
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed new efficiency standards for commercial air conditioners that could yield the most energy savings of any appliance standard. DOE said the standards for commercial unitary air conditioners will save 11.7 quadrillion Btus (quads) of energy over the lifetimes of units sold for 30 years. “That is equivalent to more than half of all the residential energy used in one year, making this potentially the largest energy savings estimated for any efficiency standard issued by DOE to date,” stated a fact sheet issued by the White House. “DOE’s new standards are a breath of cool air for businesses since air conditioners account for about 10% of a typical commercial building’s electricity cost,” said Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).