On December 5, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) held a public meeting of the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC). As a reminder, this group advises DOE on efforts related to the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program. Often, they lead negotiated rulemakings for DOE. Of particular interest to APGA members, DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program includes natural gas-fueled covered products like residential furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, ranges, room heaters, wall furnaces, and floor furnaces. Commercial equipment is also in the ASRAC’s purview.
APGA is fortunate to have Danny Manning of Sevier County Utility District represent public natural gas utilities on this committee. Both he and APGA staff were in attendance at the December meeting to ensure, if needed, public natural gas utility perspectives were interjected into the conversation. Most of the discussion at the meeting did not specifically impact natural gas-fueled equipment, as there was a vote on variable refrigerant flow (VRF) multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps. As well, a conversation was had on streamlining energy performance metrics reporting by appliance manufacturers. More on ASRAC activities will be provided to APGA membership as relevant work is pursued.
Click here for information on the meeting and other ASRAC efforts.
For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
ssaulters@apga.org.