Consumer Furnaces

As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), ”furnace” means a product that utilizes only single-phase electric current, or single-phase electric current or DC current in conjunction with natural gas, propane, or home heating oil, and which (1) Is designed to be the principal heating source for the living space of a residence; (2) Is not contained within the same cabinet with a central air conditioner whose rated cooling capacity is above 65,000 Btu per hour; (3) Is an electric central furnace, electric boiler, forced-air central furnace, gravity central furnace, or low-pressure steam or hot water boiler; and (4) Has a heat input rate of less than 300,000 Btu per hour for electric boilers and low-pressure steam or hot water boilers and less than 225,000 Btu per hour for forced-air central furnaces, gravity central furnaces, and electric central furnaces. 10 CFR 430.2 Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for residential mobile home gas furnaces since 1990 and for all other residential furnaces since 1992.

  • DOE has published a Federal Register notice of final determination pertaining to energy conservation standard for consumer furnaces. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including non-weatherized oil-fired furnaces (NWOFs), mobile home oil-fired furnaces (MHOFs), weatherized gas furnaces (WGFs), weatherized oil-fired furnaces (WOFs), and electric furnaces (EFs). EPCA also requires DOE to periodically review its existing standards to determine whether more-stringent, amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this final determination, DOE has determined that the standards for EFs, NWOFs, MHOFs, WOFs, and WGFs do not need to be amended.

    • The effective date of this final determination is November 18, 2024.

    DOE has published a Federal Register notice pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer furnaces. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to determine periodically whether more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this final rule, DOE is adopting amended standards for consumer furnaces, specifically non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces. DOE has determined that the amended standards for the subject products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

    • The effective date of this rule is February 16, 2024.
    • Compliance with the amended standards established for the subject consumer furnaces in this final rule is required on and after December 18, 2028.

    For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

    Oil,  Electric,  and Weatherized Gas

    Final Determination
    • Federal Register, 89FR84028 (October 18, 2024)
    Notice of Proposed Determination
    • Federal Register, 88FR83426 (November 29, 2023)

    The residential furnace energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2021-BT-STD-0031 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.

     

    Non-Weatherized Gas and Mobile Home Furnace Standards

    Final Rule
    • Federal Register, 88FR87502 (December 18, 2023)
    Notice of Availability of Preliminary Technical Support Document, Request for Comment and Webinar

    Notice of Data Availability; Comment Extension

    Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
    • Federal Register, 87FR4513 (January 28, 2022)
    Notification of Final Interpretive Rule
    • Federal Register, 86FR73947 (December 29, 2021)
    • This final interpretive rule is effective December 29, 2021.

    Notice of Proposed Interpretive Rule; Comment Extension

    Notice of Proposed Interpretive Rule

    • Federal Register, 86FR53014 (September 24, 2021)
    • Federal Register, 86FR48049 (August 27, 2021)
    Notice of Supplemental Proposed Interpretive Rule; Request for Comment

    The residential furnace energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2014-BT-STD-0031 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.

    Public Meeting Information

    There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

    Submitting Public Comments

    The comment period is closed.

    Test Procedure

    Notice of Denial of Petition
    • Federal Register, 86FR52422 (September 21, 2021)
    Notice of Petition
    Final Rule

    The residential furnace and boiler test procedure docket EERE-2018-BT-PET-0017 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.

    Public Meeting Information

    There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

    Submitting Public Comments

    The comment period is closed.

  • Residential furnaces manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430.32.

  • To determine that residential furnaces that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430.23.

  • Compliance

    DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429.  These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement.  More information on these regulations is available here.

    Waivers

    For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage.

    For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.

    Exceptions

    DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for furnaces.

    For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.

    Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions

    For information on further guidance and answers to frequently asked questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database.

    State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption

    DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.

    Small Business Exemptions

    Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.

    ENERGY STAR®

    DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.

    Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.

  • For more information related to this product, please email:
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