Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces; Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Direct Heating Equipment

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing a final rule technical amendment to implement two orders issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in separate litigation. Specifically, DOE is amending the relevant portions of its regulations to reflect the Court's order vacating the amended energy conservation standards for non-weatherized gas furnaces (including mobile home furnaces), which were adopted in the June 27, 2011 direct final rule for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. Similarly, DOE is also amending the relevant portions of its regulation to reflect the Court's decision to vacate the regulatory definition of "vented hearth heater" (and by implication, the associated energy conservation standards), which were developed in the April 27, 2010 and November 18, 2011 final rules for residential direct heating equipment.