2012 Energy Star Requirements for Gas and Oil Furnaces Gets Tighter

    SEATTLE, WA, January 18, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The program started by the Federal Government in the early 90s announces changes to its requirements for 2012 to a number of home heating products. In order to get the Energy Star emblem on the outside of your gas and oil furnaces moving forward, it must meet new annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) standards. Any gas furnace produced or manufactured as of February 1, 2012 and in the Northern EPA regions of the U.S. or Canada must be 95% or greater in terms of AFUE. In the U.S. south regions, it has to be 90% or greater. Both also require a new furnace fan efficiency requirement of being 2.0% or greater. Oil furnaces must be 85% or greater in terms of AFUE in all regions with the same fan efficiency standard.

Seattle furnace company MM Comfort System's President Craig Williamson welcomes the new standards. One of the reasons why Williamson offers many products that attain these high standards is the belief that MM Comfort Systems always tries to carry the best and most efficient products for its many faithful clients. "As our environment becomes more and more important, it's absolutely critical to install and maintain these very efficient heating and cooling systems that will help us all in the end," Williamson says. In 2013, there are plans for another update to the Energy Star qualification.

The joint program between the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy doesn't have any updates though for other heating and cooling products. It will not be updating its critera for central air conditioners, air-source heat pumps, boilers, small packaged products or thermostats.

Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 to decrease greenhouse gas emissions via energy efficiency. Helping identify the most efficient HVAC products helps consumers choose the ones that will help the environment. The Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. In 2010, the EPA announced that Americans, with the help of of this program, saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 33 million vehicles.

More information about the Energy Star program changes: www.energystar.gov/me-criteria

More information about Seattle's top furnace contractor MM Comfort Systems: http://www.mmcomfortsystems.com

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