New air conditioning standards to save money and energy

There’s been a lot of consumer arguments over new energy efficiency standards.

First, consumers complained about the amount and color of light emitted from compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). These costly bulbs will be the only ones on the shelves soon. While they cost more, they save you money on electricity. Still, it’s a move that hasn’t been without controversy.

Now, new standards will change the energy emitted from furnaces, heat pumps, and central air conditioning units. Prices will likely go up, and the savings won’t blow you away. While this move may not make every consumer happy, sometimes the savings can’t be equated in dollars and cents, but in the future impact to our world.

The U.S. Department of Energy created regional standards for central air, heat pumps, and furnaces. This will do away with the one-size fits all model. The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) says a new air conditioner in the South will use about 40 percent less energy, and a furnace in the North will use about 20 percent less energy.

“Climates as different as those of Minneapolis and Miami need different furnace and AC standards,” said Andrew deLaski, Executive Director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Until now, we’ve had one-size-fits-all national standards. These new, regional standards are a major breakthrough that will benefit consumers and the environment.”

There will be three regions for central air conditioners and two regions for furnaces.

This move is being heralded by industry groups. The regional rules will save money and energy. If you buy a furnace and live in the north, it’s expected your heating bills will decrease by $54 a year. If you buy a new central air conditioner in the south, you’ll save about $22 a year. The average heat pump will save $29 a year.

While it will take awhile for the savings to add up and cover the expected price increase for these products, there will be significant energy savings. ASAP said that these new standards will save so much natural gas in 32 years, that you’d be able to heat every home in New York state for 11+ years.

With less electricity being used, it’s expected there will be fewer brownouts and blackouts and the units won’t cause as much air pollution so the ozone alert days may diminish.

The new rules will be phased in depending on the appliance type starting May 1, 2013.

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Content courtesy: jennstrathman.com . Jenn works as a consumer investigator for WEWS-TV in Cleveland and keeps a blog to update people on the latest money-saving tips.