Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:December 7, 2005

News and Events New Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards Take Effect in January DOE, EPA Join Leadership Group to Boost Utility Efficiency Spending Hawaii Army Bases to Feature 3,000 Homes with Solar Power Corporate Group Reaches 360 Megawatts of Green Power Capacity Canadian Company Begins Commercial Delivery of BioOil Site NewsACEEE Offers Condensed Online Version of its Consumer Guide Energy ConnectionsEIA Expects High Energy Prices Through 2006 News and Events New Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards Take Effect in JanuaryStarting next year, U.S. consumers who buy new houses or upgrade their cooling systems could benefit from new, tougher energy efficiency standards for central air conditioners. Units manufactured after January 23rd, 2006, will have to achieve a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 13, a 30 percent improvement over current standards. The new standards are expected to save consumers $1 billion over the next 25 years. In addition, the 2006 standards will raise the energy efficiency standards for new central heat pumps to a SEER of 13 in cooling mode and a Heating Season Performance Factor of 7.7, which represents a 13 percent improvement in heating efficiency. The new standard will also increase the cooling efficiency of single-package air conditioners and single-package heat […]

Read More