ACCA Vice Chair Jerry Bosworth Testifies Before House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

February 10, 2016

On Wednesday, February 10, Jerry Bosworth of Bosworth Air Conditioning in Galveston, TX, testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology at a hearing on federal regulations. His testimony focused on recent Department of Energy appliance standards for residential furnaces and boilers, central air conditioners and heat pumps, Environmental Protection Agency rules on refrigerants, and the lack of regard for installation practices for HVACR equipment. 

Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) called the hearing to examine the issue of “midnight” regulations that often appear in the last few months of a president’s term. 

In his statement  regarding the proposed 92% AFUE furnace standard, Bosworth said, “The rulemaking process is broken and needs changes to ensure that new appliance standards designed to save energy realize those expected savings without adding unnecessary burdens to manufacturers, distributors, and contractors; and promote consumer choice and a positive payback on the investment. A standard that would negatively impact 31% of homeowners who purchase a new furnace should not be proposed. 

“The aggressive approach in the last few years to increasing the energy conservation standards for HVACR equipment has impacted more than just the OEMs," said Paul T. Stalknech, ACCA president and CEO. "It affects small business contractors and their customers. The proposed 92% AFUE nationwide standard is a good example. By DOE’s own accounting more than 31% of homeowners in southern states would never see a positive payback on the purchase of a new furnace.”

Also testifying before the committee were Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy; Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council; and Sam Batkins, Director of Regulatory Policy of American Action Forum.

You can listen to a full recording of the testimony online here.

 

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ACCA is a non-profit association serving more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses in the indoor environment and energy services community. Our member firms are the nation's most professional contracting businesses, serving residential and commercial customers in every state. With roots stretching back a century, ACCA was incorporated in its present form nearly 50 years ago. Today, ACCA sets the standards for quality comfort systems, provides leading-edge education for contractors and their employees, and fights for the interests of professional contractors throughout the nation. Learn more about ACCA here.