The quality installation specification developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is nearing completion.

This specification, developed with input from CEE staff and several CEE members, defines a set of minimum requirements for an energy-efficient installation of unitary (residential and small commercial) HVAC equipment.

The technical installation requirements laid out in the final draft received a ringing endorsement from a diverse group of stakeholders at CEE's Industry Partners Meeting last month. The public commenting period, which was extended due to significant changes to the final draft, concluded on Oct. 22. New input is now being considered and the specification is expected to be finalized.

“CEE's members and EPA have had a strong voice in development of the ACCA specification,” said CEE Program Manager John Taylor, who is coordinating CEE's involvement in the specification development process. “We're hopeful the outcome will be useful to both local and national voluntary energy-efficiency programs.”

A well-attended breakout session at the Industry Partners Meeting included seven equipment manufacturers and CEE members as well as representatives from ACCA, the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and other interested stakeholder groups. Attendees supported the use of the ACCA specification as a basis for the 2007 ENERGY STAR^® quality installation specification.

“Most attendees agreed on the potential value the ENERGY STAR brand could bring to the residential HVAC installation market,” Taylor said. “An ENERGY STAR installation could be an excellent selling point for contractors. If and when ENERGY STAR launches a QI program, it will be extremely important to have major market stakeholders on board with the underlying definition.”

Julie Humes, Marketing Manager of Lennox Industries, noted that “the brand recognition of ENERGY STAR is valuable to us, but it's important that ENERGY STAR address equipment and installations separately.”

There was general agreement at the session regarding Humes's point and attendees acknowledged that communicating an "ENERGY STAR Quality Installation” must be done carefully and explicitly.

“It is critical that there is no confusion between ENERGY STAR-qualified HVAC equipment and an ENERGY STAR installation,” said Dick Lord, Director of Product Engineering at Carrier Corporation.

ENERGY STAR is currently testing the installation concept in the Pacific Gas & Electric service territory, making use of the ACCA specification as its basis (see related story). EPA staff members have indicated that an ENERGY STAR Quality Installation program (that will likely require a local program sponsor) is expected to be launched in 2007.

ACCA believes the specification is a comprehensive document that provides minimum requirements for virtually every aspect of HVAC installation. Attendees at the breakout session agreed that most contractors do not currently verify all the requirements in the specification.

“We understand that consistently meeting this specification will be a challenge for industry,” Taylor said. “Based on CEE member field studies and input from contractors serving on the ACCA QI Committee, the average installation is well below what is required in the ACCA spec.

“If contractors, manufacturers, distributors, ENERGY STAR and our members get behind it, and there is proper verification the specification is achieved, it could achieve widespread acceptance. When that happens, the energy savings and peak demand reduction should be substantial.”

According to a 1999 ACEEE study, a quality installation “could save an average of 24 percent of energy use in existing homes and 35 percent in new construction.” Recent field studies by CEE members suggest the savings remain significant.

CEE will keep members informed about the progress of the ACCA specification and the potential adoption of the specification by ENERGY STAR. The hope is that an ENERGY STAR installation program will be ready for use in CEE member programs at the outset of the 2007 summer cooling season.

For further information about the ACCA specification or if you would like to be involved in developing comments for EPA about the ENERGY STAR QI Program, contact John Taylor at 617-589-3949, ext. 228.

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