On August 9, AHRI voiced its disappointment with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit’s ruling, which came out in favor of the Department of Energy (DOE). The lawsuit, filed in 2014 with AHRI member company Zero Zone, challenged DOE's 2014 efficiency standard and test procedure rulemakings for commercial refrigeration equipment. In addition, the Court took nearly a year after oral arguments to issue a decision, leaving manufacturers with only months before the March 27, 2017, compliance deadline.
 
This decision provides further incentive for Congress to update the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, an over 40-year-old law that gives DOE's its energy efficiency rulemaking authority. Reforms are needed to provide stakeholders with an equal voice, greater certainty, and better transparency in the regulatory process. AHRI will continue to work with DOE to advocate for its members and the HVACR and water heating industry. Contact: Monica Cardenas.

On August 4, AHRI Workforce Development Coordinator Misha Adams met with Program Director Tanya Anderson of the TeamBuilders Academy of Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) in Upper Marlboro, Md., to discuss the Rees Scholarship Program and tour the facility.

The TeamBuilders Academy was inspired by former council member Tony Knotts, who recognized a need for specialized training programs in his community. Since its inception, the academy has become PGCC’s Workforce Development Program, offering cohort-based accelerated adult career training in a number of tracks, including HVACR.

Students undergo 10-12 weeks of industry-specific training to prepare for entry-level employment, but many continue on to seek their journeyman’s license through an apprenticeship program at a local company. Students wishing to continue their education are eligible for scholarships to assist in funding their education, including the Rees Scholarship. Adams will return to PGCC once classes are in session to talk to academy program participants about applying for a Rees Scholarship as a way to fund their education in HVACR.

To donate or to obtain additional information, visit the Rees Scholarship Foundation website. Since the Rees Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2003, it has awarded more than $440,000 in scholarships to more than 250 deserving students. Contact: Misha Adams.

On August 1, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a pre-publication Federal Register supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) revising its test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps (AC/HP). While DOE finalized some of the proposed test procedure amendments in a June 2016 final rule, this SNOPR proposes amendments to both Appendix M and M1, addressing issues including off-mode test procedures, clarifications on test set-up and fan delays, limits to gross indoor fin surface area for valid combinations, external static pressure conditions for testing, clarifications on represented values for AC/HP that are distributed in commerce with multiple refrigerants, and the methodology for testing and calculating heating performance. DOE does not expect the proposed changes to Appendix M to change measured efficiency, but proposed procedures in the new Appendix M1 would. At AHRI’s request, DOE will hold a public meeting to discuss the test procedures on August 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DOE’s offices in Washington, D.C. DOE will accept comments from stakeholders until 30 days after the SNOPR’s official publication in the Federal Register. Contact: Karim Amrane.

Daikin surged past Emerson and Carrier into second place this week on the legislative side of the competition due to visits to the offices of Texas Reps. Pete Olson (R), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D), Randy Weber (R), Gene Green (D), Ted Poe (R), and Kevin Brady (R), and Sen. John Cornyn (R). It now boasts 36 points, less than halfway behind Ingersoll Rand’s 61-point lead. Emerson remains in third place, however, pushing Carrier down to fourth, after hosting two staff members for Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) at its Helix Center in Ohio, bringing its tally up to 34 points (left photo). On the school category side, Parker is 10 points ahead of Danfoss, with visits to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville and Morristown, and an apprentice class at UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 22 in Orchard Park, N.Y. (right photo). 

The AHRI Chairman’s Challenge is designed to support the current chairman’s goals for the association. Contestants are competing for Legislative Visit and School Visit awards in two categories: multi-state and single-state. The company in each category with the most points accumulated between November 15, 2015, and October 31, 2016, will receive awards at the 2016 AHRI Annual Meeting. Visit the Chairman’s Challenge webpage to submit an entry, review the new rules for 2016, read helpful FAQs, and access members-only Legislative Visit and School Visit Toolkits. See photos from the competition here. Contact: Monica Cardenas.

Due September 4

Addendum d to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems. This addendum proposes to allow A2L refrigerants in high-probability systems for human comfort, but does not change how the standard deals with A2L refrigerants in industrial applications or machinery rooms.

ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

• Addendum v: Revises two paragraphs in the “Allowable Sites” section of the “Site Sustainability” chapter to encourage building in areas where occupants can walk to conduct errands or have ready access to public transit.
• Addendum w: Updates Performance Option A of Section 7.5.2 to be consistent with recent changes to the performance rating method as published in the 2015 Supplement to Standard 90.1-2013.
• Addendum x: Proposes to delete Performance Path B and sections of Appendix C.
• Addendum y: Adds a requirement for an indoor environmental quality occupant satisfaction survey to be included in the post occupancy plan for operation.
• Addendum z: Revises the lighting power density requirements to include parking structures.
• Addendum aa: Proposes to revise the current requirements for renewable energy systems and the related exceptions. It would require that renewable energy certificates be retained and retired by the building owner for all compliance options.
• Addendum ab: Adds SI values to the requirements for kitchen hood exhausts.
• Addendum ac: Augments requirements for demand response, including modifications to changes made by Addenda b and ce (both approved for publication).
• Addendum ad: Changes the requirements for permanent projections (e.g., balconies, overhangs, or shading devices). It deletes the requirements for permanent projection factors in Climate Zones 4 and 5 (the colder climate zones that include Chicago and New York). It also adds some requirements and exceptions that are similar to those in the International Green Construction Code.

Due September 19

ASHRAE/AHRI Standard 155P, Method of Testing for Rating Commercial Space Heating Boiler Systems. This standard provides procedures for determining the steady state thermal efficiency, part load efficiency, and idling energy input rate of space heating boilers.

ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 211P, Standard for Commercial Building Energy Audits. This standard establishes consistent practices for conducting and reporting audits for commercial buildings.

ASHRAE Standard 214P, Standard for Determining and Expressing Building Energy Performance in a Rating Program. This standard provides uniformity in the building energy labeling and disclosure process and is intended to provide a noncommercial consensus ANSI/ASHRAE standard that can be used in international, national, and regional legislation, policymaking, and regulation activities.

Contact: Michael Woodford.

On August 3-6, AHRI Senior Manager of International Affairs Michael LaGiglia attended ASHRAE’s Region XII Regional Conference in Bonita Springs, Fla., hosted by the Southwest Florida Chapter. AHRI also was pleased to sponsor it at the gold level. Region XII consists of chapters from many Latin American countries and Florida. AHRI sought to build stronger ties with leading ASHRAE chapter professionals, as well as to identify creative ways to promote AHRI/ASHRAE common interests and to better understand the valuable role played by ASHRAE professionals in Region XII.

Throughout 2016, AHRI and ASHRAE have increasingly engaged in cooperative efforts to continue serving their members, governments, and consumers worldwide. Taken together, AHRI and ASHRAE standards compose the largest global technical body of knowledge on test methods, testing and rating standards, and minimum energy performance standards for HVACR equipment. These standards, coupled with AHRI’s certification program, provide a valuable path to compliance for global regulators, allowing governments to cost-effectively verify the energy efficiency claims of equipment before importation into the market. They also provide the world’s most technically advanced and robust test methods and testing and rating procedures for HVACR and water heater equipment. Those standards are the basis of a global industry voluntary effort in more than 20 countries to assure a level playing field for manufacturers through the AHRI certification program. Pictured: LaGiglia (fourth from the right) with ASHRAE Region XII chapter members from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Puerto Rico at the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee Workshop. Contact: Michael LaGiglia.