No Test Failures Points to Need for DOE to Re-evaluate Testing Focus

February 7, 2012
Contact: Francis Dietz, Vice President, Public Affairs
Direct: 703.600.0355

Arlington, Va. — The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is pleased by the results of verification testing of appliances and tankless and storage water heaters released by the U.S. Department of Energy under the ENERGY STAR^® program. The released results show that all tests of the claimed efficiency levels for storage and tankless water heaters turned up not a single result that would require further action.

“The results of these tests support our belief that our certification participants’ products are being properly rated and should not be the focus of enhanced federal scrutiny,” said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. “The water heater tests are an excellent indication that AHRI’s private-sector certification program should be relied upon by DOE to verify compliance with federal energy efficiency standards,” he added.

Of the products listed in the table below, only tankless water heaters and storage water heaters had perfect results, while no other category had less than 14 percent of the products requiring further action. “The complete results indicate that the Department’s focus would be better aimed at other product categories, where there has not been a long history of an industry supported and recognized certification program,” Yurek said.

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About AHRI
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating, commercial refrigeration, and water heating equipment.  An internationally recognized advocate for the industry, AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products.  AHRI’s 309 member companies manufacture quality, efficient, and innovative residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment and components for sale in North America and around the world.