AHRI Update
April 18, 2024
Top Stories 
Meet the Keynote Speakers for the 2024 AHRI Policy Symposium
AHRI is proud to announce three influential, insightful keynote speakers for the 2024 AHRI Policy Symposium. We have carefully selected this lineup based on their extensive experience in Washington, ensuring that you will receive both credible policy updates and relevant context - putting you in the position to take proactive steps in planning your regulatory agenda.
If you are a senior executive, product engineer, or work in government relations, communications, and marketing, you know the importance of navigating the political landscape in this new era of business. Only the AHRI Policy Symposium puts you in the room with respected leaders in Washington, with sessions tailored to help you make the best business decisions.
Nathan Gonzales is Editor and Publisher of Inside Elections, which provides nonpartisan analysi
s of campaigns for Senate, House, governor, and president. He's also co-host of the Inside Elections Podcast and an Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call. He tackles elections in a nonpartisan, data-driven, and accessible way and offers audiences some of the most detailed electoral forecasting in the business. With a combination of reporting and data, Gonzales breaks down the key races and brings valuable context to complex elections. His personal connections, and extensive reporting experience, allow him to use both historical trends and current polling data to project which candidates are best positioned to win, and which party is most likely to gain control of each chamber.
Nathan Gonzales will be speaking at Monday's opening breakfast.
Gina McCarthy, the first-ever White House National Climate Advisor and former EPA Administrator, is one of the nation’s most respected voices on climate change, the environment, and public health. As head of the Climate Policy Office under President Biden, her leadership led to the most aggressive action on climate in U.S. history, creating new jobs and unprecedented clean energy innovation and investments across the country. Her commitment to bold action across the Biden administration, supported by the climate and clean energy provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, restored U.S. climate leadership on a global stage.
Gina McCarthy will be speaking during Monday's lunch.
Jeff Marootian is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. He previously served as a Senior Advisor to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and as Special Assistant to the President in the Biden-Harris White House. He was also a member of the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Marootian was the Director of the District Department of Transportation, where he led the adoption of sustainable transportation technologies and oversaw more than $4 billion of critical infrastructure and utility projects.
Jeff Marootian will be speaking during Monday's Fireside Chat with Stephen Yurek, AHRI President & CEO from 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
We hope you will plan to join us for this year’s Policy Symposium. As a reminder, the deadline to reserve your room with AHRI's group rate of $369.00 per night, plus tax, is tomorrow, Friday, April 26. Once AHRI's block is full, please reserve your hotel room directly through the Westin Washington, DC Downtown. Please be aware that as of today, the least expensive room outside of our room block is $740 per night, plus tax. Contact: Lauren Little.
AHRI/Industry News
Final AHRI Membership Dues Reminder
On December 15, AHRI sent the official membership dues invoice email to O-Reps, A-Reps and Dues Billing Reps. Weekly reminder emails, containing a secure link to the invoice, are sent every Wednesday to any Member AHRI hasn’t received payment from. Please submit your payment as soon as possible. Contact: Katherine Hunt.
Register Today! AHRI to Host Three-Part Webinar Series on A2L Refrigerants
AHRI is hosting a three-part webinar series on A2L refrigerants designed to assist authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and members of the fire service by providing background, context, and the current landscape of the A2L refrigerant transition. The one-hour webinars will cover topics such as:
Properties of A2L refrigerants,- Regulatory changes that have led to this refrigerant transition,
- Research on A2L refrigerants,
- Recent updates to relevant standards and model codes,
- Current landscape of state and local code updates and legislation regarding the use of A2L refrigerants, and
- Resources that are available for more information on A2L refrigerants and relevant regulatory activity.
The initial session, “Introduction to A2L Refrigerants,” will take place Wednesday, May 1 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT. Hosted by Tom Deary, AHRI Director of Codes, the session will also feature Stephen Spletzer, the Chemours Company’s Global Technical Service Manager of Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Allison Skidd, Rheem’s Director of Global Regulatory Affairs for Air. Click here to register.
Legislative and Regulatory
DOE Approves First Home Energy Rebate Application
Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it approved New York’s funding application for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebate program, awarding an initial $158 million to implement its program. New York plans to launch the program by late summer, initially to low-income homeowners, and later expanding to reach all eligible residents. More information is available here.
In addition to New York, 11 other states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington — submitted funding applications for the Home Energy Rebate program. You can track states’ application progress using this map, which is updated each Monday. DOE has also shared a new resource for consumers, the ENERGY STAR Incentive Finder Tool on DOE’s Energy Savings Hub, which offers assistance in determining and applying for tax credits. Contact: Samantha Slater.
AHRI and Members Express Opposition to California PFAS Bill
On April 18, AHRI staff and members met with legislators during AHRI’s State Summit in Sacramento to inform policymakers of concerns about CA SB 903, which would prevent the sale and use of products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) starting January 1, 2032.
AHRI and its members advocated for a narrowing of the scope of emerging initiatives through prioritization of chemicals of high concern using a risk-based approach to chemical identification. AHRI members provided insights and specific examples that were well-received by representatives at the California State Capitol.
In addition to in-person interaction, AHRI on April 17 sent a letter of opposition to the California Senate Appropriations Committee reiterating concerns about the bill sent in an earlier letter to the bill’s author, Senator Nancy Skinner (D). The Committee has not yet set a hearing date, but May 17 is the deadline for fiscal committees to report bills to the Floor. Contact: Stacy Tatman.
Standards
AHRI Standards Open for Public Review and Comment
Maintenance Review
The Air Handling and Distribution STC proposed that the following published AHRI standards be reaffirmed and requests public comment on whether they should be reaffirmed, revised, or withdrawn.
Document Designation/Title: AHRI Standard 440-2019 (I-P), Performance Rating of Fan-Coil Units
STC: Air Handling and Distribution
Public Review Deadline: April 28
Contact: Sarp Hamamcioglu
Document Designation/Title: AHRI Standard 441-2019 (SI), Performance Rating of Fan-Coil Units
STC: Air Handling and Distribution
Public Review Deadline: April 28
Contact: Sarp Hamamcioglu
Please see more information regarding these documents here. Contact: Jerry Yeh
Weekly Update from ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC
This week’s summary of standards activities at ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC that is relevant to AHRI’s work is available here. Current and previous standards activities for ASHRAE can be found here. Current and previous standards activities for ANSI can be found here.