DOE Halts Sales of Inefficient Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

The Department of Energy (DOE) has ordered three manufacturers to stop distributing 61 models of heat pumps and one air conditioner model that do not comply with federal energy conservation standards.

On June 3, DOE ordered Aspen Manufacturing, Inc.; Summit Manufacturing; and Advanced Distributor Products to halt the distribution of the noncompliant models and to notify all previous buyers of the noncompliant models. If the companies fail to respond or to notify their customers, DOE will seek a judicial order to prevent the sale of the noncompliant models.

Under federal law, manufacturers of certain products covered by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act must certify with DOE that their models meet the applicable minimum energy conservation standards. Based on certification information submitted to DOE, the agency discovered that Aspen Manufacturing had certified 58 heat pumps models and one air conditioner model that failed to meet federal energy efficiency standards by up to 7%. DOE also found one heat pump model manufactured by Summit Manufacturing that failed the energy use standards by about 16%, as well as two heat pump models manufactured by Advanced Distributor Products that missed the standard by 1%-2%.

DOE press release

DOE Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program

Source: www.energy.gov