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 Residential Central Air Conditioning is one of the CEE initiatives members frequently use. The central air conditioning specifications were first developed in 1995, and have been maintained over time to ensure they represent performance valued by CEE members and their customers. Currently, the Central Air Conditioner Initiative specifies three tiers of performance. The first tier is aligned with the ENERGY STAR® specification and represents performance that will realize energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions on a national basis. In addition, one of the earmarks of these specifications is their longstanding commitment to achieve both energy savings and peak demand reduction by requiring both a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and an Energy Efficiency Rating. |
| These products are readily available in the market from a large number of manufacturers. ENERGY STAR strives to designate products and services that protect the environment through superior energy efficiency while achieving that efficiency without trade-offs in performance or quality. ENERGY STAR does not use performance tiers, instead labeling a product or service energy efficient or not. ENERGY STAR also looks for products that offer attractive financial payback on any additional initial purchase costs. |
| CEE members represent a major investor group in the ENERGY STAR Program, due to the efficiency program industry’s unique role in promoting higher efficiency across all service and product categories. ENERGY STAR benefits from working with the efficiency program industry. Through the CEE forum, members are able to achieve consensus that creates market focus and can be embodied effectively by brand labels. |
| CEE Tier 2 and Tier 3 help distinguish central air conditioners that are super efficient and are often the basis for CEE members and other program administrators to build critical levels of demand for these higher performing products. These higher tiers also provide the HVAC industry with a snapshot of the national consensus performance targets developed by the energy efficiency program industry in consultation with industry. |
| To facilitate implementation of the Central Air Conditioner Initiative and supporting member programs, CEE members partnered with AHRI to develop an online directory of performance certified systems meeting the CEE tiers. This database also serves as the ENERGY STAR Qualified Products List and is expanding its search emphasis to promote the benefits of Quality Installation. |
| Further demonstrating the value and credibility of CEE tiered performance specifications, the federal government just extended tax credits up to $1,500 for central air conditioners and air source heat pumps meeting the highest CEE tier, tier 3. Referencing the CEE specification ensures that the federal performance incentives for super efficiency are in line with CEE member program efforts. This results in a complementary market influence when coupled with CEE member’s efforts. Information on the tax credits may be found at http://www.cee1.org/resid/rs-ac/rs-ac-tax-credits.php3. |
| For more information about this CEE specification, the ENERGY STAR program, or the tax credits, contact John Taylor at jtaylor at cee1.org. |
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