Middleton, MA – The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), the nonprofit member-based organization of efficiency program administrators, research organizations, and efficiency advocates throughout the United States and Canada, published updates to the CEE Residential Electric HVAC and Water Heating specifications. These performance requirements serve as the basis of eligibility for federal 25C tax credits up to $2000 enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as for leading utility financial incentives. The revised levels were approved and authorized by the CEE Board of Directors in October 2024, with effective dates of January 1, 2025.
Water heating and HVAC equipment are the largest residential energy loads, representing immense opportunities for energy savings and grid flexibility. CEE specifications and their associated tiers serve as a pillar of members decarbonization, affordability, and market transformation goals.
These new revisions reflect market advancements in efficiency, heating capacity and the ability for equipment with embedded demand response capabilities to support grid reliability. The specifications are designed to ensure that products recognized by CEE deliver cost-effective energy savings that will deliver customer bill savings and ensure comfort.
“We see great potential in these specifications’ ability to reward leadership by manufacturers and support customer adoption of more efficient and grid flexible equipment when promoted by our members,” says John Taylor, Executive Director of CEE. “The CEE specifications’ citation by the federal tax credit program further amplifies their impact and will help us reach more customers. Program administrators of all types stressed the importance of simplicity, comfort, and increased program participation, which we believe will result from these enhancements.”
Residential Electric HVAC Equipment
CEE residential electric HVAC equipment specifications cover central air conditioners (CACs) and air-source heat pump (ASHP) equipment. Heat pumps use an electric compressor to move heat from one place to another, making them much more efficient than traditional boilers and furnaces. Highlighted updates from this revision include:
Residential Water Heating
The primary driver for the residential electric water heater specification revision is to maximize the energy savings and demand flexibility potential of heat pump water heater programs..
The revised specifications include:
Residential Room Heat Pumps
Over the course of the last year, CEE has been working to develop a first-of-its-kind Room Heat Pump specification that enables more equitable electrification and decarbonization. CEE originally developed this initiative in association with New York’s Clean Heat for All Challenge. Room Heat Pumps are reverse-cycle room air conditioners and existing models combine the efficiency of a mini-split into a packaged, portable form factor. These products have the potential to replace room air conditioners, improving upon cooling efficiency while adding efficient heating capabilities. Beyond the notable performance achieved by models that meet CEE’s specification, the unique form factor of room heat pumps provides opportunities for renters and multi-family building occupants to have improved access to new efficient technologies.
The scope of the proposed specification includes: