New energy efficiency rules for air conditioners are delayed again

The US Department of Energy has again postponed new energy efficiency testing rules for central air conditioners and heat pumps. This means manufacturers will continue to use older, less stringent test methods for longer.

The US government has been trying to update how it measures the energy efficiency of air conditioners for years. Each delay means that the actual energy performance of these appliances in homes is likely worse than what the labels suggest. This also means that manufacturers have more time before they must meet higher standards, which can affect their product development cycles and costs.