Minimum federal efficiencies for air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and water heaters effective 2015 (tank, natural gas)

[Pink Jazz]

I have compiled a list of the upcoming minimum federal efficiencies effective 2015, if anyone was interested.

Central air conditioners and heat pumps:
Current minimum (nationwide) - 13 SEER (7.7 HSPF for heat pumps)
2015 minimum ("Southeast" Region - AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, and VA) - 14 SEER
2015 minimum ("Southwest" Region - AZ, CA, NM, NV) - 14 SEER and 12.2 EER
2015 minimum (all other states) - 13 SEER (unchanged from current standards), 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF for heat pumps

Furnaces:
Current minimum (nationwide, all fuel types) - 78% AFUE
2015 minimum (non-weatherized gas, "Northern" region - AK, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WI) - 90% AFUE
2015 minimum (non-weatherized gas, all other states) - 80% AFUE
2015 minimum (weatherized gas, nationwide) - 81% AFUE
2015 minimum (non-weatherized oil, nationwide) - 83% AFUE
2015 minimum (weatherized oil, nationwide) - 78% AFUE (unchanged from current standards)
2015 minimum (electric, nationwide) - 78% AFUE (unchanged from current standards)

Water heaters:
Current minimum standards (gas storage, by capacity):
30 gallon - 0.61 EF
40 gallon - 0.59 EF
50 gallon - 0.58 EF
60 gallon - 0.56 EF
65 gallon - 0.55 EF
75 gallon - 0.53 EF
100 gallon - 0.48 EF

Current minimum standards (oil storage, by capacity):
30 gallon - 0.53 EF
50 gallon - 0.50 EF

Current minimum standards (electric storage, by capacity):
30 gallon - 0.93 EF
40 gallon - 0.92 EF
50 gallon - 0.90 EF
60 gallon - 0.89 EF
65 gallon - 0.88 EF
80 gallon - 0.86 EF
100 gallon - 0.83 EF
120 gallon - 0.81 EF

Current minimum standard (gas tankless): 0.80 EF

2015 minimum standards (gas storage, by capacity):
30 gallon - 0.63 EF
40 gallon - 0.62 EF
50 gallon - 0.60 EF
60 gallon - 0.75 EF
65 gallon - 0.75 EF
75 gallon - 0.74 EF
100 gallon - 0.72 EF

2015 minimum standards (oil storage, by capacity):
30 gallon - 0.62 EF
50 gallon - 0.59 EF

2015 minimum standards (electric storage, by capacity):
30 gallon - 0.95 EF
40 gallon - 0.95 EF
50 gallon - 0.95 EF
60 gallon - 1.99 EF
65 gallon - 1.98 EF
80 gallon - 1.97 EF
100 gallon - 1.94 EF
120 gallon - 1.92 EF

2015 minimum federal standard (gas tankless): 0.82 EF

What is interesting is that the new standards are essentially banning non-condensing gas storage water heaters, as well as electric resistance storage water heaters with capacities of 55 gallons or greater. After the 2015 standards go into effect, gas storage water heaters of 55 gallons or more will have to be condensing units, while electric water heaters of 55 gallons or more will have to be heat pump units.

Luckily our home meets the 2015 standards (14 SEER AC, 80% AFUE furnace, and 0.62 EF 50-gallon natural gas water heater).

[Pink Jazz]

Also, as a side topic, I wonder if the standards for Energy Star certification will change once the new minimum federal standards go into effect. Here are the current minimum standards for Energy Star certification:

Central air conditioners and heat pumps - 14 SEER
Gas furnaces ("Northern" region) - 95% AFUE
Gas furnaces (all other states) - 90% AFUE
Oil furnaces - 85% AFUE
Gas storage tank water heaters - 0.67 EF (was previously 0.62 EF until 2010)
Heat pump electric storage tank water heaters - 2.0 EF

There is currently no Energy Star label for electric furnaces, standard electric resistance water heaters (whether tanked or tankless), or oil water heaters.