Biden administration unveils new efficiency standards for home furnaces
In an effort to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change, the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed new energy-efficiency standards Monday for residential gas furnaces. The rule, if finalized, would help limit the release of carbon dioxide and methane.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: energy efficiency
The energy price spikes of the 1970s drove consumers, businesses and government to calculate opportunities for energy efficiency — investments, practices, and regulations to avoid some of the energy costs associated with particular products or services. Those calculations ran counter to a lot of engrained practices, and the friction between business and government is a feature of energy and environment policy discussions. Now, energy efficiency decisions — whether involving building practices, appliance efficiency, or vehicle mileage and emissions standards — are a complex mix of government regulation and market behavior.