New agreement sets regional standards for heating and cooling appliances, could save consumers billions

The Pledge of Allegiance describes the United States as "one nation . . . indivisible." But a new agreement among manufacturers of heating and cooling equipment and energy-efficiency advocates divides the country in three.

The voluntary "Agreement on Legislative and Regulatory Strategy for Amending Federal Energy Efficiency Standards, Test Procedures, Metrics and Building Code Provisions for Residential Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, Weatherized and Non-Weatherized Furnaces And Related Matters" splits the country into north, south, and southwest regions (shown) and mandates new, tougher efficiency standards for that heating and cooling equipment. The agreement raises the minimum efficiency of residential central-air-conditioning systems by about 8 percent and furnaces by about 13 percent.

The agreement was signed by the Alliance to Save Energy, the Appliance Standards Awareness Project; the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; the California Energy Commission; the Natural Resources Defense Council; Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships; and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Among the manufacturers who inked the agreement are Bard Manufacturing, Carrier Corporation, Goodman Manufacturing, Johnson Controls/York, Lennox International, Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA, National Comfort Products, Nordyne, Rheem Manufacturing, and Trane/Ingersoll Rand.

The new standards will go into effect in 2013, and by 2030 they could save consumers $13 billion, an average annual savings of $100 per household. Over that time, the more-efficient equipment will use 3.7 quadrillion Btu less energy, equivalent to that used by about 18 million households in a year, and in 2030 reduce annual greenhouse-gas emissions by 23 million metric tons, equal to what equal to 4 million cars produce every year.

Manufacturers should benefit from not having to deal with multiple state standards. "Massachusetts, for example, applied for a waiver from federal furnace standards they felt were too weak, so there was a lot of uncertainty among manufacturers of what the requirements they were going to be," notes Lowell Ungar, director of policy for the Alliance to Save Energy.

Tougher standards might also prompt manufacturers to try to exceed them. "It depends on the circumstances, but air conditioners in general have gotten much more efficient. The shift from the SEER-10 to SEER-13 minimum standard was a 30 percent improvement, and the market also shifted, so you could find SEER-14 and -15 models, and if the standard were to go higher, manufacturers will come out with SEER-17 and -18 models," says Ungar.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buyer's guides to furnaces and air conditioners and refer to our brand repair history for gas furnaces and central-air-conditioning systems (available to subscribers). See our Energy Saving & Green Living guide for more details on ways to cut your utility bills and improve your home and stay on top of the news related to the cash for clunkers for appliances rebate program.

Image courtesy of Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, Alliance to Save Energy, and American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Weekend Project: Make your home more energy efficient during Energy Awareness Month

The poster for the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Awareness Month campaign for 2009 (shown) declares, "We're putting all the pieces together" and shows a jigsaw puzzle of the United States. That's an apt representation of how puzzling the energy issue can be for many consumers. But as you'll read in our energy-saving special in the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, saving big bucks on your utility bills doesn't have to be that complicated.

If you've already made your home as efficient as possible but need appliances, read our FAQ on the $300 million cash for clunkers for appliances program.

Install a programmable thermostat. Lowering your thermostat by 5° to 10°F at night and when no one is at home will reduce your winter heating bills by up to 20 percent, and a programmable thermostat makes heat management a snap. Refer to our thermostat ratings (available to subscribers) to find a model that's easy to operate and maintains consistent temperatures. After you choose a new model, learn how to install a programmable thermostat.

Check attic insulation. Many homes lack adequate attic insulation, especially those built before 1980. You need at least 11 inches of fiberglass or 8 inches of cellulose to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Use the DOE's ZIP-code insulation program to get specific insulation recommendations for your home and Energy Star's page with insulation information. And take advantage of federal tax credits on the purchase of new insulation.

Plug air leaks. While you’re checking for insulation, inspect the attic floor for cracks and gaps around canister lights, ductwork, and other electrical and plumbing penetrations. Recessed-light fixtures are another air-leakage source because many designs require some airflow to prevent them from overheating.  Consider replacing these with models designed for airtight construction. Even the smallest leaks contribute to the stack effect, whereby heated air escapes through the attic and is replaced with cool air from lower levels.

Get your heating system inspected. An annual checkup by a licensed heating contractor will eliminate inefficiencies in your heating system. Though not included in the typical annual checkup, have the duct-distribution system inspected to find and seal leaks. Additionally, sections of the duct system that pass through unheated parts of the home should be insulated properly. An annual inspection can also reduce the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning from furnaces. Even with an inspection, it's critical to install CO and smoke alarms on every level of your home; read our report on both types of alarms in the November 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

Consider an energy audit. If you suspect your home is severely inefficient, it may be worth hiring a home-performance contractor to perform a whole-house energy audit. Some pros will waive the cost of the audit if you hire them for the work. If you're lucky, your contractor will be up on the latest incentives as well as PACE, or Property Assessed Clean Energy, bonds.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Visit our Energy Saving & Green Living guide for information on more ways to save energy.

Weekend Project: Even as summer enters final weeks, save by taking advantage of cooling incentives

Cool roofs are a hot item, with no less an advocate than Energy Secretary Steven Chu promoting their potential to save energy during an appearance on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. And while the U.S. Department of Energy is lacking in some ways when it comes to reducing energy use, the United States Postal Service has unveiled a new green roof (shown) atop its 2.2 million square foot mail-processing facility on Manhattan's West Side.

While such a project is too ambitious for your home, you should take advantage of the plentiful federal, state, and utility incentives for air conditioning and other improvements and equipment that will help you reduce your cooling and heating costs. (Read "Cash for Clunkers Moves to Appliances. Money Back for Your Old Kelvinator?" for details on the federal government's $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.)

Air Conditioner Tune-Ups
There are several state and local utility incentives for central-air systems. Rocky Mountain Power and the Long Island Power Authority provide $100 rebates for tuning up central-air-conditioning systems.

Duct Insulation
As much as 30 to 40 percent of your cooling energy can be lost through leaks or when uninsulated ducts pass through uncooled spaces like the attic and garage. "Its certainly reduces the impact of a very efficient central-air unit if your ducts are leaking like a sieve and you have inadequate attic insulation," says Ed Clark, director of communications for Austin, Texas-based Austin Energy. That utility is offering rebates for duct-system performance testing, sealing, replacement, and insulation.

Programmable Thermostats
Today's best programmable thermostats can help you cut heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent. Utilities in 34 states offer rebates of up to $70 for programmable thermostats—enough to cover the entire purchase price of seven of the 10 recommended models in our ratings (available to subscribers).

Whole-House and Ceiling Fans
California's Sacramento Municipal Utility District offers a $100 rebate on a whole-house fan system. These work by pulling in cool air from open windows and exhausting hot air from vents in the upper part of the home. Pasadena Water & Power will give its customers a $50 rebate on a ceiling fan, provided it's outfitted with an energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulb and you buy it from a local retailer.

Weatherization Projects
Weatherization products such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, and doors can qualify for a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the cost, up to a $1,500 maxiumum. California's Alameda Municipal Power will pay up to 80 percent of caulking, weather stripping, and building insulation costs. National Grid offers customers in Massachusetts a 75 percent reimbursement up to $2,000 for similar improvements. The Orlando Utility Commission offers a $1-per-square-foot rebate on Energy Star-qualified windows and a $100 rebate for installing window film. Note that payback for your investment in these types of projects can be much longer than it is for other improvements you'll make.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: See our maintenance checklist for air-conditioning systems and learn how to add a ceiling fan. Our latest report on cooling (available to subscribers) provides details on window, portable, split-ductless, and central air conditioning.

Cash for clunkers moves to appliances. Money back for your old Kelvinator?

Will this fall's federal rebate do for home appliances and heating and cooling systems what the Car Allowance Rebate System—aka cash for clunkers—has done for cars and trucks? The appliance industry certainly hopes so: Sales of dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines—the three appliances covered by the appliance-rebate program—have been off by some 25 percent from their peak during the last housing boom.

As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Obama administration is encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient appliances through the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, which will dole out amounts that could reach $200 per appliance if you buy Energy Star-qualified models.

Appliances that qualify for Energy Star use roughly 10 to 25 percent less energy than the maximum allowed for that category by the U.S. Department of Energy, which runs Energy Star with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Watch the video here on our latest tests of water- and energy-efficient dishwashers at right.)

Unlike cash for clunkers, you won't have to turn in your old appliance to get a rebate. But states are expected to have recycling plans for the flood of old appliances the program could unleash. And while the money is coming from Washington, how much you get for which appliance will be a state-by-state decision.

State energy offices must detail the amount of the rebates for each appliance category and their plan for recycling old appliances by October 15. The money will be divided via a formula in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that is largely based on state population. For example, California, with a population of nearly 37 million, will receive just over $35 million, while Alaska's 686,000 inhabitants will get $658,477.

Combining the soon-to-be enhanced state incentives with those from federal government and local utilities can yield significant savings. We've detailed how you can combine these specific incentives on appliances, solar-, wind-, and geothermal-energy technologies, and air-conditioning systems.

You can save even more with these recently published appliance-buying tips from more than 25,000 Consumer Reports subscribers. We've also got ratings (available to subscribers) of 16 major appliance retailers and a wide range of appliances.—Bob Markovich | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Our ratings of air conditioners, dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines (available to subscribers) detail the best blends of efficiency and performance in our tough tests, which are typically more stringent than the federal government's. Our ongoing tests have also shown that some Energy Star models use more energy than their EnergyGuide labels suggest. Watch this story from CNN, which features Consumer Reports Home Editor Bob Markovich talking about the appliance-rebate program. And read our FAQ on the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

Interest in energy-saving cool roofs grows

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Today's New York Times features an good read on cool roofs, a topic we covered in mid-June with Buzzword: Cool Roofs. (Cool roofs are designed to reflect sunlight, resulting in a cooler building and energy and money savings.)

As The Times' "White Roofs Catch on as Energy Cost Cutters" points out, Energy Secretary Steven Chu is a big fan of cool roofs and their energy-saving potential. Chu even appeared on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart last week to discuss them as well as issues like the cap-and-trade aspect of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. (Watch the video of his appearance, right.)

Calculate how much money you might save with a cool roof by using the U.S. Department of Energy's cool-roof calculator.

Essential information: Check out our June 2009 report on roofing and July 2009 report on air conditioning (available to subscribers), stay cool without sky-high energy bills, and read about ceiling fans. And look for our special report on energy saving at home, with coverage of pellet-burning stoves, solar water heaters, and ratings of compact fluorescent lightbulbs, in the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in late August.

In the Pacific Northwest, residents trying to keep their cool during heat wave

The average high temperature for July in Seattle is 75.1°F; in Portland, Oregon, it’s 78.9°F.

But the recent record-setting temperatures during the Pacific Northwest’s relentless heat wave—forecasts call for the mercury to climb to 109°F in Portland this afternoon—have made the usual summer weather something for area residents to dream of. “It’s very uncomfortable for us. I don’t have air conditioning because we get so little hot weather,” Virginia Lindtott told KING5 news in Seattle.

Since few folks in that part of the country have air conditioning at home—one local TV station put the number at only 15 percent—heat-weary Washingtonians and Oregonians are desperately seeking some relief from the heat. Watch this video of Washington state residents queuing up to buy air conditioners and read local coverage of the infernal weather from The Seattle Times and The Oregonian.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest or any other part of the country where Mother Nature’s doling out oppressive weather, use the information below to find the best, most energy-efficient, and cost-effective ways to stay cool.

And since the National Weather Service is predicting the heat to linger for the next couple of days in the Seattle and Portland areas (the image shows an NWS map for part of Oregon), follow these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid heat-related illness. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Free Air Conditioners Buying Guide

July 2009 Report on Air Conditioning (story and ratings available to subscribers)

Information on Portable Air Conditioners (available to subscribers)

Free Sizing Calculator for Air Conditioners

Details on Ceiling Fans

By the Numbers: Shipments of air conditioners and major appliances decline in June

29.2 percent

Year-over-year percentage decline in shipments of major appliances for June 2009, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Vendors shipped about 5.7 million units in June 2009, down from 8 million units a year earlier. Air conditioners were especially hard hit, with annualized shipments sinking 60 percent. The cool, wet late spring/early summer hurt AC sales, but even where the mercury rose, many homeowners decided to forgo air conditioning to save on energy costs, according to this recent article in The New York Times.

If you’re not willing to sweat it out all summer, the slumping shipment figures could mean even deeper discounts on air conditioners, and you might find it easier to hire a top contractor to install a central-air system.

Read the special report on cooling in the July 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, and check out the free buyer’s guide to air conditioners (ratings and central-air brand-reliability information available to subscribers).—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Microsoft builds Hohm, a new energy-monitoring system

Months after Google rolled out its PowerMeter energy-monitoring service, Microsoft has unveiled Hohm, its own free service designed to let you access, analyze, and optimize energy use through links to utilities and vendors of energy-efficient products and services.

"If you break up the energy-consumption sector in the Untied States, you'll see residential is the most underserved," says Troy Batterberry, Microsoft Hohm's product unit manager. "Commercial and industrial sectors have had the ability to hire experts to help them drive down energy costs, but most residential users haven't had an easy-to-use, inexpensive tool to help them do the same thing."

The service, a beta version of which launched on July 6, takes its name from home and ohm, the unit of electrical resistance. "We wanted a short name with a unique spelling so users could find it very quickly via Web searches—but it's also a nod to the electrical-engineering profession," Batterberry says. I guess Hohm sounds better than Holt (home and volt), Hampere (home and ampere), Hurrent (home and current), or Hatt (home and watt).

If you have a Windows Live ID, you can use your existing login to access Hohm; otherwise, you need furnish only your Zip code and e-mail address to gain access. After joining, you'll get a screen with a pie chart showing the average breakdown of energy consumption in your area, based on information Microsoft has licensed from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy.

And if you're a customer of one of Hohm's four current utility partners—Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (PDF), and Xcel Energy (PDF)—you'll get a comparison of how your annual energy costs rate against other homes in the area.

Weekend Project: Tune up your air conditioning

If you haven't done it already, now's the time to get your air conditioning tuned up and installed for summer. Use these tips from Consumer Reports and RepairClinic.com to ensure peak air-conditioning performance when the mercury rises. And if you're in the market for new air conditioning, read "Financial Incentives Could Make Air Conditioners a Hot Buy."

Window, Portable, and Through-the-Wall Air Conditioners
Clean or replace filter(s). Remove the filter(s) and vacuum off debris. You can wash a dirty filter in warm, soapy water; be sure it's completely dry before you reinstall it. (Some filters are washable but check the user manual for care recommendations.) If a filter is damaged or deteriorated, replace it. (Take an old one with you to the store to ensure you buy the right model and size.) If you can't find the specific replacement filter you need, buy filter material and cut it to fit. Clean the filter once a month during cooling season.

Vacuum the coils. Vacuum any debris from the indoor and outdoor coils with an upholstery-brush attachment before you install a room air conditioner. Take care not to damage or deform the soft fins. Specially designed fin combs work much better than screwdrivers at straightening out bent fins.

Then remove the unit's cover and use soft brush or a can of compressed air to remove dirt from the inside of the coils and the bottom of the air conditioner.

Install and seal the unit(s). Air conditioners installed in a shady spot could run up to 10 percent more efficiently, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Seal the perimeter of the installed unit with new weather stripping, if needed. Also, secure the unit so that a burglar can't push it in and, more important,  so that it can’t fall out of the window and injure someone.

Avoid "short cycling." Wait 10 minutes after shutting off the unit to restart it. This allows the pressure in the refrigeration system to equalize and will prolong the life of your air conditioner.

Central Air Conditioning
Call in a pro. Have a licensed professional perform key maintenance tasks, including changing all filters, cleaning and flushing the coils, draining the pan and drainage system, and vacuuming the blower compartments. The contractor should also check that the system is properly charged with refrigerant, that there are no leaks, and that all mechanical components are working properly. As with a room air conditioner, replace disposable filters regularly. Check them monthly and replace if dust and debris have completely coated the filter.

Insulate ductwork. Ensure that ducts throughout the system are sealed and insulated—up to 30 to 40 percent of your cooling energy can be lost through leaks or heat when uninsulated ducts pass through uncooled spaces like attics and garages.

Perform seasonal checks. During the season, keep vegetation at least two feet away from the unit. Clean the grills and filter(s) monthly and replace the latter as needed. Clear debris and dirt from condenser coils and check for blockages in the pipe that drains condensed water from the indoor unit.

Use a programmable thermostat. Proper use of a programmable thermostat can reduce your cooling costs by up to 20 percent. Also consider adding a ceiling fan, which will allow you to set your thermostat to a higher temperature. And find more ways to cut your cooling costs.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook Essential information:

Essential information: Our latest report on air conditioning (story and ratings available to subscribers) covers split-ductless systems and portable air conditioners and includes reliability information on brands of central air conditioning.

Buzzword: Cool Roof

What it means. Never heard of a "cool roof"? Abandon your visions of an overhyped hipster-filled rooftop bar or eatery in an edgy, funky neighborhood. A cool roof, simply put, is a roof designed to reflect sunlight. Since the roof stays cooler, less heat is transferred to the building below, resulting in a cooler building and energy and money savings.

Why the buzz? U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu recently made headlines when he was in London to attend a symposium on climate change. He said that painting all roofs white or light colors could help significantly reduce the amount of energy used to cool buildings.

But this idea is about not only the color of a roof but also its solar reflectance (SR) and thermal emittance (TE), which are rated on a scale of 0 to 1, with 1 being the most reflective or emissive. The Cool Roof Rating Council trade group says it rates products based on their initial values and after three years of weather exposure. The cool-roof concept is to use reflective coatings or materials. So a cool roof could be made of clay or concrete tiles or other materials suitable for a climate along with coatings in a range of colors that are designed to reflect the rays of the sun. The photo shows a home with MCA clay roof tiles in Riverside, California.

Cool roofs lower the surface temperature of a roof by up to 100*F, according to the California Energy Commission, which estimates that cool roofs can trim cooling costs by 20 percent on average in California. The CRRC estimates the average energy savings are 7 to 15 percent of cooling costs.

But the U.S. Department of Energy says that reflective roofs don't work in all situations, and the biggest benefits are reaped in hot, sunny climates where air conditioning is used frequently. Homes in shady spots or those with well-insulated attics might not see significant benefits. Cool roofs can also increase heating costs in the winter. To figure out how much energy you'll save, use the DOE's cool-roof calculator.

If you are considering a cool roof, find out whether the materials qualify for a federal tax credit and request a manufacturer's certification statement. You could receive a 30 percent tax credit (up to $1,500) for the material costs if the roof is installed this year or next. Also look online for rebates from utility companies.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our June 2009 report on roofing and July 2009 report on air conditioning (available to subscribers), stay cool without sky-high energy bills, and read about ceiling fans.