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AHRI Comments on DOE Test Procedures Nov 30, 2011 |
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On Nov. 28, 2011, the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) submitted comments to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) in response to a request for information regarding the current efficiency test procedures for residential water heaters, direct heating equipment, and pool heaters. AHRI's comments supported the development of a modified simulated use test procedure for water heaters, the inclusion of a procedure to test condensing direct heating equipment, and reaffirmed AHRI’s objection to an integrated thermal efficiency metric proposed for pool heaters.
On Nov. 23 AHRI submitted comments to DOE on a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking amending the off-mode test procedures for residential central air-conditioners and heat pumps. AHRI called the amended test procedures a significant improvement over a previous version published in April of this year. AHRI also recommended extending the off-mode power consumption methodology developed for multiple compressor systems to modulated compressors; limiting testing of split systems to the outdoor condensing unit only; and conducting the off-mode test before the steady test "B" and after the steady state "A." The comments also suggested changes to the off-mode test procedure at 57°F.