As innovative and forward-looking as our member companies are with respect to producing energy efficient products, ensuring that highly energy efficient products result in actual energy conservation is another matter. It is not nearly enough to just mandate higher energy efficiency levels for products, whether they are furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, or water heaters. Instead, we must develop a comprehensive approach to encourage actual energy conservation, especially with respect to the use of the products that our members manufacture.

There is a tendency in governments at all levels to prescribe regulatory remedies for problems and assume the problem is then solved. The 13 SEER mandate that took effect in early 2006 is an excellent example of this. Congress and the Energy Department probably figured energy use would start to drop as people replaced their old equipment with more efficient units. I’m certain they felt the same way when they issued higher efficiency rules for furnaces and water heaters and other products. But peak energy use has not dropped.

That’s because regulators and lawmakers didn’t count on two important phenomena. First, with highly efficient equipment costing significantly more, homeowners were more likely than ever to repair their inefficient equipment rather than install a new model. This is borne out in lower manufacturer shipment rates and higher than normal part sales. That is part of the law of unintended consequences. When someone repairs their aging boiler, furnace, air conditioner or water heater, rather than updating it, no energy is saved.

Second, those who did install highly efficient equipment are as likely as not to use the anticipated cost savings from lower energy use to make themselves more comfortable. That is, rather than lowering their bills and saving energy, they chose to lower the thermostat a few degrees in the summer, or raise it a few degrees in the winter, especially at night, to increase their comfort level while keeping their energy bills at essentially the same level.

With all this in mind, the AHRI embarked on a comprehensive public relations campaign to educate consumers about ways they can maximize efficiency and comfort, while saving energy and money. At a time when energy prices are up sharply, and the U.S. economy is stagnant, this campaign is timely, necessary, and of great benefit for consumers.

Known as the 2 Degree Pledge, the campaign encourages consumers to take at least two steps to ensure maximum efficiency, conservation, and comfort. This includes the use of a programmable thermostat to set and keep a conservative home temperature without sacrificing comfort; regular and proper maintenance including regular replacement of filters; consideration of a system upgrade depending on factors such as age, climate, and efficiency level of the current system; and much more. For those seeking to upgrade their heating or cooling systems, the campaign directs them to contractors that employ NATE-certified technicians and provides them with a handy checklist of questions to ask their technician to ensure they receive a quality installation.

The campaign’s Website, www.2degreepledge.org, contains a wealth of information of use to homeowners seeking to reduce energy use while maintaining comfort. In fact, it was designed as a “one-stop shop” for consumers who need information on just about any aspect of energy use and savings. Included, for example, are non-HVAC related tips such as how to ensure proper insulation, and how to choose energy efficient windows and window treatments.

On the site, homeowners can get information about technologies they might not be aware of that could increase their comfort while reducing their energy use. Using zone controls, for example, can ensure the maximum amount of conditioned air to the areas of a home in greatest use at a given time. Zone controls use thermostats to direct air where it is needed most – to the bedrooms at night, for example, or to the kitchen and dining rooms during mealtimes.

Information about two-stage heating and cooling, humidity control, dual fuel technologies, and variable speed motors is also available on the site.

Industry has taken the lead in developing, building, and selling highly efficient heating and cooling equipment. We are now taking the logical next step, which is educating consumers on how to maximize the efficiency and the comfort this innovative equipment is designed to provide. In doing so, we position the industry as part of the energy conservation solution, which, if you think about it, is where we’ve been all along.