Advocacy
DOE Withdraws Commercial Furnace Test Procedure Following Industry Opposition
October 12, 2026 | 1 minute read
The Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized a rule withdrawing a previously finalized energy-efficiency test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces. This change removes unnecessary testing requirements that HVAC manufacturers argued would raise costs without providing meaningful benefits.
The rule removes the Thermal Efficiency 2 (TE2) test procedure established in 2023. Manufacturers will continue using the existing thermal efficiency test procedure to demonstrate compliance with federal energy efficiency standards. The change does not eliminate or modify the underlying efficiency standards.
The HVAC industry supported the decision, including AHRI, AAON, Johnson Controls, Rheem, and Trane Technologies. AHRI previously challenged the original rule in federal court, arguing that the additional testing requirements would impose substantial costs on manufacturers without significantly improving efficiency measurements.
DOE ultimately determined that the uncertain benefits of the additional testing did not justify the increased burden on manufacturers.
Read the DOE final rule in the Federal Register.
Questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to Alex Ayers.
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Alex Ayers
Vice President of Government Affairs
Alex is HARDI’s lead lobbyist and regulatory expert, with over a decade of experience in Washington, DC. A former Iowa caucus delegate, he built early roots in grassroots politics. He has lobbied, published, and testified on taxes, energy, environment, agriculture, and economics. His work has been cited by the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Tax Foundation.
