Arizona

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The following article is from the IAPMO Green Newsletter. Seems Arizona has mandated 90% furnaces, and 15 SEER A/C. The industry is challenging that law. [/FONT]




[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Green Building Regulations Challenged in Court[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), and 11 HVAC product distributors and contractors have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Albuquerque's new green building legislation. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The city's recently passed Energy Conservation Code establishes stricter requirements for several appliances, including 90 percent AFUE for furnaces and 15 SEER for air conditioners. (The current federal standard is 13 SEER and 78% AFUE) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The 35-page lawsuit maintains that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 and other federal laws preempt any local regulations, unless the city has a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The associations contend that the codes will strip consumers of choice, significantly drive up cost, and create a black market for the installation of cheaper, less efficient equipment from unlicensed contractors. If the city is allowed to proceed, other cities and states could follow suit, causing confusion as to what standards must be followed. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The associations have been working with the city since the legislation was signed back in January, but no progress has been made.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The ruling is likely to have a significant impact on the green building movement, and could set a national precedent for local legislation to be challenged more extensively.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Implementation of the new standards was supposed to take effect April 1, 2008, but the city has postponed enforcement until October. [/FONT]

?

I live in Phoenix, AZ and my sister lives in Albequerque. I didn't know we were neighbors.

Well, it is early, and my glasses are still fogged up. You mean Arizona is not in Albuquerque?

This is so typical of american industry. They sound a lot like the auto industry when seatbelts were mandated. States are free to do as they like as long as its not any lower then federal standards

Now if we could only get cold places like New England to enact such rules we would be getting some where.