The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to withdraw previously proposed energy conservation rules for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters. This decision follows a final interpretive rule stating that non-condensing technology is a key performance feature under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which should not be eliminated. The withdrawal is in response to a petition from several gas industry associations, who argued the proposed rules would make non-condensing products unavailable. Consequently, the DOE is reconsidering its approach in line with the new interpretation.
Simple Explanation
The Energy Department decided not to make new rules for certain heaters because some parts of the gas industry think it's important to keep making a type that doesn't need special vents, and those rules would have stopped that.