HVACPlumbing
Energy Star secures mandatory funding, a program first
January legislation earmarked $33 million for the program and included a directive that the administration not take actions to reduce the amount
Legal
HVAC
Low-income HVAC program gets $4 billion
Congress passed — and the president signed — an appropriations bill that includes over $4 billion for LIHEAP
Plumbing
Rebate overhaul spurs jump in heat pump water heater installs
The Tennessee Valley Authority restructured an incentive program, spurring roughly 1,800 heat pump water heater installs within six months
HVAC
Supreme Court asked to take on gas furnace rule
The rule requires all residential gas furnaces manufactured after December 18, 2028, to have an AFUE rating of at least 95 percent
Plumbing
House passes SHOWER Act
The bill aims to end a more than decade-long regulatory back-and-forth over showerhead efficiency standards
HVACPlumbing
Congress moves to save Energy Star
The U.S. House on Thursday passed a bipartisan 2026 spending package that includes roughly $33 million for Energy Star
HVACPlumbing
Colorado goes statewide with ultra-low NOx furnace rule
As of Jan. 1, new residential gas furnace and water heater models sold in the state must be ultra-low NOx or meet the latest Energy Star standards
HVAC
EPA eases up on HVAC install deadline
The agency over the holidays announced that it's deprioritizing the enforcement of a deadline that affects many R-410A systems
HVAC
EPA unclear on HVAC install rule as deadline nears
The EPA has proposed removing the Jan. 1, 2026, deadline for installing many R-410A systems, but it hasn't yet issued a final rule
Plumbing
Bill targets flexibility in youth workforce development funds
Ohio Congressman Dave Taylor has introduced a bill that would potentially impact young people training to become plumbers and HVAC techs