Sierra Club Reacts to DOE’s Updated Gas Furnace Efficiency Standard

Washington, DC - The Department of Energy (DOE) released its final rule setting Congressionally-mandated energy efficiency standards for gas furnaces, which will reduce air pollution and lower gas utility bills by $1.5 billion annually. The standard, which had not been meaningfully updated since it was first set by Congress in 1987, will apply to new gas furnaces on the market starting in 2028.

Furnaces and other appliances that are powered by methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas, emit outdoor air pollution, like nitrogen dioxide, that is harmful to people’s health and also contributes to the formation of ozone. 

This week, Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice released a new report that demonstrates the climate, health, and environmental justice concerns posed by outdoor air pollution from space and water heating equipment, including gas furnaces. 

In response to the announcement, Deputy Director of Sierra Club’s Building Electrification Campaign Amneh Minkara released the following statement: 

“For far too long the gas industry and appliance manufacturers have cut corners and resisted widespread adoption of technology that would make their products more efficient. An efficient appliance conserves resources, reduces pollution, and saves consumers money. While zero-emission, electric heat pumps are the best option for consumers, this step by the DOE will set the floor for the performance of furnaces in a way that will protect consumers and reduce harm to public health and the climate caused by gas-fired appliances.”