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| Sponsorship
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Call the MAHPBA office if you are interested in joining these generous companies who have already sponsored this event!!
Level 1 Sponsor
Hearth & Home Technologies
Level 3 Sponsor
Jamestown Pellet Stoves
Level 4 Sponsor
American Biomass
Lennox Hearth Products
Monessen Hearth Systems, Co.
RH Peterson/ Masda Corp.
Level 5 Sponsors
Atlantic Regional Building Services, Inc.
Black and Stone, Inc.
Bosca Chile, S.A.
DRACME, Inc.
Ecoteck Pellet Stoves
Firegear, LLC
Fireside Distributors, Inc.
Forshaw
Golden Blount
Hamer Pellet Fuel
Hearthland Products LLC
Heat Surge LLC
JMH Associates LLC
Johnson Gas Appl. Co./ Mendota Division
John Wright Co.
Jotul North America, Inc.
Kuma Stoves, Inc.
Lignetics, Inc.
Looft USA, LLC
Master Heat Distributors
Napoleon Products
National Chimney Supply
Olympia Chimney Supply Regency Fireplace Products
Regional Chimney Supply
Simpson Dura-Vent
Skytech Systems
Total Hearth Travis Industries
Level 6
Peirce-Phelps |
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Greetings!
 As many of you may know by now, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule, published April 16th, that regulates the energy efficiency of residential heaters, residential water heaters, pool heaters, and other gas appliances. HPBA has filed comments and participated in the rulemaking process since 2007. |
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DOE Final Rule on Energy Efficiency |
The final rule sets efficiency minimums that must be in place in new products sold as of June, 2013. DOE is regulating gas hearth products, and doing so more expansively than we think is appropriate (or legal).
We see three principle issues presented by the final rule. First, the rule excludes decorative gas appliances only if their input is less than 9,000 Btu/hour. Second, the rule is unclear about whether "gas log sets" are included in the rule, although we did receive a "Question and Answer" document from DOE that states that they are not included. Third, the rule does not set out an AFUE procedure for measuring efficiency of decorative gas appliances (the preamble language says that one will be applied to or developed later for all vented gas hearth appliances).
It is clear that the rule, as it now stands, will be a serious problem for the gas hearth industry. HPBA is moving swiftly to address the final rule.
Last Friday, HPBA staff, assisted by several company attorneys (outside and in-house) met with four law firms with credentials in challenging final federal rules and in energy efficiency. We hope to have a selection this week at the latest. Once we have selected a law firm, we will map out a strategy to change the final rule to one that is reasonable for our products.
At the same time, we are putting in place the governance to oversee a court challenge of the final rule. This will include a technical committee and a legal committee. We will also propose a means to financially support the litigation. Clearly, the structure used to address the revision of the New Source Performance Standards for solid-fuel appliances will be considered as a model.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Allan Cagnoli, HPBA Director of Government Affairs at cagnoli@hpba.org. |
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MAHPBA's 2010 Annual Meeting |
 Lancaster Host Resort2300 Lincoln Highway East |
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Contact Us If You Have Questions |
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Mid-Atlantic Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
904 Hanover Street, Suite 3, Manchester, NH 03104
Phone: 603/669-2744 Fax: 603/669-2741
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MAHPBA's 