Of course, no one likes government regulations, and it is to be expected that any industry, when faced with proposed federal sanctions, would vigorously oppose them - and the manufacturers in our industry are obviously no exception. So, I ask: Would we currently be manufacturing and selling 13-SEER minimum-efficiency equipment were it not for federal legislation? Since ARI vigorously opposed that too, I say that 10-SEER or even 6-SEER stuff would still be on the market and the primary focus of our sales! So, hasn’t federal legislation actually promoted “the development and use of energy-efficient technology?” I think so, and that’s what’s best for our country, our industry and consumers!
Then ask yourself: Did the higher cost of the current 13-SEER minimum-efficiency equipment (which started last year) significantly cut your sales volume or profitability? Look at the statistics! Despite all prophecies to the contrary, things seem to be going as usual. And even higher minimum efficiencies aren’t going to change that.