The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it will enforce a 13 "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating," or SEER standard for residential central air conditioners. This standard, which will apply to central air conditioners starting in January 2006, increases by 30 percent the SEER standard that applies to models sold today. The Bush Administration fought for a 12 SEER standard but lost in court.

"At this point, all parties have had their day in court," Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Garman said. "DOE will enforce the 13 SEER standard. In the interest of giving consumers and industry the regulatory certainty they need, it is time for the government and for private parties to stop litigating, and start working towards complying with the 13 SEER standard."

SEER is an abbreviation for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. It is the most commonly used measure of the efficiency of consumer central air conditioning systems. (EER, or Energy Efficiency Rating, is the most commonly used measure of efficiency for commercial air conditioning systems.) As of press time, the new standard only applies to new air conditioning units bought and sold and will not impact the sale of an existing home. Builders, however, will be bound by law to equip newly-built homes with the higher SEER air conditioning units.

The Energy Department had promulgated a 12 SEER standard in 2002, but earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the department had done so improperly. The air conditioner manufacturing industry had challenged the 13 SEER, which DOE had issued in January 2001, but recently withdrew its challenge.

According to its website, the goal of the Department of Energy is to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and developing energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and industry.

Lennox Industries Inc., to meet this new demand in SEER rating, recently introduced the world's first residential air conditioner rated at over 20 SEER. Rated at up to 20.5 SEER, the XC21 is the most quiet and efficient central air conditioner on the market today, according to manufacturers' published ratings. A recognized leader in the climate control industry for 110 years, Lennox Industries is a division of Lennox International Inc. (NYSE:LII).

"Basing the XC21 design on detailed input from more than 13,000 homeowners and almost 1,000 contractors, Lennox has seamlessly combined state-of-the-art in home comfort and serviceability," said Bob McDonough, president and COO, LII Worldwide Heating and Cooling. "It's the most impressive example yet of our commitment to lead the industry in meaningful innovation."

As an Energy Star product, the XC21 meets the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) standards by using less energy, which reduces pollution.

After finalizing a seven-year public review process, the Clinton Administration improved the air conditioner efficiency standard from SEER 10, which was established by Congress in 1987, to SEER 13. The change from SEER 10 to SEER 13 represented a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency. The Clinton Administration decision required all new air conditioning equipment sold in the United States to comply with the SEER 13 standard by January 2006.

In April 2001, however, the Bush Administration addressed the possibility of weakening the standard to SEER 12, and in July, the Department of Energy, despite its mission to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and developing energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and industry, formally proposed to roll back the standard. Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the department had done so improperly.

No- or Low-Cost Ways to Save Energy

Here are some no- or low-cost ideas that can help your new home buyers save energy and money at home:

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.

• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.

• Use your microwave instead of a conventional electric range or oven.

• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and VCRs, into power strips and turn power strips off when equipment is not in use.

• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater; 115° is comfortable for most uses.

• Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.

• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.