In following with the Department of Energy (DOE) national regulation update on HVAC systems effective in 2023, Ekotrope is updating the Duke Energy HERO Program to allow for SEER / SEER2, EER / EER2, and HSPF / HSPF2 inputs. There will also be the following changes made to the Duke Energy HERO Program reference home:
Starting May 1, 2023 for all homes permitted on or after January 1, 2023:
The reference home will be set to 15 SEER (or SEER2 equivalent).
Exception: If the proposed home is less than 15 SEER, the reference SEER equals the proposed SEER (or SEER2 equivalent).
Example: The proposed home = 14.2 SEER, the reference home = 14.2 SEER (or SEER2 equivalent).
The RNC Program team is working with Ekotrope to identify average savings impacts and will relay them to the Program participants once available. If you have any questions about the upcoming SEER change, please reach out to the RNC Program team at DERNC@icfprogram.com.
Check out this technical bulletin on the National SEER Change Summary.
Post Updated on 12/13/2022 to add the permit date of January 1, 2023.