Energy considers stricter standards for oil, gas-fired furnaces

The Energy Department is considering stricter standards for commercial gas and oil-fired furnaces.

The new rule would require gas-fired furnaces and oil-fired furnaces to have an input capacity of 225,000 BTUs per hour and have to have a thermal efficiency of at least 82 percent.

{mosads}Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, the standards must be reviewed every six years. 

The agency expects total benefits of the new standards to be $200 million a year and total annual costs to be $3.48 million.

The proposed standards are also expected to benefit the environment by reducing emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

The public has until April 6 to comment.