New regs for Monday: Banks, smoking ban, efficiency

Monday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new requirements for banks, efficiency rules for residential furnaces, and a smoking ban in public housing units.

Here’s what is happening:

Efficiency: The Department of Energy (DOE) is delaying new efficiency rules for residential furnaces.

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy proposed new energy conservation standards for household furnaces in September, but is now reopening the comment period to give the public more time to consider the changes.

The public now has until Jan. 6 to comment.

Banks: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is moving forward with new requirements for large banks to “facilitate prompt payment of FDIC-insured deposits when large insured depository institutions fail.”

These banks will be required to calculate the “insured and uninsured amount” in each account to help the FDIC determine how much to reimburse customers.

The requirements go into effect on April 1.

Smoking ban: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will institute a smoking ban in public housing facilities.

HUD announced the smoking ban earlier this week, but is now formally publishing the rule in the Federal Register.

Residents will be prohibited from smoking in these homes for low-income families, but they will still be allowed to light up off the premises, HUD said.

The smoking ban goes into effect in 60 days.