New Colorado law requires efficient technology
Taking into effect on January 1, new residential furnaces and water heaters sold in Colorado are required to emit lower levels of pollution. This mandate, HB23-1161 was originally approved in 2023. It created new standards for air purifiers, commercial ovens, electric storage water heaters, electric vehicle supply equipment, gas fireplaces, irrigation controllers, tub spout diverters and showerhead tub spout diverter combinations. As well as certain residential windows, residential doors and residential skylights and thermostats.
The legislation requires that new appliances to be newer models producing less nitrogen oxides or NOx or Energy Star-certified models that use less energy and reduce NOx emissions. This step for Colorado is a prioritization for healthier buildings and Indoor Air Quality.
“Energy Star-certified systems are known to be widely-available and highly cost-effective,” said Christine Brinker, senior buildings policy manager with Southwest Energy Efficiency Project in an interview. “Furnaces and water heaters are the biggest two uses of energy in a home, respectively – which means they are also the biggest contributor to high energy bills.”
