New US energy standard proposed for circulator pumps

Members of the Hydraulic Institute, Armstrong Fluid Technology, Grundfos, Taco, WILO USA and Xylem Applied Water Systems have created terms for the development of a test procedure and energy conservation standard levels for circulator pumps.

The recommendation will be presented to the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) and for approval and be posted to the public docket.

The committee work and negotiations took more than 10 months and 20 face to face meetings to come to an agreement.

The working group believed the time and effort was required as the resultant standard level will transform the circulator pump market from induction motors to more efficient electrically commutated motors and save more than 0.7 Quads of energy.

The working group recommended that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) make every effort to issue a final rule by the end of 2017 and a four year implementation period from the date of publication of the final rule.

Once implemented, the standard could possibly be used as a guideline for the energy conservation standard level of circulator pumps in other countries, including Australia.

A compliance date is expected around January of 2022.