Costly Residential Central Air Conditioner Standard Set for 2006 The Department of Energy on April 2 announced that it would enforce a 13 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) standard for residential central air conditioners that was issued by the Clinton Administration. The department made its decision after a federal appeals court ruled that the Bush Administration could not roll back the standard to a 10 SEER. The 13 SEER requirement was challenged by NAHB and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) because it will add significantly to the cost of new home construction and will only be cost-effective in the southern-most climates zones. For a majority of the country, especially the northern states, the energy savings from the higher standard will never pay for the higher cost of the product, creating an undue burden on working families striving to afford buying a home, the groups said. | 
