As Earth begins another trip around the sun, the Department of Energy’s new boiler efficiency minimum standards take effect. The 2021 DOE regulations apply to residential boilers less than 300 MBH in capacity and are effective for boilers manufactured on or after 1/15/2021.
The 2021 DOE Regulations:
Gas-fired water boilers – must achieve 84 percent AFUE and consume no more than 9 watts of power while in off-mode.
Gas-fired steam boiler – must achieve 82 percent AFUE and consume no more than 8 watts of power while in off-mode.
Oil-fired water boilers – must achieve 86 percent AFUE and consume no more than 11 watts of power while in off-mode.
Oil-fired steam models – must achieve 85 percent AFUE and consume no more than 11 watts of power while in off-mode.
To comply with DOE-2021 requirements, U.S. Boiler Company has been diligently developing new products and improving existing models. For our customers, these improvements offer increased value in the form of greater energy efficiency. A summary of how we have responded to these regulation changes is below.
Gas-fired water boilers
In 2019, we updated the legendary Series 2 boiler. The upgrade raised the unit’s AFUE rating by two percent. Changes to the boiler also include a pre-installed low water cut-off, which was previously available only as an option.
In November of 2020, we also released a brand-new boiler, the Series X-PV, which combines the best attributes of the ESC and PVG boiler product lines.
The cast iron, power-vented Series X-PV boiler boasts 85 percent AFUE and has an optional direct vent kit if the installer prefers not to provide combustion air from indoors. It’s available in six sizes from 70-245 MBH. Separate factory builds are available for natural gas, LP, and high altitude (in both fuels). By making these boilers available as ordered factory builds, the new Series X-PV eliminates the need to perform field conversions for site-specific variations in fuel or altitude, saving time in the installation process. Conversion kits are still available but are not required unless a field modification of an existing factory build is needed.
Perfect for installations with unusable or absent chimneys, the Series X-PV boiler includes a supply line manifold with relief valve and T/P gage connections, advanced controls, integral low water cutoff and a free pump relay. The American made boiler also has a limited lifetime warranty.
Our ES2, Series X-2, and Series 3 boiler models, as well as our extensive line of high efficiency condensing boilers, comply with the DOE’s new efficiency standards for gas-fired water boilers.
Gas-fired steam boilers
Our Independence and Independence PV boiler lines comply with the DOE’s new efficiency standard of 82 percent AFUE.
Additionally, 2021 will bring even greater advancements to our gas-fired steam boiler product line. The industry has long been asking for an ultra-reliable, super-efficient gas-fired steam boiler. Heating professionals who regularly install gas-fired steam boilers have much to look forward to… so stay tuned!
Oil-fired water boilers
Thanks to its extremely efficient, three-pass heat exchanger design, the MPO-IQ boiler already meets DOE 2021 regulations. For applications that require a tankless hot water heating coil, the V8H boiler was upgraded in October of 2020.
Oil-fired steam boilers
The MegaSteam, which sets the industry standard for residential, oil-fired steam boilers, already complies with the new DOE standards.
The V8H line of residential steam boilers has been updated and modified to meet the new standards. Models featuring 3 to 7 sections were discontinued earlier this year. We recommend using the MegaSteam boiler as a replacement for the discontinued V8H steam models.
Efficiency standards will continue to change the products in the boiler industry. Rest assured that U.S. Boiler Company will always stay ahead of the curve and offer heating professionals the most efficient, longest lasting products available!