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UL opens new HVAC/R Energy Efficiency Testing Facility

NORTHBROOK, Ill., - January 20, 2006 - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has opened a new 16,000 square foot state-of-the-art testing facility in the metro-Dallas area dedicated to energy efficiency testing of heat pumps, air conditioning equipment, and electrically-operated vapor compression refrigeration systems. The new energy efficiency test lab will help HVAC/R manufacturers in their efforts to develop more energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment.

Residential and commercial heating and cooling equipment accounts for up to half of a typical building's energy consumption. In recent years, HVAC/R equipment manufacturers have come under increased federal pressure to meet minimum energy efficiency standards. For example, new residential air conditioners manufactured after Jan. 23 must meet a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 13 or higher. SEER is calculated based on the total amount of cooling (Btu) the system will provide over the entire season divided by the total number of watt-hours it will consume. These mandates have forced many manufacturers to focus more resources on their research and development efforts.

"This new facility will greatly benefit our HVAC/R customers looking to gain compliance to federal mandates and Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute standards (ARI) as well as those looking for help with their research and development efforts," says John Byrne, UL's vice president and general manager for consumer products. "Though our service is new to the industry, our staff is not. Our engineers have a wealth of experience in HVAC/R energy efficiency testing and can help our customers reach their specific energy efficiency goals."

UL's HVAC/R Energy Efficiency Testing Facility is a full-service HVAC/R test laboratory offering integrated safety certification, prototype testing, benchmark testing, component compatibility evaluations and more.

For additional information on UL's HVAC/R Energy Efficiency program, contact Doug Lockard at +1-614-777-1837 or email at Doug.Lockard@us.ul.com. UL's HVAC/R Energy Efficiency Testing Facility is located at 2805 East Plano Parkway, Suite 200, Plano, TX 75074, office: 469-467-7888. For additional information about UL's HVAC/R services, go to www.ul.com/hvacr.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products for more than 111 years. UL tests more than 19,100 types of products annually, and more than 20 billion UL Marks appear on products each year. Worldwide, UL's family of companies and its network of service providers include 62 laboratories, and testing and certification facilities.

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