(1) The general assembly finds and determines that:
- (a) Rising temperatures are increasing the demand for air conditioners;
- (b) Common types of air conditioners can also provide winter heating if they are configured as heat pumps, which are a more environmentally friendly option than other types of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems;
- (c) The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the state, and utilities are opening up opportunities to make this technology less expensive than cooling-only systems; and
- (d) Colorado should be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities to the maximum extent to create a more affordable and environmentally friendly housing market and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry.
- (2) The general assembly, therefore, determines and declares that it is in the public interest for the health and environment of the state to require that the Colorado energy office conduct a study of the technical viability, economic conditions, and workforce readiness of standards for configuring new residential air conditioners as heat pumps.
Source: L. 2024: Entire part added, (SB 24-214), ch. 191, p. 1097, § 13, effective May 17.