Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has proposed a broad update to the federal Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016. The proposal, known as Amendment 19, was pre-published in Canada Gazette, Part I on June 20, 2026. For HVAC contractors, the main changes affect recovery ventilators, ground-source heat pumps, commercial gas furnaces, water heaters and a new category for computer room air conditioners. It is a proposal, not yet law.
What the proposal covers
The short answer: new or tighter standards for about two dozen product types, with most HVAC-related dates in 2028.
The Energy Efficiency Act lets the federal government set minimum performance, testing and labelling rules for products imported into Canada or shipped between provinces. Amendment 19 would add new products to the regulations, update existing standards, and remove outdated ones. Most of the new standards adopt the U.S. federal test procedures and limits by reference, so Canadian rules would follow U.S. changes automatically.
The HVAC and water heating items, in plain terms
From the proposed text, the items most relevant to heating, cooling and ventilation contractors are:
| Product | Proposed change | Applies to products made on or after |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery ventilators (HRVs and ERVs) | First efficiency standards; CSA test standard updated to 2024 | January 1, 2028 |
| Ground-source heat pumps | Scope expanded to direct-exchange units; water-to-water standards reinstated and tightened | January 1, 2028 |
| Commercial gas furnaces | Upper input limit of 117.23 kW (400,000 Btu/h) removed, so larger units are covered | January 1, 2028 |
| Computer room air conditioners | Newly regulated | May 28, 2028 |
| Household heat pump water heaters | Added under household electric water heaters, with early compliance allowed | January 1, 2028 |
| Hot water supply boilers | Added as a commercial water heater class (gas and oil) | January 1, 2028 |
| Commercial gas, electric and oil water heaters | Updated standards | January 1, 2028 |
| Household gas-fired and oil-fired water heaters | Updated standards | January 1, 2032 |
| Central air conditioners and heat pumps | Reporting change only: equipment category must be reported | (no new efficiency level) |
The proposal also covers air cleaners, gas fireplaces, line voltage thermostats and many appliances. The commercial furnace change excludes furnaces for relocatable buildings and replacement non-condensing furnaces, according to the proposed text.
Costs and benefits, as estimated by NRCan
The regulatory impact analysis that accompanies the proposal estimates net benefits of about $26.7 billion in present value by 2050, with benefits outweighing costs by more than three to one. It projects energy savings of 48 petajoules in 2050 and cumulative greenhouse gas reductions of 38 megatonnes by 2050. The analysis estimates that about 7,313 small businesses would be affected, mostly through reporting and compliance tasks. These are the government's projections, not measured results.
What happens next
Pre-publication opens a comment period, after which NRCan reviews submissions and may revise the text. Final rules are set when the regulation is published in Canada Gazette, Part II. As of October 23, 2026 we had not seen a Part II publication for Amendment 19. The proposed coming-into-force clause sets most dates relative to that final publication, plus the fixed manufacturing dates listed above.
What it means for contractors (analysis)
This section is our analysis, not part of the Gazette notice.
Little changes on the truck in 2027. Because the rules apply by date of manufacture, distributors will sell existing stock after the dates pass. Contractors are unlikely to notice a sudden switch; it will be a gradual change in what suppliers carry.
Ventilation is the sleeper item. Recovery ventilators have not had federal efficiency minimums before. Contractors who install HRVs and ERVs in new homes or retrofits may see product lines change, and may find it easier to explain efficiency differences to customers once there is a federal baseline.
Commercial and mechanical firms should read the furnace and water heater changes. Removing the size cap on commercial gas furnaces and adding hot water supply boilers brings larger equipment under federal rules. Firms that quote multi-year projects should ask suppliers how 2028 dates will affect model availability.
Keep marketing claims accurate. "Meets 2028 federal standards" is not something a contractor can say today about a product, because the standards are not final. Content that explains what is proposed, with the Gazette date, is useful and safe; content that treats a proposal as law is not. Our program pages service and HVAC websites are built around dated, sourced updates like this one.
Related coverage
The current central air conditioner and heat pump standards came from the previous round, covered in our story on Amendment 18 and the SEER2 and HSPF2 metrics. The newsroom lists all our verified stories.
HVACNews.ca is a news and marketing service for HVAC companies. We are not an HVAC contractor, and this article summarises a public proposal; it is not compliance advice. For product compliance questions, contact NRCan or your supplier. To discuss your marketing, see our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amendment 19 in force?
No. It was pre-published in Canada Gazette, Part I, which is the proposal stage. The rules become final only when published in Part II, and the final text can differ from the proposal.
Do these rules apply to equipment already installed in homes?
No. Federal energy efficiency standards apply to products imported into Canada or shipped between provinces, based on the date of manufacture. They do not require homeowners to replace working equipment.
Which HVAC products are most affected?
Recovery ventilators would get efficiency standards for the first time, ground-source heat pump rules would expand to direct-exchange units, commercial gas furnaces would lose their upper size limit, and many water heater classes would get updated standards.
When would the changes start?
Most HVAC-related provisions in the proposal apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 2028. Household gas-fired and oil-fired water heater provisions are set for January 1, 2032.