The ACCA and Building Performance Institute will explore ways to work together on issues where they agree, officials will the groups announced Thursday.

"While ACCA and BPI are different organizations with different missions, it is clear that both of us share many common goals for improving the efficiency of our country's buildings," said Bobby Ring, current chairman of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. "We have agreed to spend the next few months identifying ways in which our two organizations might be able to work together to make those goals a reality. On behalf of ACCA, we look forward to productive conversations and meaningful collaboration with BPI."

Officials said the decision to collaborate was reached at an Aug. 14 meeting between the two organizations. BPI Chairman David Hepinstall said his group was excited about the opportunity.

"BPI welcomes this new process and looks forward to a constructive dialogue with ACCA and hopefully more exciting announcements to come,” Hepinstall said. “The heart of home performance is the house-as-a-system, and HVAC is the critical component that keeps that heart beating efficiently, safely and affordably."