Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners, 74639-74658 [E8-28952]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules
Appendix C to Part 5—DHS Systems of
Records Exempt From the Privacy Act
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14. The DHS, ICE LESC ACRIMe system of
records consists of electronic and paper
records and will be used by DHS and its
components. Law Enforcement Support
Center Alien Criminal Response Information
Management System is a repository of
information held by DHS in connection with
its several and varied missions and functions,
including, but not limited to: The
enforcement of civil and criminal laws;
investigations, inquiries, and proceedings
thereunder; and national security and
intelligence activities. Law Enforcement
Support Center Alien Criminal Response
Information Management System contains
information that is collected by, on behalf of,
in support of, or in cooperation with DHS
and its components and may contain
personally identifiable information collected
by other Federal, State, local, tribal, foreign,
or international government agencies.
Pursuant to exemption 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) of
the Privacy Act, portions of this system are
exempt from 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3) and (4); (d);
(e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), (e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), and
(e)(5) and (e)(8); (f), and (g). Pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) of the Privacy Act, this
system is exempt from the following
provisions of the Privacy Act, subject to the
limitations set forth in those subsections: 5
U.S.C. 552a(c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G),
(e)(4)(H), and (f). Exemptions from these
particular subsections are justified, on a caseby-case basis to be determined at the time a
request is made, for the following reasons:
(a) From subsection (c)(3) and (4)
(Accounting for Disclosures) because release
of the accounting of disclosures could alert
the subject of an investigation of an actual or
potential criminal, civil, or regulatory
violation to the existence of the investigation,
and reveal investigative interest on the part
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Disclosure of the accounting would therefore
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national security. Disclosure of the
accounting would also permit the individual
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investigation, to tamper with witnesses or
evidence, and to avoid detection or
apprehension, which would undermine the
entire investigative process.
(b) From subsection (d) (Access to Records)
because access to the records contained in
this system of records could inform the
subject of an investigation of an actual or
potential criminal, civil, or regulatory
violation, to the existence of the
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Access to the records could permit the
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witnesses or evidence, and to avoid detection
or apprehension. Amendment of the records
could interfere with ongoing investigations
and law enforcement activities and would
impose an impossible administrative burden
by requiring investigations to be
continuously reinvestigated. In addition,
permitting access and amendment to such
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information could disclose security-sensitive
information that could be detrimental to
homeland security.
(c) From subsection (e)(1) (Relevancy and
Necessity of Information) because in the
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information obtained or introduced
occasionally may be unclear or the
information may not be strictly relevant or
necessary to a specific investigation. In the
interests of effective law enforcement, it is
appropriate to retain all information that may
aid in identifying or establishing patterns of
unlawful activity.
(d) From subsection (e)(2) (Collection of
Information from Individuals) because
requiring that information be collected from
the subject of an investigation would alert the
subject to the nature or existence of an
investigation, thereby interfering with the
related investigation and law enforcement
activities.
(e) From subsection (e)(3) (Notice to
Subjects) because providing such detailed
information would impede law enforcement
in that it could compromise investigations
by: Revealing the existence of an otherwise
confidential investigation and thereby
provide an opportunity for the subject of an
investigation to conceal evidence, alter
patterns of behavior, or take other actions
that could thwart investigative efforts; reveal
the identity of witnesses in investigations,
thereby providing an opportunity for the
subjects of the investigations or others to
harass, intimidate, or otherwise interfere
with the collection of evidence or other
information from such witnesses; or reveal
the identity of confidential informants,
which would negatively affect the
informant’s usefulness in any ongoing or
future investigations and discourage
members of the public from cooperating as
confidential informants in any future
investigations.
(f) From subsections (e)(4)(G), (H) (Agency
Requirements), and (f) (Agency Rules)
because portions of this system are exempt
from the individual access provisions of
subsection (d) for the reasons noted above,
and therefore DHS is not required to establish
requirements, rules, or procedures with
respect to such access. Providing notice to
individuals with respect to existence of
records pertaining to them in the system of
records or otherwise setting up procedures
pursuant to which individuals may access
and view records pertaining to themselves in
the system would undermine investigative
efforts and reveal the identities of witnesses,
and potential witnesses, and confidential
informants.
(g) From subsection (e)(5) (Collection of
Information) because in the collection of
information for law enforcement purposes it
is impossible to determine in advance what
information is accurate, relevant, timely, and
complete. Compliance with (e)(5) would
preclude DHS agents from using their
investigative training and exercise of good
judgment to both conduct and report on
investigations.
(h) From subsection (e)(8) (Notice on
Individuals) because compliance would
interfere with DHS’ ability to obtain, serve,
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and issue subpoenas, warrants, and other law
enforcement mechanisms that may be filed
under seal, and could result in disclosure of
investigative techniques, procedures, and
evidence.
(i) From subsection (g) to the extent that
the system is exempt from other specific
subsections of the Privacy Act relating to
individuals’ rights to access and amend their
records contained in the system. Therefore
DHS is not required to establish rules or
procedures pursuant to which individuals
may seek a civil remedy for the agency’s:
Refusal to amend a record; refusal to comply
with a request for access to records; failure
to maintain accurate, relevant, timely and
complete records; or failure to otherwise
comply with an individual’s right to access
or amend records.
Dated: November 28, 2008.
Hugo Teufel III,
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8–29058 Filed 12–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE–2008–BT–TP–0010]
RIN 1904–AB76
Energy Conservation Program for
Consumer Products: Test Procedures
for Clothes Dryers and Room Air
Conditioners
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
and notice of public meeting.
SUMMARY: In order to implement recent
amendments to the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act (EPCA), the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to
amend its test procedures for residential
clothes dryers and room air conditioners
to provide for measurement of standby
mode and off mode power use by these
products. The amendments would
incorporate into the DOE test
procedures relevant provisions from the
International Electrotechnical
Commission’s (IEC) Standard 62301,
‘‘Household electrical appliances—
Measurement of standby power’’ (First
Edition 2005–06), as well as language to
clarify application of these provisions
specifically for measuring standby mode
and off mode power consumption in
clothes dryers and room air
conditioners. DOE will hold a public
meeting to discuss and receive
comments on the issues presented in
this notice.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,
and information regarding the notice of
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules
proposed rulemaking (NOPR) before and
after the public meeting, but no later
than February 23, 2009. See section V,
‘‘Public Participation,’’ of this NOPR for
details.
DOE will hold a public meeting on
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m., in Washington, DC. DOE
must receive requests to speak at the
public meeting before 4 p.m.,
Wednesday, December 10, 2008. DOE
must receive a signed original and an
electronic copy of statements to be given
at the public meeting before 4 p.m.,
Wednesday, December 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be
held at the U.S. Department of Energy,
Forrestal Building, Room 8E–089, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121. To attend
the public meeting, please notify Ms.
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945.
(Please note that foreign nationals
visiting DOE Headquarters are subject to
advance security screening procedures.
Any foreign national wishing to
participate in the public meeting should
advise DOE as soon as possible by
contacting Ms. Edwards to initiate the
necessary procedures.)
Any comments submitted must
identify the NOPR on Test Procedures
for Clothes Dryers and Room Air
Conditioners, and provide the docket
number EERE–2008–BT–TP–0010 and/
or Regulatory Information Number (RIN)
1904–AB76. Comments may be
submitted using any of the following
methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
2. E-mail: AHAM2-2008-TP0010@hq.doe.gov. Include docket
number EERE–2008–BT–TP–0010 and/
or RIN 1904–AB76 in the subject line of
the message.
3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S.
Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121. Please
submit one signed paper original.
4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda
Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, 950
L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20024. Telephone:
(202) 586–2945. Please submit one
signed paper original.
For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see section V, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ of
this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, visit the U.S.
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Department of Energy, Resource Room
of the Building Technologies Program,
950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586–2945,
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the
above telephone number for additional
information about visiting the Resource
Room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Stephen Witkowski, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Program, EE–2J, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–7463. E-mail:
Stephen.Witkowski@ee.doe.gov.
Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–72, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–9507. E-mail:
Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.
For information on how to submit or
review public comments and on how to
participate in the public meeting,
contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
Building Technologies Program, EE–2J,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–2945. E-mail:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background and Authority
II. Summary of the Proposal
III. Discussion
A. Products Covered by the Test Procedure
Changes
B. Effective Date for the Amended Test
Procedures
C. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard
62301 (First Edition, 2005–06) for
Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode
Power in Clothes Dryers and Room Air
Conditioners
D. Determination of Modes To Be
Incorporated
1. Clothes Dryer Mode Definitions
2. Room Air Conditioner Mode Definitions
E. Adding Specifications for the Test
Methods and Measurements for Clothes
Dryer and Room Air Conditioner
Standby Mode and Off Mode Testing
1. Clothes Dryers
2. Room Air Conditioners
F. Calculation of Energy Use Associated
With Standby Modes and Off Mode
1. Clothes Dryers
2. Room Air Conditioners
G. Measures of Energy Consumption
1. Clothes Dryers
2. Room Air Conditioners
H. Correction of Text Describing Energy
Factor Calculation for Clothes Dryers
I. Correction of Text Reference to Room Air
Conditioner Test Standard
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J. Compliance With Other EPCA
Requirements
1. Test Burden
2. Potential Incorporation of IEC Standard
62087
3. Integration of Standby Mode and Off
Mode Energy Consumption Into the
Energy Efficiency Metrics
IV. Procedural Requirements
A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act
C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995
D. Review Under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995
H. Review Under the Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 1999
I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
J. Review Under the Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2001
K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal
Energy Administration Act of 1974
V. Public Participation
A. Attendance at the Public Meeting
B. Procedure for Submitting Requests To
Speak
C. Conduct of Public Meeting
D. Submission of Comments
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
1. Incorporation of IEC Standard 62301
2. Standby Mode Definitions
3. Clothes Dryer Standby Modes
4. Room Air Conditioner Standby Modes
5. Delay Start Test Procedure
6. Test Room Conditions
7. Energy Use Calculation for Standby and
Off Modes for Clothes Dryers
8. Energy Use Calculation for Standby and
Off Modes for Room Air Conditioners
9. New Integrated Measures of Energy
Consumption and Energy Efficiency
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Background and Authority
Title III of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291, et
seq.; ‘‘EPCA’’ or, in context, ‘‘the Act’’)
sets forth a variety of provisions
designed to improve energy efficiency.
Part A of Title III (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309)
establishes the ‘‘Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles,’’ including clothes
dryers and room air conditioners (all of
which are referred to below as ‘‘covered
products’’).1 (42 U.S.C. 6291(1)–(2) and
6292(a)(2) and (8))
Under the Act, this program consists
essentially of three parts: (1) Testing; (2)
labeling; and (3) Federal energy
conservation standards. The testing
requirements consist of test procedures
that, pursuant to EPCA, manufacturers
1 All references to EPCA refer to the statute as
amended including through the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007, Public Law
110–140.
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of covered products must use as the
basis for certifying to DOE that their
products comply with applicable energy
conservation standards adopted under
EPCA and for representations about the
efficiency of those products. Similarly,
DOE must use these test requirements to
determine whether the products comply
with EPCA standards. Under 42 U.S.C.
6293, EPCA sets forth criteria and
procedures for DOE’s adoption and
amendment of such test procedures.
EPCA provides that ‘‘[a]ny test
procedures prescribed or amended
under this section shall be reasonably
designed to produce test results which
measure energy efficiency, energy use
* * * or estimated annual operating
cost of a covered product during a
representative average use cycle or
period of use, as determined by the
Secretary [of Energy], and shall not be
unduly burdensome to conduct.’’ (42
U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) In addition, if DOE
determines that a test procedure
amendment is warranted, it must
publish proposed test procedures and
offer the public an opportunity to
present oral and written comments
thereon, with a comment period no less
than 60 days and not to exceed 270
days. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(2)) Finally, in
any rulemaking to amend a test
procedure, DOE must determine ‘‘to
what extent, if any, the proposed test
procedure would alter the measured
energy efficiency * * * of any covered
product as determined under the
existing test procedure.’’ (42 U.S.C.
6293(e)(1)) If DOE determines that the
amended test procedure would alter the
measured efficiency of a covered
product, DOE must amend the
applicable energy conservation standard
accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2))
DOE’s test procedures for clothes
dryers are found at 10 CFR part 430,
subpart B, appendix D. DOE established
its test procedure for clothes dryers in
a final rule published in the Federal
Register on May 19, 1981. 46 FR 27324.
The test procedure includes provisions
for determining the energy factor (EF)
for clothes dryers, which is a measure
of the total energy required to dry a
standard test load of laundry to a ‘‘bone
dry’’ 2 state.
DOE’s test procedures for room air
conditioners are found at 10 CFR part
430, subpart B, appendix F. DOE
established its room air conditioner test
procedure on June 1, 1977, and
redesignated and amended it on June
29, 1979. 42 FR 27898; 44 FR 37938.
The existing room air conditioner test
procedure incorporates by reference two
industry test standards: (1) American
National Standard (ANS) (since
renamed American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)) Z234.1–1972, ‘‘Room
Air Conditioners;’’ 3 and (2) American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and
Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Standard 16–69, ‘‘Method of Testing for
Rating Room Air Conditioners.’’ 4 The
DOE test procedure includes provisions
for determining the energy efficiency
ratio (EER) of room air conditioners,
which is the ratio of the cooling
capacity in British thermal units (Btu) to
the power input in watts (W).
As currently drafted, the test
procedures for the products at issue in
this rulemaking generally do not
account for standby mode and off mode
energy consumption, except in one
narrow product class. Specifically, for
gas dryers with continuously burning
pilot lights, DOE’s current test
procedure for clothes dryers addresses
the standby energy use of such pilot
lights, but otherwise, neither this test
procedure nor DOE’s test procedure for
room air conditioners addresses energy
use in the standby or off modes.
The Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 5 (EISA 2007)
amended EPCA, and in relevant part,
directs DOE to amend its test
procedures to include measures of
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption. The EISA 2007
amendments to EPCA further direct
DOE to amend the test procedures to
integrate such energy consumption into
a single energy descriptor for that
product. If that is technically infeasible,
DOE must prescribe a separate standby
mode and off mode energy use test
procedure, if technically feasible. (42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) Any such
amendment must consider the most
current versions of the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standard 62301 and IEC Standard 62087
[‘‘Methods of measurement for the
power consumption of audio, video, and
related equipment’’ (Second Edition,
2008–09)].6 Id. For clothes dryers and
room air conditioners, DOE must
prescribe any such amendment to the
2 ‘‘Bone dry’’ is defined in the DOE clothes dryer
test procedure as ‘‘a condition of a load of test
clothes which has been dried in a dryer at
maximum temperature for a minimum of 10
minutes, removed and weighed before cool down,
and then dried again for 10-minute periods until the
final weight change of the load is 1 percent or less.’’
(10 CFR subpart B, appendix D, section 1.2)
3 ANSI standards are available for purchase at
https://www.ansi.org.
4 ASHRAE standards are available for purchase at
https://www.ashrae.org.
5 Public Law 110–140 (enacted Dec. 19, 2007).
6 IEC standards are available for purchase at:
https://www.iec.ch.
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test procedures by March 31, 2009. (42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(B)(ii))
On October 9, 2007, DOE published a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of a
framework document to initiate
rulemaking to consider amended energy
conservation standards for residential
clothes dryers and room air conditioners
(hereafter the October 2007 Framework
Document). 72 FR 57254. The issuance
of a framework document is the first
step in conducting an appliance
standards rulemaking. In the October
2007 Framework Document, DOE
identified specific ways in which it
could revise its test procedures for these
two products and requested stakeholder
comment on whether it should adopt
such revisions. Specifically, DOE sought
comment on potential amendments to
the clothes dryer test procedure to: (1)
Reflect lower remaining moisture
content in clothes loads; (2) account for
fewer use cycles; and (3) add the
capability to test vent-less clothes
dryers. (Framework Document, No. 1 at
pp. 4–6) 7 For room air conditioners,
DOE requested input on potential
amendments to the test procedure to: (1)
Incorporate the most recent ANSI and
ASHRAE test standards; (2) reduce the
annual operating hours; and (3) measure
part-load performance. (Framework
Document, No. 1 at pp. 6–7)
Because the October 2007 Framework
Document was issued before the
enactment of EISA 2007, these potential
revisions did not address standby mode
or off mode energy use. DOE is
continuing to consider all such potential
revisions, but in this rulemaking, DOE’s
proposal is limited to amending its test
procedures for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners to include methods for
measuring standby mode and off mode
power consumption, thereby allowing
the agency to meet the EISA 2007
deadline of March 31, 2009 for adopting
such amendments. DOE plans to
publish a separate Federal Register
notice to address the balance of the test
procedure issues, including those on
which it requested comment in the
October 2007 Framework Document.
Both test procedure rulemakings are
anticipated to support a concurrent
energy conservation standards
rulemaking for residential clothes dryers
7 A notation in this form provides a reference for
information that is in the docket of DOE’s
rulemaking to develop standards for clothes dryers
and room air conditioners (Docket No. EERE–2007–
BT–STD–0010), which is maintained in the
Resource Room of the Building Technologies
Program. This notation indicates that the statement
preceding the reference was made in DOE’s
Framework Document, which is document number
1 in the docket, and appears at pages 4–6 of that
document.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules
and room air conditioners. For clothes
dryers, the National Appliance Energy
Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA),
Public Law 100–12, amended EPCA to
establish prescriptive standards for
clothes dryers, requiring that gas dryers
manufactured on or after January 1,
1988 not be equipped with a constant
burning pilot and further requiring that
DOE conduct two cycles of rulemakings
to determine if more stringent standards
are justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(3) and
(4)) On May 14, 1991, DOE published a
final rule in the Federal Register
establishing the first set of performance
standards for residential clothes dryers
(56 FR 22250); the new standards
became effective on May 14, 1994. 10
CFR 430.32(h). DOE initiated a second
standards rulemaking for residential
clothes dryers by publishing an advance
notice of proposed rulemaking (ANOPR)
in the Federal Register on November 14,
1994. 59 FR 56423. However, pursuant
to the priority-setting process outlined
in DOE’s ‘‘Procedures for Consideration
of New or Revised Energy Conservation
Standards for Consumer Products’’ (the
‘‘Process Rule’’),8 DOE classified the
clothes dryer standards rulemaking as a
low priority for its fiscal year 1998
priority-setting process. As a result,
DOE suspended the standards
rulemaking activities for them. DOE has
since resumed the rulemaking activities,
and has recently initiated the second
cycle of clothes dryer standards
rulemakings. 72 FR 57254 (October 9,
2007).
NAECA established performance
standards for room air conditioners that
became effective on January 1, 1990,
and directed DOE to conduct two cycles
of rulemakings to determine if more
stringent standards are justified. (42
U.S.C. 6295(c)(1) and (2)) On March 4,
1994, DOE published a NOPR for
several products, including room air
conditioners. 59 FR 10464. As a result
of the Process Rule, DOE suspended
activities to finalize standards for room
air conditioners. DOE subsequently
resumed rulemaking activities related to
room air conditioners, and on
September 24, 1997, DOE published a
final rule establishing an updated set of
performance standards, with an
effective date of October 1, 2000. 62 FR
50122; 10 CFR 40.32(b). Concurrent
with the clothes dryer rulemaking, DOE
has recently initiated the second cycle
of room air conditioner standards
rulemakings. 72 FR 57254.
EISA 2007 includes amendments to
EPCA that direct DOE to incorporate
standby and off mode energy use into
8 61 FR 36974 (July 15, 1996) (establishing 10 CFR
part 430, subpart C, appendix A).
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any final rule establishing or revising a
standard for a covered product adopted
after July 1, 2010. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3))
DOE anticipates publishing the next
final rule revising efficiency standards
for clothes dryers and room air
conditioners by June 30, 2011. Because
publication of the final rule revising
efficiency standards will fall after July 1,
2010 (the date after which any final rule
establishing or revising a standard must
incorporate standby and off mode
energy use), this final rule must
incorporate standby and off mode
energy use, thereby necessitating the
adoption of relevant standby and off
mode provisions into the test
procedures for these products.
II. Summary of the Proposal
In today’s NOPR, DOE proposes to
amend the test procedures for clothes
dryers and room air conditioners in
order to: (1) Provide a foundation for
DOE to develop and implement energy
conservation standards that address the
energy use of these products when in
standby mode and off mode; and (2)
address the statutory requirement to
expand test procedures to incorporate
measures of standby mode and off mode
power consumption. The following
paragraphs summarize these proposed
changes.
In amending the current test
procedures, DOE proposes to
incorporate by reference into both the
clothes dryer and room air conditioner
test procedures specific clauses from
IEC Standard 62301, ‘‘Household
electrical appliances—measurement of
standby power’’ (First Edition, 2005–06)
regarding test conditions and test
procedures for measuring standby mode
and off mode power consumption. DOE
also proposes to incorporate into each
test procedure the definitions of ‘‘active
mode,’’ ‘‘standby mode,’’ and ‘‘off
mode’’ that are set forth in section
325(gg)(1)(A) of EPCA. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(1)(A)) Further, DOE proposes
to include in each test procedure
additional language that would clarify
the application of clauses from IEC
Standard 62301 for measuring standby
mode and off mode power
consumption.9
For clothes dryers, DOE is proposing
definitions for different standby
modes—a general ‘‘inactive’’ mode, a
9 EISA 2007 directs DOE to also consider IEC
Standard 62087 when amending its test procedure
to include standby mode and off mode energy
consumption. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A).
However, IEC Standard 62087 addresses the
methods of measuring the power consumption of
audio, video, and related equipment. As explained
subsequently in this notice, the narrow scope of this
particular IEC Standard reduces its relevance to
today’s proposal.
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‘‘cycle finished’’ mode, and a ‘‘delay
start’’ mode—each of which would be
separately tested under the procedure,
along with energy use in the off mode.
Furthermore, DOE proposes to clarify
testing in the delay start mode by
requiring that the delay time be set at 5
hours and that the test be conducted for
60 minutes, after waiting at least 5
minutes for power input to stabilize.
Finally, DOE proposes to establish new
methods to calculate clothes dryer
energy use and energy efficiency that
include the energy used in the standby
modes and the off mode.
For room air conditioners, DOE
proposes definitions for different
standby modes—a general ‘‘inactive’’
mode, a ‘‘delay start’’ mode, and an ‘‘offcycle’’ mode—each of which would be
separately tested under the procedure,
along with energy use in the off mode.
DOE also proposes to specify the test
duration for cases in which the
measured power is unstable (i.e., varies
more than 5 percent during a 5-minute
period), and proposes that standby
mode and off mode testing be conducted
with roomside air temperature at 74 ± 2
degrees Fahrenheit (°F) to reflect typical
operating conditions for room air
conditioners. In addition, DOE proposes
to specify that, during standby mode
and off mode testing for which setting
the thermostat or temperature
setpoint 10 is applicable, the setpoint for
the room air conditioner is to be set at
79 °F, in order to provide uniform
testing conditions. Finally, DOE
proposes to establish new methods to
calculate energy use and energy
efficiency, which include energy use in
the standby modes and the off mode.
Under 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C), EPCA
provides that amendments to the test
procedures to include standby mode
and off mode energy consumption will
not determine compliance with
previously established standards.
(U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C)) Because the
proposed amended test procedures
would not alter existing measures of
energy consumption or efficiency,
today’s notice would not affect a
manufacturer’s ability to demonstrate
compliance with previously established
standards. These amended test
procedures would become effective, in
terms of adoption into the CFR, 30 days
after the date of publication in the
Federal Register of the final rule in this
test procedures rulemaking. However,
DOE’s amended test procedure
regulations codified in the CFR would
10 The term ‘‘setpoint’’ refers to the desired value
in a closed-loop feedback system and is typically
used in the context of regulating temperature or
pressure.
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clarify that the procedures and
calculations for standby mode and off
mode energy consumption need not be
performed to determine compliance
with the current energy conservation
standards for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners, because the current
energy conservation standards do not
account for standby and off mode power
consumption. Instead, manufacturers
would be required to use the test
procedures’ standby and off mode
provisions to demonstrate compliance
with DOE’s energy conservation
standards on the effective date of a final
rule establishing amended energy
conservation standards for these
products that address standby and off
mode power consumption.
III. Discussion
A. Products Covered by the Test
Procedure Changes
Today’s proposed amendments to
DOE’s clothes dryer test procedure
cover both electric and gas clothes
dryers, which DOE’s regulations define
as:
Electric clothes dryer means a cabinetlike appliance designed to dry fabrics in
a tumble-type drum with forced air
circulation. The heat source is
electricity and the drum and blower(s)
are driven by an electric motor(s).
Gas clothes dryers means a cabinetlike appliance designed to dry fabrics in
a tumble-type drum with forced air
circulation. The heat source is gas and
the drum and blower(s) are driven by an
electric motor(s).
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10 CFR 430.2
These definitions and the proposed
amendments thereto cover both vented
and vent-less clothes dryers, as well as
combination washer/dryers.
Today’s proposed amendments to
DOE’s room air conditioner test
procedure cover products that meet the
following definition from DOE’s
regulations:
Room air conditioner means a
consumer product, other than a
‘‘packaged terminal air conditioner,’’
which is powered by a single phase
electric current and which is an encased
assembly designed as a unit for
mounting in a window or through the
wall for the purpose of providing
delivery of conditioned air to an
enclosed space. It includes a prime
source of refrigeration and may include
a means for ventilating and heating.
10 CFR 430.2
This definition and the proposed
amendments thereto cover room air
conditioners designed for single- or
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double-hung windows with or without
louvered sides and with or without
reverse cycle, as well as casement-slider
and casement-only window-type room
air conditioners.
B. Effective Date for the Amended Test
Procedures
As indicated above, EPCA requires
DOE to amend the test procedures for
clothes dryers and room air conditioners
to incorporate measurement of standby
mode and off mode energy use in a final
rule issued no later than March 31,
2009. Such action is necessary to permit
manufacturers to certify that equipment
complies with any newly established
energy conservation standards that take
into account standby and off mode
energy use. When DOE is developing
energy conservation standards and
determines that test procedure
amendments are required, DOE strives
to issue a final rule amending the test
procedure before issuing a proposed
rule for energy conservation standards.
The effective date of the modified
clothes dryer and room air conditioner
test procedures would be 30 days after
the date of publication in the Federal
Register of a final rule in this test
procedures rulemaking. However, DOE’s
amended test procedure regulations
codified in the CFR would clarify that
the procedures and calculations for
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption need not be performed to
determine compliance with the current
energy conservation standards for
clothes dryers and room air
conditioners, because the current energy
conservation standards do not account
for standby and off mode power
consumption.11 The proposed notes
regarding the applicability of the test
procedure provisions on standby mode
and off mode energy use in Appendix D
(clothes dryers) and Appendix F (room
air conditioners) will be removed in
subsequent notices of final rulemaking
that amend the energy conservation
standards for these products.
11 Pursuant to a court consent decree, DOE must
complete a standards rulemaking for residential
clothes dryers and room air conditioners by June
30, 2011. As part of the rulemaking considering
amended energy conservation standards for these
products, DOE will also address the issue of
standby and off mode power consumption. If
adopted, such standards would be effective in June
2014, at which time the standby and off mode
provisions of the test procedures would become
mandatory for determining compliance with the
amended energy conservation standards.
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C. Incorporating by Reference IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition, 2005–06)
for Measuring Standby Mode and Off
Mode Power in Clothes Dryers and
Room Air Conditioners
Per EPCA, DOE considered the most
current versions of IEC Standard 62301
and IEC Standard 62087 for measuring
power consumption in standby mode
and off mode. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A))
DOE noted that IEC Standard 62301
provides for measuring standby power
in electrical appliances, including
clothes dryers and room air
conditioners, and, thus, is applicable to
the proposed amendments to the clothes
dryer and room air conditioner test
procedures. DOE also reviewed IEC
Standard 62087, which specifies
methods of measuring the power
consumption of TV receivers, video
cassette recorders (VCRs), set top boxes,
audio equipment, and multi-function
equipment for consumer use. IEC
Standard 62087 does not, however,
include measurement for the power
consumption of electrical appliances
such as clothes dryers and room air
conditioners. Therefore, DOE
determined that IEC Standard 62087
was unsuitable for the proposed
amendments to the clothes dryer and
room air conditioner test procedures.
DOE proposes to incorporate by
reference into the DOE test procedures
for clothes dryers and room air
conditioners specific clauses from IEC
Standard 62301 for measuring standby
mode and off mode power. Specifically,
these clauses provide test conditions
and test procedures for measuring the
average standby mode and average off
mode power consumption. Regarding
testing conditions, section 4 of IEC
Standard 62301 provides conditions for
the supply voltage, frequency, and
voltage waveform, and power
measurement meter tolerances to
provide for repeatable and precise
measurements of standby mode and off
mode power consumption. Section 5 of
IEC Standard 62301 regarding test
procedures provides a method for
measuring power consumption when
the power measurement is stable, as
well as a method of measuring when the
power measurement is unstable.
Other provisions of IEC Standard
62301 are not applicable to measuring
standby mode and off mode power
testing of clothes dryers and room air
conditioners. Hence, not all provisions
of IEC Standard 62301 are incorporated
by reference into the DOE test
procedures. For example, IEC Standard
62301 provides general conditions for
power supply voltage and frequency,
which the current DOE test procedure
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for clothes dryers already addresses. IEC
Standard 62301 also provides
requirements for information to be
recorded in a test report, which are
beyond the scope of DOE’s test
procedure. Consequently, only the
applicable sections and clauses (as
stated above) are incorporated by
reference in today’s proposed rule.
Specifically, DOE proposes to
incorporate by reference in the DOE test
procedure for clothes dryers the
following sections from IEC Standard
62301: From section 4 (‘‘General
conditions for measurements’’),
paragraph 4.2, ‘‘Test room,’’ paragraph
4.4, ‘‘Supply voltage waveform,’’ and
paragraph 4.5, ‘‘Power measurement
accuracy;’’ and section 5
(‘‘Measurements’’), paragraph 5.1,
‘‘General’’ and paragraph 5.3,
‘‘Procedure.’’ DOE proposes to reference
these same provisions in the DOE test
procedure for room air conditioners, as
well as section 4, paragraph 4.3, ‘‘Power
supply.’’
The EPCA requirement to consider
IEC Standard 62301 in developing
modified test procedures for clothes
dryers and room air conditioners
presents a potential conflict in defining
‘‘standby mode.’’ EPCA defines
‘‘standby mode’’ as the condition in
which a product is connected to a main
power source and offers one or more of
the following user-oriented or protective
functions: (1) To facilitate the activation
or deactivation of other functions
(including active mode) by remote
switch (including remote control),
internal sensor, or timer; and/or (2) to
provide continuous functions, including
information or status displays
(including clocks) or sensor-based
functions. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(iii)).
In contrast, paragraph 3.1 of the current
version of IEC Standard 62301 defines
‘‘standby mode’’ as the ‘‘lowest power
consumption mode which cannot be
switched off (influenced) by the user
and that may persist for an indefinite
time when an appliance is connected to
the main electricity supply and used in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.’’ In addition, prior to EISA
2007, DOE adopted a definition for
‘‘standby mode’’ nearly identical to that
of IEC Standard 62301 in the
dishwasher test procedure, in which
‘‘standby mode’’ ‘‘means the lowest
power consumption mode which cannot
be switched off or influenced by the
user and that may persist for an
indefinite time when an appliance is
connected to the main electricity supply
and used in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.’’ (10 CFR
part 430, subpart B, appendix C, section
1.14). DOE welcomes comment on the
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appropriate approach for resolving these
inconsistencies between EPCA, the IEC
Standard 62301 which EPCA references,
and the precedent set by the dishwasher
test procedure. While EPCA specifies
that DOE may consider the definition
for ‘‘standby mode’’ provided in the
most current version of IEC Standard
62301 in updating its test procedure,
DOE proposes to adopt the broader,
statutory definition of ‘‘standby mode’’
provided in EPCA for reasons of greater
specificity and clarity, and to include
that definition in the test procedures for
clothes dryers and room air
conditioners.
Further, the agency notes that, while
section 325(gg)(2)(A) of EPCA (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A)) requires that the
amended test procedures consider the
most current version of IEC Standard
62301, the IEC is developing an updated
version of this standard, IEC Standard
62301 (Second Edition). This updated
version of IEC Standard 62301 is
expected to include definitions of ‘‘off
mode,’’ ‘‘network-connected standby
mode,’’ and ‘‘disconnected mode,’’ and
would also revise the current IEC
Standard 62301 definition of ‘‘standby
mode.’’ However, because the IEC
anticipates that this new version of
Standard 62301 will likely be published
in July 2009, this later version of the
standard will be unavailable in time for
DOE to consider it and to still meet the
EISA 2007 deadline for issuance of a
final rule amending the relevant test
procedure to include measures of
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption by March 31, 2009. See 42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(B)(ii). Hence, the
First Edition 2005–06 of IEC Standard
62301 will be the ‘‘current version’’ at
the time of publication of the final rule,
so consideration thereof will comply
with EPCA. Accordingly, DOE plans to
use the First Edition 2005–06 of IEC
Standard 62301 in today’s proposed test
procedure. After the final rule is
published, amendments to the
referenced standards would be adopted
by DOE only if the agency later
incorporates them into its procedures.
In reviewing alternative standby
power test procedures for potential
amendments to the DOE test procedure,
DOE also investigated both testing
conditions and testing methods
specified in the test procedures used by
countries that are considered to be
international leaders in reducing
standby power consumption. These
countries include Japan, Korea, and
Australia, all of which use procedures
similar to those of IEC Standard 62301,
and/or reference that standard.
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D. Determination of Modes To Be
Incorporated
As noted above, DOE proposes to
incorporate into the clothes dryer and
room air conditioner test procedure the
definitions of ‘‘active mode,’’ ‘‘standby
mode,’’ and ‘‘off mode’’ specified by
EPCA. EPCA defines ‘‘active mode’’ as
‘‘the condition in which an energy-using
product—
(I) Is connected to a main power
source;
(II) Has been activated; and
(III) Provides 1 or more main
functions.’’
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(i))
EPCA defines ‘‘standby mode’’ as ‘‘the
condition in which an energy-using
product—
(I) Is connected to a main power
source; and
(II) Offers 1 or more of the following
user-oriented or protective functions:
(aa) To facilitate the activation or
deactivation of other functions
(including active mode) by remote
switch (including remote control),
internal sensor, or timer.
(bb) Continuous functions, including
information or status displays
(including clocks) or sensor-based
functions.’’
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(iii)) This
definition differs from the one provided
in IEC Standard 62301 by permitting the
inclusion of multiple standby modes.
EPCA defines ‘‘off mode’’ as ‘‘the
condition in which an energy-using
product —
(I) Is connected to a main power
source; and
(II) Is not providing any standby mode
or active mode function.’’ 12
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(ii))
DOE recognizes that these definitions
for ‘‘active mode,’’ ‘‘standby mode,’’ and
‘‘off mode’’ were developed to be
broadly applicable for many energyusing products. For specific products
12 DOE notes that some features that provide
consumer utility, such as displays and remote
controls, are associated with standby mode and not
off mode. A clothes dryer or room air conditioner
is considered to be in ‘‘off mode’’ if it is plugged
in to a main power source, is not being used for an
active function such as drying clothing or providing
cooling, and is consuming power for features other
than a display, controls (including a remote
control), or sensors required to reactivate it from a
low power state. For example, a clothes dryer with
mechanical controls and no display or
continuously-energized moisture sensor, but that
consumed power for components such as a power
supply when the unit was not activated, would be
considered to be in off mode when not providing
an active function. For room air conditioners, a unit
with mechanical controls and no display or remote
control but with a power supply which is
consuming energy, for example, could be
considered to be in off mode while not providing
an active function.
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with multiple functions, these broad
definitions could lead to unintended
consequences if the meaning of ‘‘main
functions’’ is narrowly interpreted, as
illustrated by the following example:
A ‘‘room air conditioner,’’ as defined
in section III.A, provides delivery of
conditioned air to an enclosed space.
This product includes a prime source of
refrigeration and may include a means
for ventilating and heating. A narrow
interpretation of this definition would
be that the main function of providing
delivery of conditioned air is strictly a
cooling function. Such an interpretation
would imply that delivery of cooled air
is the only active mode under the EPCA
definition, as amended by EISA 2007.
Under such an interpretation, operation
of the room air conditioner fan without
operation of the compressor would
likely be considered an off mode, since
it does not strictly fit the definition of
standby mode and because off mode
includes all modes which are not
standby mode or active mode.
To address this potential problem,
DOE proposes to amend to the clothes
dryer and room air conditioner test
procedures to clarify the range of main
functions that would be classified as
active mode functions. DOE further
proposes to amend the clothes dryer and
room air conditioner test procedures to
define multiple standby modes that
would be separately tested under the
procedures. DOE welcomes comment on
the above approach.
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1. Clothes Dryer Mode Definitions
DOE proposes the following mode
definitions for clothes dryers:
‘‘Active mode’’ means a mode in
which the clothes dryer is performing
the main function of tumbling the
clothing with or without heated or
unheated forced air circulation to
remove moisture from the clothing and/
or remove or prevent wrinkling of the
clothing;
‘‘Inactive mode’’ means a standby
mode other than delay start mode or
cycle finished mode that facilitates the
activation of active mode by remote
switch (including remote control),
internal sensor, or timer, or provides
continuous status display;
‘‘Cycle finished mode’’ means a
standby mode that provides continuous
status display following operation in
active mode;
‘‘Delay start mode’’ means a standby
mode that facilitates the activation of
active mode by timer; and
‘‘Off mode’’ means a mode in which
the clothes dryer is not performing any
active or standby function.
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2. Room Air Conditioner Mode
Definitions
For room air conditioners, DOE
proposes the following mode
definitions:
‘‘Active mode’’ means a mode in
which the room air conditioner is
performing the main function of cooling
or heating the conditioned space, or
circulating air through activation of its
fan or blower, with or without
energizing active air-cleaning
components or devices such as
ultraviolet (UV) radiation, electrostatic
filters, ozone generators, or other aircleaning devices;
‘‘Inactive mode’’ means a standby
mode other than delay start mode or offcycle mode that facilitates the activation
of active mode by remote switch
(including remote control) or internal
sensor or provides continuous status
display;
‘‘Delay start mode’’ means a standby
mode in which activation of an active
mode is facilitated by a timer;
‘‘Off-cycle mode’’ means a standby
mode in which the room air
conditioner: (1) Has cycled off its main
function by thermostat or temperature
sensor; (2) does not have its fan or
blower operating; and (3) will reactivate
the main function according to the
thermostat or temperature sensor signal;
‘‘Off mode’’ means a mode in which
a room air conditioner is not performing
any active or standby function.
Off-cycle mode could be considered
part of an active mode in which a room
air conditioner is cycling its compressor
on and off to maintain an average room
temperature. However, since the current
test procedure treats the cooling mode
as occuring only when the compressor
is operating, DOE proposes the off-cycle
mode to account for the time when the
space is being conditioned and the
compressor and fan are not operating.
E. Adding Specifications for the Test
Methods and Measurements for Clothes
Dryer and Room Air Conditioner
Standby Mode and Off Mode Testing
DOE is proposing test procedures for
measuring all standby and off modes
associated with clothes dryers and room
air conditioners. This section discusses
product-specific clarifications of the
procedures of IEC Standard 62301 when
used to measure standby and off mode
energy use for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners.
1. Clothes Dryers
DOE understands that displays on
clothes dryers may reduce power
consumption by dimming after a certain
period of user inactivity. For those
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clothes dryers for which the power
input in inactive mode varies in this
fashion during testing, DOE proposes
that the test be conducted after the
power level has dropped to its low
level.
DOE understands that clothes dryers
with a delay start capability may use
varying amounts of power during delay
start mode depending on the delay time,
the time displayed, and/or display
indication of mode status. Paragraph
5.3.1 of section 5.3 ‘‘Procedure’’ of IEC
Standard 62301 instructs a test
technician to ‘‘[c]onnect the product to
be tested to the metering equipment,
and select the mode to be measured.
After the product has been allowed to
stabilize for at least 5 min., monitor the
power consumption for not less than an
additional 5 min.’’ The lack of
specificity in this language regarding the
test period could allow a manufacturer
to measure standby power consumption
by selecting delay start times with
relatively low power consumption,
producing test results that would
neither be comparable to those obtained
using other time periods nor represent
the true standby power consumption of
its clothes dryers. Consequently, to
ensure comparable and valid results,
DOE proposes to include in the clothes
dryer test procedure a specification for
the delay start time to be set at 5 hours,
and for power to be monitored for 60
minutes after waiting at least 5 minutes
for power input to stabilize.
In determining the specifications for
delay start parameters, DOE considered
the possibility that display power input
would depend on the time displayed,
which is typically the time in hours
remaining before the start. Displays may
be one or two digits. Some two-digit
displays may show whole numbers for
remaining delay hours of 10 or more
and both the ones and tenths digits for
remaining delay hours of 9.9 or less. By
analyzing the number of light emitting
diodes (LEDs) activated in LED displays
of the remaining hours over a range of
delay times, DOE concluded that the
average number of LEDs lit for the range
of all possible delay times would be best
approximated by the average LEDs lit
for either single-digit or two-digit
displays in a 60-minute test if the delay
time is set at 5 hours. DOE also is aware
that some clothes dryers with the delay
start feature do not allow delay time
greater than 5 hours.
DOE proposes to adopt the test room
ambient temperature specified by IEC
Standard 62301 for standby mode and
off mode testing. Under these
conditions, the test room ambient
temperature would be 73.4 ± 9 °F,
which is slightly different from the
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ambient temperature currently specified
for DOE’s drying performance tests of
clothes dryers (75 ± 3 °F). Today’s
proposal, however, permits
manufacturers who opt to test
simultaneously for all three conditions
to do so using the current ambient
temperature requirements for drying
tests, since these are within the limits
specified by IEC Standard 62301.
Alternatively, the proposed temperature
specifications would allow a
manufacturer that opts to conduct
standby mode and off mode testing
separately from drying tests more
latitude in maintaining ambient
conditions. DOE requests comment on
the appropriateness of this proposed
modified test room ambient temperature
range.
2. Room Air Conditioners
A given unit or model of a room air
conditioner with a temperature, clock,
or timer display may use varying
amounts of standby power depending
on the numbers being displayed. During
preliminary testing conducted by DOE
for room air conditioners (‘‘RAC
Standby Testing’’), for a two-digit
display capable of displaying
temperature or delay start time, standby
power use for different digit
combinations was observed to vary by
as much as 22 percent. (RAC Standby
Testing, No. 1 at p.1) Paragraph 5.3.1 of
section 5.3 ‘‘Procedure’’ of IEC Standard
62301 instructs a test technician to
‘‘[c]onnect the product to be tested to
the metering equipment, and select the
mode to be measured. After the product
has been allowed to stabilize for at least
5 min., monitor the power consumption
for not less than an additional 5 min.’’
As with clothes dryers, the lack of
specificity in this IEC Standard 62301
language regarding the test period or
control setting could allow a
manufacturer to measure standby power
consumption by selecting temperatures
or time periods with relatively low
power consumption, thereby producing
test results that would not be
comparable to those obtained using
other temperatures or time periods and
that would not represent the true
standby power consumption of its room
air conditioners. In addition, different
manufacturers could take different
approaches in selecting cycles for
testing.
Another concern arises when a room
air conditioner has a delay start mode.
To ensure comparable and valid results,
DOE proposes to include in this test
procedure a separate test in the delay
start mode, in which the unit is set to
a delay start time of 5 hours and the
power is monitored for 60 minutes after
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allowing the power input level to
stabilize for at least 5 minutes. The
rationale for specifying the 5-hour delay
start time and the 60-minute
measurement time is the same as that
presented above regarding selection of
parameters for clothes dryer testing in
delay start mode (i.e., the average power
consumption of a display for these
conditions would be most
representative of average power
consumption under the entire range of
possible delay hours).
DOE recognizes that different room air
conditioners provide different
temperature displays when operating.
Some room air conditioners display
actual room temperature, while others
display setpoint temperature. DOE
proposes to address the possibility of
these different approaches by requiring
that the test room temperature be
maintained at 74 ± 2 °F and that the
room setpoint temperature be set at 79
°F. DOE selected this test room
temperature, which is lower than the
room air temperature which is specified
for the existing DOE cooling
performance tests (80 ± 0.5 °F), because
DOE has tentatively concluded that the
display energy consumption associated
with the proposed room temperature
range would be the most representative
of an average display energy
consumption over all reasonable room
temperature conditions. DOE
considered that a different number of
LEDs may be energized in an LED
display, depending on actual room or
setpoint temperature. For the specified
room temperature range and setpoint,
the average power consumption for the
possible combinations of LEDs
energized would be close to the average
power consumption for the full range of
reasonable actual room and setpoint
temperatures displayed (i.e., 70 °F to 85
°F). Hence, the chosen room ambient
and setpoint temperatures would ensure
that: (1) The power consumption of any
display, whether indicating actual or
setpoint temperature, represents an
average power consumption associated
with the range of typical user room
temperatures and setpoints; and (2) the
room air conditioner will not cycle the
compressor on, since the setpoint will
be higher than actual room ambient
temperature. DOE also notes that,
although the 80 ± 0.5 °F room air
temperature specified by the current test
procedure falls within the allowable
range specified in IEC Standard 62301
(73.4 ± 9 °F), the proposed test room
temperature would be more
representative of conditions in which a
room air conditioner would likely be in
standby mode, since it is reasonable to
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assume the unit would be in active
mode if the room air temperature were
near 80 °F. DOE requests comment on
the appropriateness of this proposed
modified test room ambient temperature
range.
DOE believes that IEC Standard 62301
is otherwise suitable to address possible
variation in the power levels associated
with the off and standby modes,
requiring only appropriate lengthening
of the sample period, averaging of the
power input, and measurement of a
number of complete cycles, if necessary,
to capture cyclic power input.
F. Calculation of Energy Use Associated
With Standby Modes and Off Mode
Measurements of energy consumption
associated with each standby and off
mode for clothes dryers and room air
conditioners are expressed in W. The
total energy impact of the power
expended in these modes depends on
both the power level in W of each mode
and the time spent in each mode. This
section discusses the approach
proposed for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners for calculating energy
use associated with standby modes and
off mode and the numbers of hours
proposed to be associated with each
mode.
1. Clothes Dryers
Energy use for clothes dryers is
expressed in terms of total energy use
per drying cycle; measurements of
standby and off mode energy use will be
expressed in this fashion as well, in
order to maintain consistency. Energy
used during a drying cycle is directly
measured as energy use per cycle in the
test procedure, although adjustments are
made to the directly measured energy to
account for differences between test and
field conditions. The energy use
associated with continuously burning
pilot lights of gas dryers is measured
and is converted to an energy use per
cycle by dividing calculated annual gas
energy use by the representative average
number of drying cycles per year (i.e.,
416). 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix D, section 4.4. This procedure
for gas pilot lights provides an approach
for calculating standby power
consumption.
In the existing test procedure, energy
use per cycle for continuously burning
pilot lights is calculated by multiplying
the energy use measured for a period of
one hour by an established number of
hours per year that the dryer is not in
drying mode, and dividing by the
representative average cycles per year.
The existing test procedure established
that a gas clothes dryer is in the drying
mode 140 hours per year, and that the
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balance of the year (8,620 hours) is the
established number of hours associated
with the pilot light energy consumption.
DOE proposes to adopt a similar
approach for measuring energy
consumption during standby and off
modes for clothes dryers. Specifically,
DOE proposes to adopt the current 140
hours associated with drying (i.e., the
active mode) and to associate the
remaining 8,620 hours of the year with
the standby and off modes. DOE is
proposing this approach because it
believes that the number of drying hours
established in the existing test
procedure for gas dryers is a reasonable
representation of the active mode hours
for all dryers, and because, to date, DOE
has not identified any other reliable data
regarding average dryer cycle times.
DOE welcomes information and data on
such average cycle times, as well as
annual dryer usage.
In order to establish the number of
hours per year in each standby and off
mode, as defined in section III.D.1, DOE
investigated studies of dryer usage
patterns and found only one study of
the time spent by clothes dryers in
different standby modes.13 This
publication presents results of a
household survey conducted in 2000,
which measured standby modes for 35
clothes dryers with an average age of 11
years. The daily time spent in each
mode in this study averaged one quarter
hour for ‘‘drying,’’ zero hours for ‘‘delay
start’’ and ‘‘active standby’’ modes, and
the remaining hours split 5 percent for
‘‘end of program’’ mode and 95 percent
for off mode. The ‘‘active standby
mode’’ of the study is equivalent to the
‘‘inactive mode’’ defined in section
III.D.1 of this notice, and the ‘‘end of
program mode’’ is equivalent to the
‘‘cycle finished mode’’ in section III.D.1.
DOE has tentatively concluded from
these results that clothes dryers spend
little time in cycle finished mode and
probably spend little time in delay start
mode. The average age of the clothes
dryers in the study suggests that most of
these dryers had electromechanical
rather than electronic controls
(prevalent among dryers currently on
the market), indicating that the dryers in
the study would not likely have had
inactive mode or delay start mode.
Hence, DOE does not infer from those
results that modern clothes dryers
spend negligible time in inactive mode,
and the findings are by themselves
inconclusive regarding the time modern
clothes dryers spend in delay start
mode.
A different study on clothes washers
provides some additional evidence
suggesting a small number of hours
associated with clothes dryer delay start
mode.14 This study monitored time
clothes washers in Australia and New
Zealand spent in different modes, and
showed that the average amount of time
spent in delay start mode per wash
cycle was approximately 5 minutes.
DOE believes that the results for clothes
washers may be applicable for clothes
dryers as well, because of the
similarities between the control
capabilities for both types of products
and comparable consumer usage
74647
patterns when a clothing load is washed
and dried.
Based on these two information
sources, DOE has tentatively concluded
that a typical modern clothes dryer
spends a small amount of time in delay
start mode. Using an estimated 5
minutes per cycle, the total annual
amount of time spent in delay start
mode using the representative 416
cycles per year is 34 hours. The
remaining time not associated with
active mode or delay start mode can be
split as suggested by the Australian
study: 5 percent allocated to cycle
finished mode and 95 percent allocated
to off or inactive mode.
Table III.1 presents a comparison of
the annual energy use associated with
all modes. The approximate range of
wattages associated with the standby
and off modes are based on the
references cited previously in this
section and on ‘‘Clothes Dryers
Background/Issues/Standby,’’ presented
by Robert Foster of Energy Efficiency
Strategies at the E3 White Goods Forum
in Sydney, Australia, in February
2007.15 Active mode annual energy use
is calculated based on 416 cycles per
year in a standard-size electric dryer
with a minimum standard EF of 3.01.
Per-cycle energy use for such a clothes
dryer is calculated as 7 pounds (lbs)
divided by 3.01 lbs per kilowatt-hour
(kWh), which is equal to 2.33 kWh. The
typical average power level during
active mode is calculated as 967 kWh
per year of annual energy use divided
by 140 hours in active mode, which is
equal to 6,907 W.
TABLE III.1—ESTIMATE OF ANNUAL ENERGY USE OF CLOTHES DRYER MODES
Mode
Hours
Active ...........................................................................................................................................
Delay Start ...................................................................................................................................
Cycle Finished .............................................................................................................................
Off and Inactive ...........................................................................................................................
140
* 34
** 429
† 8,157
Typical power
(W)
Annual energy
use (kWh)
6,907
3
3
0.5 to 3
967
0.1
1
4 to 24
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
* 5 minutes per cycle × 416 cycles per year.
** 5 percent of remaining time (0.05 × (8,760·140·34) = 429).
† 95 percent of remaining time (0.95 × (8,760·140·34) = 8,157).
To determine the annual hours per
mode for clothes dryers for which not
all standby modes are possible, DOE
estimated values based upon
reallocating the hours for modes that are
not present according to the ratios
discussed previously (i.e., that cycle
finished mode, if present, would
account for 5 percent of annual hours
not allocated to active and delay start
modes, and off/inactive modes would
account for the remaining 95 percent).
DOE’s logic for this distribution of hours
is as follows:
• If delay start is not possible, cycle
finished mode would be 0.05 × (8,760
total hours·140 active mode hours) =
431 hours. The remaining 8,189 hours
would be allocated for off/inactive
modes.
• If cycle finished mode is not
possible, delay start mode, which is
assumed to be a fixed value of 5 minutes
per cycle for each of the 416 cycles per
13 Standby Product Profile—Clothes Dryers
(Report 2003/09). National Appliance and
Equipment Energy Efficiency Committee (NAEEEC)
of Australia (October 2003). Available at: https://
www.energyrating.gov.au/library/pubs/sb200309dryers.pdf.
14 ‘‘A Submission to NAEEEC on Mode Times for
Use When Determining Standby Energy
Consumption of Clothes Washers, Dishwashers, and
Dryers,’’ Australian Electrical and Electronic
Manufacturers’ Association (March 11, 2005),
Appendix B.
15 Available at https://www.energyrating.gov.au/
pubs/2007-whitegoods-foster4.pdf.
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year specified in the DOE test
procedure, would account for 34 hours.
Thus, off/inactive modes would be
8,760 total hours·140 active mode
hours·34 delay start mode hours =
8,586 hours.
• If neither delay start nor cycle
finished modes are possible, then off/
inactive modes would simply be 8,760
total hours·140 active mode hours =
8,620 hours.
Table III.2 summarizes the allocation
of hours to different possible modes
under each scenario.
TABLE III.2—ESTIMATE OF ANNUAL HOURS OF POSSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER MODES
All modes
possible
Mode
Active ...............................................................................................................
Delay Start * .....................................................................................................
Cycle Finished ** ..............................................................................................
Off and Inactive † .............................................................................................
No delay start
mode
No cycle
finished mode
No delay start
or cycle finished modes
140
0
431
8,189
140
34
0
8,586
140
0
0
8,620
140
34
429
8,157
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
* 5 minutes per cycle × 416 cycles per year.
** 5 percent of remaining time.
† 95 percent of remaining time.
Information to guide allocation of the
hours for clothes dryers that have both
inactive and off modes is currently
unavailable. Two operational scenarios
exist: (1) A clothes dryer reverts to an
off mode after a specified time in
inactive mode; or (2) a clothes dryer
stays in inactive mode unless the user
switches the appliance back to off mode.
DOE does not have information
regarding the percentage of clothes
dryers being sold that fall into each of
these categories. DOE welcomes
comment and additional information on
this point. Because of this limitation, for
purposes of its analysis, DOE proposes
to allocate half of the hours determined
for off/inactive modes to each of the two
modes.
In summary, DOE proposes to
calculate clothes dryer energy use per
cycle associated with standby and off
modes by: (1) Calculating the product of
wattage and allocated hours for all
possible standby and off modes; (2)
summing the results; (3) dividing the
sum by 1,000 to convert from Wh to
kWh; and (4) dividing by 416 cycles per
year. The number of hours for off/
inactive modes would be allocated
entirely to either off mode or inactive
mode, as appropriate, if only one of
these modes is possible for the clothes
dryer. If both modes are possible, the
off/inactive mode hours would be
divided evenly between the two.
DOE invites comments on this
proposed methodology and associated
factors, including accuracy, allocation of
annual hours, and test burden. If, based
on comments, DOE determines that this
approach is unreasonable, DOE would
consider the following alternative
methodology.
The comparison of annual energy use
of different clothes dryer modes shows
that delay start and cycle finished
modes represent a relatively small
number of hours at low power
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consumption levels. For clothes dryers
currently on the market, these levels are
distinct from but comparable to those
for off/inactive modes. Thus, DOE could
adopt an approach that would be
limited to specification of hours for only
off and inactive modes when calculating
energy use associated with standby and
off modes. In that case, all of the nonactive hours (8,620 hours total) would
be allocated to the inactive and off
modes. DOE invites comment on
whether such an alternative would be
representative of the standby and off
mode power consumption of clothes
dryers currently on the market.
2. Room Air Conditioners
DOE is not aware of reliable data for
hours spent in different standby and off
modes in room air conditioners.
Therefore, DOE estimated relative
magnitudes of energy use in standby
and off modes in the following example,
illustrated for a representative 8,000
Btu/hour (hr), 9 EER unit that has delay
start, off-cycle, and inactive modes.
DOE is aware that a room air
conditioner may be unplugged for a
certain percentage of time, and,
therefore, will not be in either standby
mode or off mode. DOE does not have
data regarding the amount of
‘‘unplugged’’ time for a typical room air
conditioner. For the purposes of this
analysis, DOE estimates that
approximately half of room air
conditioners are unplugged for half of
the year. The ‘‘unplugged’’ time
associated with these units is averaged
over all units. Hence, the average
number of plugged-in hours per year for
a room air conditioner would be
estimated as 8,760 total hours · (1⁄2 of
units that are unplugged × 4,380
unplugged hours) = 6,570 hours.
The prime cooling season is estimated
to last 90 days a year, which equals
2,160 hours. During this time, it is
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estimated that room air conditioners
spend 750 hours in cooling mode,
according to the current test procedure.
In addition, DOE estimates that 10
percent of room air conditioners that
have a delay start mode function will
use this function for 10 hours a day
during the cooling season. Averaged
over all units with this functionality,
this represents 90 days × 10 hr/day × 10
percent of units = 90 hours. Therefore,
cooling mode hours plus delay start
hours total 840 hours for units that
incorporate the delay start function. The
remaining cooling season hours in this
example are 2,160 cooling season hours
· 840 combined cooling mode and
delay start mode hours = 1,320 hours.
For this representative unit, DOE
assumes that these remaining cooling
season hours divide equally into: (1)
Fan-only mode (an active mode in
which the compressor shuts down when
operating in constant-fan mode or user
selection of fan-only operation); (2) offcycle mode; and (3) inactive mode (and/
or off mode for units that have such
capability). One-third of 1,320 equals
440, so for this example, the number of
off-cycle mode hours is 440, and the
number of inactive and/or off mode
hours during the cooling season is also
440.
The cooling season inactive and/or off
mode hours are summed with the
additional inactive and/or off mode
hours when the unit is plugged in
outside of the cooling season. These
additional hours are 6,570 plugged-in
hours · 2,160 cooling season hours =
4,410 hours. Hence, for this example,
total inactive and/or off mode hours are
440 inactive and/or off mode hours
during cooling season + 4,410 pluggedin hours outside of the cooling season
= 4,850 hours. The hours for the
relevant modes and estimates of power
input and energy use for this example
are summarized in Table III.3 below.
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While the hours per mode presented in
this illustration are estimates based on
limited study data, DOE believes that
energy patterns illustrated in this
example are representative for most
room air conditioners with delay start
and off-cycle mode capability. The
typical average power level during
active mode is calculated as the 8,000
Btu/hr cooling capacity ÷ 9 Btu/hr/W
EER = 889 W.
TABLE III.3—ESTIMATE OF ANNUAL ENERGY USE OF ROOM AIR CONDITIONER MODES FOR A REPRESENTATIVE UNIT WITH
8,000 BTU/HR CAPACITY AND 9 EER
Mode
Active Cooling ..............................................................................................................................
Delay Start ...................................................................................................................................
Off-Cycle ......................................................................................................................................
Off and Inactive ...........................................................................................................................
To determine the annual hours per
mode for room air conditioners for
which not all standby modes are
possible, DOE estimated values based
upon reallocating the hours for modes
that are not present according to the
ratios discussed previously (i.e., that offcycle mode, if present, would account
for one-third of annual cooling season
hours not allocated to active and delay
start modes, and off/inactive modes
would account for another one third of
the annual cooling season hours not
Typical power
(W)
allocated to active and delay start modes
plus the 4,410 plugged-in non-cooling
season hours). DOE’s logic for this
distribution of hours is as follows:
• If delay start is not possible, offcycle mode would equal 1⁄3 × (2,160
cooling season hours · 750 cooling
mode hours) = 470 hours. Off/inactive
modes would then account for 470 offcycle mode hours + 4,410 plugged-in
non-cooling season hours = 4,880 hours.
• If off-cycle mode is not possible,
off/inactive modes would equal 1⁄2 ×
Annual energy
use (kWh)
889
2
2
0.5 to 2
Hours
667
0.2
0.9
2.5 to 10
750
90
440
4,850
(2,160 cooling season hours · 750
cooling mode hours · 90 delay start
mode hours) + 4,410 plugged-in noncooling season hours = 5,070 hours.
• If neither delay start nor off-cycle
modes are possible, then off/inactive
modes would equal 1⁄2 × (2,160 cooling
season hours · 750 cooling mode
hours) + 4,410 plugged-in non-cooling
season hours = 5,115 hours.
Table III.4 summarizes the allocation
of hours to different possible modes
under each scenario.
TABLE III.4—ESTIMATE OF ANNUAL ENERGY USE OF ROOM AIR CONDITIONER MODES
All modes
possible
Mode
Active, Cooling .................................................................................................................................
Active, Fan-Only ** ...........................................................................................................................
Delay Start * .....................................................................................................................................
Off-Cycle ** .......................................................................................................................................
Off and Inactive ** ............................................................................................................................
No delay
start
mode
750
440
90
440
4,850
750
470
0
470
4,880
No offcycle
mode
750
660
90
0
5,070
No delay
start or
off-cycle
modes
750
705
0
0
5,115
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
* 10% of units will use delay start for 10 hours/day during the 90-day cooling season. The 90-day cooling season represents 2,160 hours.
** (2,160 cooling season hours · 750 cooling mode hours · delay start mode hours) divided by the number of these three modes which are
present (fan-only, off-cycle, and off/inactive). Off and inactive modes are treated as one, and also include all of the 4,410 plugged in hours outside of the cooling season.
DOE is unaware of any room air
conditioners that incorporate both off
and inactive modes. Typically, room air
conditioners with remote control can be
controlled whenever they are plugged
in; hence, these units do not include an
off mode. If a room air conditioner
allows the user to switch off remote
control operation, such a product would
be capable of both inactive and off
mode. For these units, DOE proposes
that the plugged-in off/inactive hours be
allocated equally to the inactive and off
modes for such a product.
In summary, DOE proposes to
calculate room air conditioner energy
use associated with standby and off
modes by: (1) Calculating the products
of wattage and allocated hours for all
possible standby and off modes; (2)
summing the results; and (3) dividing
the sum by 1,000 to convert from Wh to
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kWh. The number of allocated hours for
off/inactive modes would be allocated
entirely to either off mode or inactive
mode, as appropriate, if only one of
these modes is possible for the room air
conditioner. If both modes are possible,
the off/inactive mode hours would be
divided evenly between the two.
DOE invites comments on this
proposed methodology and associated
factors, including accuracy, allocation of
annual hours, and test burden. If, based
on comments, DOE determines that this
approach is unreasonable, DOE would
consider the following alternative
methodology.
Similar to clothes dryers, the
comparison of annual energy use of
different room air conditioner modes
shows that delay start and off-cycle
modes represent a relatively small
number of hours at low power
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consumption levels. For room air
conditioners currently on the market,
these levels are distinct from but
comparable to those for off/inactive
modes. Thus, DOE could adopt an
approach that would be limited to
specification of hours for only off and
inactive modes when calculating energy
use associated with standby and off
modes. In that case, all of the non-active
hours (5,115 hours total) would be
allocated to the inactive and off modes.
DOE invites comment on whether such
an alternative would be representative
of the standby and off mode power
consumption of room air conditioners
currently on the market.
G. Measures of Energy Consumption
The DOE test procedures for clothes
dryers and room air conditioners
currently provide for the calculation of
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several measures of energy
consumption. For clothes dryers, the
test procedure incorporates various
measures of per-cycle energy
consumption, including total per-cycle
electric dryer energy consumption, percycle gas dryer electrical energy
consumption, per-cycle gas dryer gas
energy consumption, per-cycle gas dryer
continuously burning pilot light gas
energy consumption, total per-cycle gas
dryer gas energy consumption expressed
in Btu, and total per-cycle gas dryer gas
energy consumption expressed in kWh.
10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix D,
sections 4.1–4.5. The test procedure also
provides an EF, which is equal to the
clothes load in pounds divided by either
the total per-cycle electric dryer energy
consumption or by the total per-cycle
gas dryer energy consumption expressed
in kWh. 10 CFR 430.23(d). For room air
conditioners, the test procedure
calculates annual energy consumption
in kWh and an EER. 10 CFR 430.23(f).
Under 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A), EPCA
directs that the ‘‘[t]est procedures for all
covered products shall be amended
pursuant to section 323 to include
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption, taking into consideration
the most current versions of Standards
62301 and 62087 of the International
Electrotechnical Commission, with such
energy consumption integrated into the
overall energy efficiency, energy
consumption, or other energy descriptor
for each covered product, unless the
Secretary determines that—(i) the
current test procedures for a covered
product already fully account for and
incorporate the standby mode and off
mode energy consumption of the
covered product; or (ii) such an
integrated test procedure is technically
infeasible for a particular covered
product, in which case the Secretary
shall prescribe a separate standby mode
and off mode energy use test procedure
for the covered product, if technically
feasible.’’
DOE explored whether the existing
measures of energy consumption for
clothes dryers and room air conditioners
can be combined with standby mode
and off mode energy use to form a single
metric. DOE notes that certain test
procedures combine measures of energy
consumption and standby energy use to
derive an overall ‘‘energy efficiency
measure’’ (e.g., gas kitchen ranges and
ovens incorporate pilot gas
consumption in EF, electric ovens
include clock power in EF, and gas
clothes dryers include pilot gas
consumption). When the difference in
energy use between the primary
function of those products and the
standby power is so large that the
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standby power has little impact on the
overall measure of energy efficiency, as
is the case for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners (illustrated in section
III.F), the combined measure of energy
efficiency is a meaningful measure.
Therefore, DOE is proposing a combined
metric addressing active, standby, and
off modes for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners, as discussed below.
1. Clothes Dryers
DOE proposes to establish the
following measures of energy
consumption for clothes dryers that
integrate energy use of standby and off
modes with energy use of main
functions of the products. ‘‘Per-cycle
integrated total energy consumption
expressed in kWh’’ will be defined as
the sum of per-cycle standby and off
mode energy consumption and either
total per-cycle electric dryer energy
consumption or total per-cycle gas dryer
energy consumption expressed in kWh,
depending on which type of clothes
dryer is involved. ‘‘Integrated energy
factor’’ (IEF) will be defined as the
(clothes dryer test load weight in lb)/
(per-cycle integrated total energy in
kWh).
2. Room Air Conditioners
DOE proposes to establish the
following measures of energy
consumption for room air conditioners
that integrate energy use of standby and
off modes with energy use of main
functions of the products. ‘‘Integrated
annual energy consumption’’ will be
defined as the sum of annual energy
consumption and standby and off mode
energy consumption. ‘‘Integrated energy
efficiency ratio’’ (IEER) will be defined
as (cooling capacity in Btu/hr × 750
hours average time in cooling mode) /
(integrated annual energy consumption
× 1,000 Wh per kWh).
H. Correction of Text Describing Energy
Factor Calculation for Clothes Dryers
Specific references used in the current
DOE test procedure regulation contain
certain errors that today’s proposal
seeks to correct. In particular, the
reference to sections 2.6.1 and 2.6.2 of
10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix D
in the calculation of EF for clothes
dryers found at section 430.23(d)(2) is
incorrect and should refer instead to
sections 2.7.1 and 2.7.2. Section 2.6
provides instructions for the test clothes
to be used in energy testing of clothes
dryers, whereas section 2.7 provides
instructions on test loads. The EF of
clothes dryers is measured in pounds of
clothes per kWh. Since the EF
calculation requires the weight of the
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test load, DOE proposes to correct these
references in 10 CFR 430.23(d)(2).
I. Correction of Text Referencing Room
Air Conditioner Test Standard
The room air conditioner test
procedure currently references ASHRAE
Standard 16–69, ‘‘Method of Testing for
Rating Room Air Conditioners.’’ The
text in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix F, section 1, however,
incorrectly identifies ASHRAE as
‘‘American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air Conditioning in
Engineers.’’ The actual name of the
referenced organization is ‘‘American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers.’’ DOE
proposes to correct this reference in 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix F,
section 1 (which is being redesignated
as section 2 in the proposed
amendments).
J. Compliance With Other EPCA
Requirements
1. Test Burden
Section 323(b)(3) of EPCA requires
that ‘‘[a]ny test procedures prescribed or
amended under this section shall be
reasonably designed to produce test
results which measure energy
efficiency, energy use * * * or
estimated annual operating cost of a
covered product during a representative
average use cycle or period of use * * *
and shall not be unduly burdensome to
conduct.’’ (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) For the
reasons that follow, DOE has tentatively
concluded that amending the relevant
DOE test procedures to incorporate
clauses regarding test conditions and
methods found in IEC Standard 62301,
along with the proposed modifications,
would satisfy this requirement.
The proposed amendments to the
DOE test procedure incorporate a test
standard that is accepted internationally
for measuring standby power in standby
modes and off mode. Based on DOE’s
testing and analysis of IEC Standard
62301, DOE determined that the
proposed amendments to the clothes
dryer and room air conditioner test
procedures would produce standby and
off mode average power consumption
measurements that are representative of
an average use cycle, both when the
measured power is stable and when the
measured power is unstable (i.e., when
power varies by more than 5 percent
during 5 minutes). Also, the test
methods and equipment that the
amendment would require for
measuring standby power in these
products are not substantially different
from, or can be even less burdensome to
implement than, the test methods and
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equipment in the current DOE test
procedures for measuring the products’
energy consumption. Therefore, the
proposed test procedures would not
require manufacturers to make a major
investment in test facilities and new
equipment. Accordingly, DOE has
tentatively concluded that the amended
test procedures would produce test
results that measure the standby/off
mode power consumption of a covered
product during a representative average
use cycle, as well as total annual energy
consumption, and that testing under the
test procedures would not be unduly
burdensome to conduct.
2. Potential Incorporation of IEC
Standard 62087
Section 325(gg)(2)(A) of EPCA directs
DOE to consider IEC Standard 62087
when amending test procedures to
include standby mode and off mode
power measurements (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A)). As discussed in section
III.C of this notice, DOE reviewed IEC
Standard 62087 ‘‘Methods of
measurement for the power
consumption of audio, video, and
related equipment’’ (Second Edition
2008–09) and determined that it would
not be applicable to measuring power
consumption of electrical appliances
such as clothes dryers and room air
conditioners. Therefore, DOE has
determined that referencing IEC
Standard 62087 is not necessary for the
proposed amendments to the test
procedures that are the subject of this
rulemaking.
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3. Integration of Standby Mode and Off
Mode Energy Consumption Into the
Efficiency Metrics
Section 325(gg)(2)(A) requires that
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption be ‘‘integrated into the
overall energy efficiency, energy
consumption, or other energy descriptor
for each covered product’’ unless the
current test procedures already fully
account for the standby mode and off
mode energy consumption or if such an
integrated test procedure is technically
infeasible (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)). For
clothes dryers, DOE is proposing to
incorporate the standby and off mode
energy consumption into a ‘‘per-cycle
integrated total energy consumption
expressed in kilowatt-hours’’ and into
an IEF, as discussed in section III.G of
this notice. For room air conditioners,
DOE is proposing to incorporate the
standby and off mode energy
consumption into a metric for
‘‘integrated annual energy
consumption’’ and into an IEER, as
discussed in section III.G.
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Furthermore, EPCA provides that test
procedure amendments adopted to
comply with the new EPCA
requirements for standby and off mode
energy consumption will not determine
compliance with previously established
standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C))
Pursuant to this provision, the test
procedure amendments pertaining to
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption that DOE proposes to
adopt in this rulemaking would not
apply to, and would have no impact on,
existing standards. In other words,
existing energy standards for clothes
dryers and room air conditioners, which
are based on EF and EER, respectively,
would not be altered by today’s
proposal. Instead, the test procedures’
provisions for standby/off mode would
be required to be used for demonstrating
compliance with DOE’s energy
conservation standards upon the
effective date of a subsequent standards
rulemaking for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners that account for standby
mode and off mode power consumption.
Thus, the proposed test procedure
amendments comply with this EPCA
requirement.
IV. Procedural Requirements
A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
Today’s proposed regulatory action is
not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’
under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866, Regulatory Planning and Review,
58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly,
this proposed action was not subject to
review under the Executive Order by the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
B. Review Under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation
of an initial regulatory flexibility
analysis for any rule that by law must
be proposed for public comment, unless
the agency certifies that the proposed
rule, if promulgated, will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. As
required by Executive Order 13272,
‘‘Proper Consideration of Small Entities
in Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461
(August 16, 2002), DOE published
procedures and policies on February 19,
2003, to ensure that the potential
impacts of its rules on small entities are
properly considered during the
rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE’s
procedures and policies may be viewed
on the Office of the General Counsel’s
Web site (https://www.gc.doe.gov).
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DOE reviewed today’s proposed rule
under the provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act and the procedures and
policies published on February 19,
2003. This proposed rule prescribes test
procedures that will be used to test
compliance with energy conservation
standards for the products that are the
subject of this rulemaking.
DOE has tentatively concluded that
the proposed rule would not have a
significant impact on either small or
large manufacturers under the
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act. The proposed rule would amend
DOE’s test procedures by incorporating
testing provisions to address standby
mode and off mode energy
consumption. The procedures involve
measuring power input when the
clothes dryer or room air conditioner is
in standby and off modes during testing.
These tests can be conducted in the
same facilities used for the current
energy testing of these products, but
could also be conducted in separate
facilities consisting of little more than a
temperature-controlled space. The
power meter required for these tests
might require greater accuracy than the
power meter used for current energy
testing, but the investment required for
a possible instrumentation upgrade
would be modest. The duration of the
standby and off mode testing is
relatively short in comparison to the
time required to conduct current energy
testing. Thus, such requirements for
equipment and time to conduct the
additional tests would not be expected
to impose a significant economic
impact. Accordingly, DOE does not
believe that the proposed rule would
have a significant economic impact on
entities subject to the applicable testing
requirements.
Further, the Small Business
Administration (SBA) considers an
entity to be a small business if, together
with its affiliates, it employs less than
a threshold number of workers specified
in 13 CFR part 121, which relies on size
standards and codes established by the
North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS). The threshold number
for NAICS classification for 335224,
which applies to household laundry
equipment manufacturers and includes
clothes dryer manufacturers, is 1,000
employees. Additionally, two other
NAICS classifications could apply to
manufacturers involved in the
production of room air conditioners,
including 333415 (air conditioning and
warm air heating equipment and
commercial and industrial refrigeration
equipment) and 335228 (other major
household appliance manufacturing).
The employee thresholds for
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classification as a small entity under
these NAICS codes are 750 and 500
employees, respectively.
Searches of the SBA Web site 16 to
identify manufacturers within these
NAICS codes that manufacture clothes
dryers and/or room air conditioners
identified only Staber Industries of
Groveport, Ohio as a relevant
manufacturer. Staber manufactures
laundry appliances, including clothes
dryers. Most of the manufacturers
supplying clothes dryers and room air
conditioners are large multinational
corporations. Only one small entity
could be identified that could be
affected by this test procedure
modification, out of approximately 15
manufacturers supplying clothes dryers
in the United States, and, for the reasons
stated above, the incremental impacts
on that manufacturer arising from the
new proposed test procedure
requirements are expected to be small.
For these reasons, DOE tentatively
concludes and certifies that the
proposed rule would not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a
regulatory flexibility analysis for this
rulemaking. DOE will transmit the
certification and supporting statement
of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the SBA for review under
5 U.S.C. 605(b).
C. Review Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995
This proposed rulemaking will
impose no new information collection
or recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, OMB clearance is not
required under the Paperwork
Reduction Act. (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
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D. Review Under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
In this notice, DOE is proposing test
procedure amendments that it expects
would be used to develop and
implement future energy conservation
standards for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners. DOE has determined
that this rule falls into a class of actions
that are categorically excluded from
review under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and DOE’s
implementing regulations at 10 CFR part
1021. Specifically, this rule amends an
existing rule without changing its
environmental effect, and, therefore, is
covered by the Categorical Exclusion in
10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, paragraph
16 A searchable database of certified small
businesses is available online at: https://
dsbs.sba.gov/dsbs/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm.
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A5, which applies because this rule
would establish revisions to existing test
procedures that would not affect the
amount, quality, or distribution of
energy usage, and, therefore, would not
result in any environmental impacts.
Accordingly, neither an environmental
assessment nor an environmental
impact statement is required.
E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’
imposes certain requirements on
agencies formulating and implementing
policies or regulations that preempt
State law or that have Federalism
implications. 64 FR 43255 (August 10,
1999). The Executive Order requires
agencies to examine the constitutional
and statutory authority supporting any
action that would limit the
policymaking discretion of the States,
and to carefully assess the necessity for
such actions. The Executive Order also
requires agencies to have an accountable
process to ensure meaningful and timely
input by State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that
have Federalism implications. On
March 14, 2000, DOE published a
statement of policy describing the
intergovernmental consultation process
that it will follow in developing such
regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE
examined this proposed rule and
determined that it would not preempt
State law and would not have a
substantial direct effect on the States, on
the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government. Therefore,
Executive Order 13132 requires no
further action.
F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
Regarding the review of existing
regulations and the promulgation of
new regulations, section 3(a) of
Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice
Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996),
imposes on Federal agencies the general
duty to adhere to the following
requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting
errors and ambiguity; (2) write
regulations to minimize litigation; (3)
provide a clear legal standard for
affected conduct rather than a general
standard; and (4) promote simplification
and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of
Executive Order 12988 specifically
requires that Executive agencies make
every reasonable effort to ensure that the
regulation specifies the following: (1)
The preemptive effect, if any; (2) any
effect on existing Federal law or
regulation; (3) a clear legal standard for
affected conduct while promoting
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simplification and burden reduction; (4)
the retroactive effect, if any; (5)
definitions of key terms; and (6) other
important issues affecting clarity and
general draftsmanship under any
guidelines issued by the Attorney
General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order
12988 requires Executive agencies to
review regulations in light of applicable
standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) to
determine whether they are met or
whether it is unreasonable to meet one
or more of them. DOE has completed the
required review and determined that, to
the extent permitted by law, this
proposed rule meets the relevant
standards of Executive Order 12988.
G. Review Under the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L.
104–4; 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) requires
each Federal agency to assess the effects
of Federal regulatory actions on State,
local, and Tribal governments and the
private sector. For a proposed regulatory
action likely to result in a rule that may
cause the expenditure by State, local,
and Tribal governments, in the
aggregate, or by the private sector of
$100 million or more in any one year
(adjusted annually for inflation), section
202 of UMRA requires a Federal agency
to publish estimates of the resulting
costs, benefits, and other effects on the
national economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a),(b))
UMRA also requires a Federal agency to
develop an effective process to permit
timely input by elected officers of State,
local, and Tribal governments on a
proposed ‘‘significant intergovernmental
mandate,’’ and requires an agency plan
for giving notice and opportunity for
timely input to potentially affected
small governments before establishing
any requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect such
governments. On March 18, 1997, DOE
published a statement of policy on its
process for intergovernmental
consultation under UMRA. 62 FR
12820. (The policy is also available at
https://www.gc.doe.gov). Today’s
proposed rule contains neither an
intergovernmental mandate nor a
mandate that may result in an
expenditure of $100 million or more in
any year, so these requirements do not
apply.
H. Review Under the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 1999
Section 654 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires
Federal agencies to issue a Family
Policymaking Assessment for any rule
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that may affect family well-being.
Today’s proposed rule would not have
any impact on the autonomy or integrity
of the family as an institution.
Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it
is not necessary to prepare a Family
Policymaking Assessment.
I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
DOE has determined, under Executive
Order 12630, ‘‘Governmental Actions
and Interference with Constitutionally
Protected Property Rights,’’ 53 FR 8859
(March 18, 1988), that this proposed
regulation would not result in any
takings that might require compensation
under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution.
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J. Review Under the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 2001
Section 515 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides
for agencies to review most
disseminations of information to the
public under guidelines established by
each agency pursuant to general
guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s
guidelines were published at 67 FR
8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE’s
guidelines were published at 67 FR
62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed
today’s notice under OMB and DOE
guidelines and has concluded that it is
consistent with applicable policies in
those guidelines.
K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May
22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to
prepare and submit to OIRA a Statement
of Energy Effects for any proposed
significant energy action. A ‘‘significant
energy action’’ is defined as any action
by an agency that promulgates or is
expected to lead to promulgation of a
final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866, or any successor order; and (2)
is likely to have a significant adverse
effect on the supply, distribution, or use
of energy; or (3) is designated by the
Administrator of OIRA as a significant
energy action. For any proposed
significant energy action, the agency
must give a detailed statement of any
adverse effects on energy supply,
distribution, or use if the proposal is
implemented, and of reasonable
alternatives to the action and their
expected benefits on energy supply,
distribution, and use. Today’s proposed
regulatory action is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
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12866. It has likewise not been
designated as a significant energy action
by the Administrator of OIRA.
Moreover, it would not have a
significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy. Therefore,
it is not a significant energy action, and,
accordingly, DOE has not prepared a
Statement of Energy Effects.
L. Review Under Section 32 of the
Federal Energy Administration Act of
1974
Under section 301 of the DOE
Organization Act (Pub. L. 95–91; 42
U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), DOE must comply
with section 32 of the Federal Energy
Administration Act of 1974, as amended
by the Federal Energy Administration
Authorization Act of 1977 (FEAA). (15
U.S.C. 788) Section 32 essentially
provides in part that, where a proposed
rule authorizes or requires use of
commercial standards, the rulemaking
must inform the public of the use and
background of such standards. In
addition, section 32(c) requires DOE to
consult with the Attorney General and
the Chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) concerning the
impact of the commercial or industry
standards on competition.
The proposed modifications to the
test procedures addressed by this
proposed action incorporate testing
methods contained in the commercial
standard, IEC Standard 62301. DOE has
evaluated this standard and is unable to
conclude whether it fully complies with
the requirements of section 32(b) of the
FEAA (i.e., whether it was developed in
a manner that fully provides for public
participation, comment, and review.)
DOE will consult with the Attorney
General and the Chairman of the FTC
about the impact on competition of
using the methods contained in this
standard, before prescribing a final rule.
V. Public Participation
A. Attendance at the Public Meeting
The time, date, and location of the
public meeting are listed in the DATES
and ADDRESSES sections at the beginning
of this NOPR. To attend the public
meeting, please notify Ms. Brenda
Edwards at (202) 586–2945. As
explained in the ADDRESSES section,
foreign nationals visiting DOE
Headquarters are subject to advance
security screening procedures.
B. Procedure for Submitting Requests To
Speak
Any person who has an interest in
today’s notice, or who is a
representative of a group or class of
persons that has an interest in these
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74653
issues, may request an opportunity to
make an oral presentation at the public
meeting. Such persons may handdeliver requests to speak to the address
shown in the ADDRESSES section at the
beginning of this notice between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Requests may
also be sent by mail or e-mail to: Ms.
Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Program,
Mailstop EE–2J, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–
0121, or Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
Persons who wish to speak should
include in their request a computer
diskette or CD in WordPerfect, Microsoft
Word, PDF, or text (ASCII) file format
that briefly describes the nature of their
interest in this rulemaking and the
topics they wish to discuss. Such
persons should also provide a daytime
telephone number where they can be
reached.
DOE requests persons scheduled to
make an oral presentation to submit an
advance copy of their statements at least
one week before the public meeting.
DOE may permit persons who cannot
supply an advance copy of their
statement to participate, if those persons
have made advance alternative
arrangements with the Building
Technologies Program. Requests to give
an oral presentation should ask for such
alternative arrangements.
C. Conduct of Public Meeting
DOE will designate a DOE official to
preside at the public meeting and may
also use a professional facilitator to aid
discussion. The meeting will not be a
judicial or evidentiary-type public
hearing, but DOE will conduct it in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553 and
section 336 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6306). A
court reporter will be present to record
the proceedings and prepare a
transcript. DOE reserves the right to
schedule the order of presentations and
to establish the procedures governing
the conduct of the public meeting. After
the public meeting, interested parties
may submit further comments on the
proceedings as well as on any aspect of
the rulemaking until the end of the
comment period.
The public meeting will be conducted
in an informal, conference style. DOE
will present summaries of comments
received before the public meeting,
allow time for presentations by
participants, and encourage all
interested parties to share their views on
issues affecting this rulemaking. Each
participant will be allowed to make a
prepared general statement (within time
limits determined by DOE), before the
discussion of specific topics. DOE will
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permit other participants to comment
briefly on any general statements. At the
end of all prepared statements on each
specific topic, DOE will permit
participants to clarify their statements
briefly and to comment on statements
made by others.
Participants should be prepared to
answer DOE’s and other participants’
questions. DOE representatives may also
ask participants about other matters
relevant to this rulemaking. The official
conducting the public meeting will
accept additional comments or
questions from those attending, as time
permits. The presiding official will
announce any further procedural rules
or modification of the above procedures
that may be needed for the proper
conduct of the public meeting.
DOE will make the entire record of
this proposed rulemaking, including the
transcript from the public meeting,
available for inspection at the U.S.
Department of Energy, 6th Floor, 950
L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC
20024, (202) 586–2945, between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Copies of the
transcript are available for purchase
from the transcribing reporter.
D. Submission of Comments
DOE will accept comments, data, and
information regarding the proposed rule
before or after the public meeting, but
no later than the date provided at the
beginning of this notice. Comments,
data, and information submitted to
DOE’s e-mail address for this
rulemaking should be provided in
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or
text (ASCII) file format. Stakeholders
should avoid the use of special
characters or any form of encryption,
and wherever possible, comments
should include the electronic signature
of the author. Comments, data, and
information submitted to DOE via mail
or hand delivery/courier should include
one signed original paper copy. No
telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
person submitting information that he
or she believes to be confidential and
exempt by law from public disclosure
should submit two copies: One copy of
the document that includes all of the
information believed to be confidential,
and one copy of the document with that
information deleted. DOE will
determine the confidential status of the
information and treat it accordingly.
Factors of interest to DOE when
evaluating requests to treat submitted
information as confidential include: (1)
A description of the items; (2) whether
and why such items are customarily
treated as confidential within the
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industry; (3) whether the information is
generally known by or available from
other sources; (4) whether the
information was previously made
available to others without obligation
concerning its confidentiality; (5) an
explanation of the competitive injury to
the submitting person that would result
from public disclosure; (6) when such
information might lose its confidential
character due to the passage of time; and
(7) why disclosure of the information
would be contrary to the public interest.
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
DOE is particularly interested in
receiving comments and views of
interested parties on the following
issues:
1. Incorporation of IEC Standard
62301. DOE invites comment on the
adequacy of IEC Standard 62301 to
measure standby power for clothes
dryers and room air conditioners in
general, and on the suitability of
incorporating into DOE regulations the
specific provisions described in section
III of this notice.
2. ‘‘Standby mode’’ definitions. DOE
invites comment on the differences in
definition of ‘‘standby mode’’ provided
by EPCA and the definition provided in
the current version of IEC Standard
62301.
3. Clothes dryer standby modes. DOE
invites comment on the establishment of
the following specific standby modes for
clothes dryers: Inactive mode, delay
start mode, and cycle finished mode.
DOE further invites comment on the
definitions proposed for these modes
and on the question of whether there are
any modes consistent with the ‘‘active
mode,’’ ‘‘standby mode,’’ or ‘‘off mode’’
definitions under EPCA that have not
been identified and that can represent
significant energy use.
4. Room air conditioner standby
modes. DOE invites comment on the
establishment of the following specific
standby modes for room air
conditioners: Inactive mode, delay start
mode, and off-cycle mode. DOE further
invites comment on the definitions
proposed for these modes and on the
question of whether there are any modes
consistent with the ‘‘active mode,’’
‘‘standby mode,’’ or ‘‘off mode’’
definitions under EPCA that have not
been identified and that can represent
significant energy use.
5. Delay start test procedure. DOE
seeks comment on the proposed
clarification to IEC Standard 62301, in
which DOE would specify in the clothes
dryer and room air conditioner test
procedures, the set delay start time,
stabilization period, and test duration
for delay start mode power
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measurements. (See section III.E of this
notice.)
6. Test room conditions. DOE requests
comment on the proposed room ambient
temperature range for standby mode and
off mode power measurements for room
air conditioners and clothes dryers. (See
section III.E of this notice.)
7. Energy use calculation for standby
mode and off mode for clothes dryers.
DOE invites comment on the approach
for determining total energy use for
standby mode and off mode for clothes
dryers, including its accuracy and test
burden. Given that individual units may
be capable of different combinations of
standby modes, DOE also invites
comment and requests data on the
estimates for annual hours associated
with each mode, including the 140
hours specified by the current test
procedure for active mode (drying).
8. Energy use calculation for standby
mode and off mode for room air
conditioners. DOE invites comment on
the approach for determining total
energy use for standby mode and off
mode for room air conditioners,
including its accuracy and test burden.
Given that individual units may be
capable of different combinations of
standby modes, DOE also invites
comment and requests data on the
estimates for annual hours associated
with each mode, including the estimate
of ‘‘unplugged’’ time.
9. New integrated measures of energy
consumption and energy efficiency.
DOE invites comment on the proposed
plan to establish new integrated
measures of energy consumption and
energy efficiency for clothes dryers and
room air conditioners: ‘‘Per-cycle
integrated total energy consumption
expressed in kilowatt-hours’’ and
‘‘integrated energy factor’’ for clothes
dryers; and ‘‘integrated annual energy
consumption’’ and ‘‘integrated energy
efficiency ratio’’ for room air
conditioners.
VI. Approval of the Office of the
Secretary
The Secretary of Energy has approved
publication of this notice of proposed
rulemaking.
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430
Administrative practice and
procedure, Confidential business
information, Energy conservation,
Household appliances, Imports,
Intergovernmental relations, Small
businesses.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 1,
2008.
Steven G. Chalk,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable
Energy, Office of Technology Development,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, DOE proposes to amend part
430 of chapter II of title 10, of the Code
of Federal Regulations, to read as set
forth below:
PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION
PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
1. The authority citation for part 430
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C.
2461 note.
2. Section 430.22 is amended by
adding paragraphs (b)(1)9, (b)(4)3, and
(b)(5)10 to read as follows:
§ 430.22
Reference Sources.
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(b) * * *
(1) * * *
9. American National Standard
Z234.1–1972, ‘‘Room Air Conditioners,’’
Sections 4, 5, 6.1, and 6.5.
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(4) * * *
3. IEC 62301, ‘‘Household electrical
appliances—Measurement of standby
power,’’ Section 4, General conditions
for measurements, Paragraph 4.2, ‘‘Test
room,’’ Paragraph 4.3, ‘‘Power supply,’’
Paragraph 4.4, ‘‘Supply voltage
waveform,’’ and Paragraph 4.5, ‘‘Power
measurement accuracy;’’ and Section 5,
Measurements, Paragraph 5.1,
‘‘General,’’ Note 1, and Paragraph 5.3,
‘‘Procedure’’ (2005–06).
(5) * * *
10. American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers Standard 16–69, ‘‘Method of
Testing for Rating Room Air
Conditioners.’’
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3. Part 430.23 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraph (d)(2).
b. Redesignating existing paragraph
(d)(3) as (d)(4) and adding new
paragraph (d)(3).
c. Revising paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2),
and (f)(3).
d. Redesignating existing paragraph
(f)(4) as (f)(6) and adding new
paragraphs (f)(4) and (f)(5).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
§ 430.23 Test procedures for the
measurement of energy and water
consumption.
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(d) Clothes dryers.
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(2) The energy factor, expressed in
pounds of clothes per kilowatt-hour, for
clothes dryers shall be either the
quotient of a 3-pound bone-dry test load
for compact dryers, as described in 2.7.1
of appendix D to this subpart, or the
quotient of a 7-pound bone-dry test load
for standard dryers, as described in 2.7.2
of appendix D to this subpart, as
applicable, divided by the clothes dryer
energy consumption per cycle, as
determined according to 4.1 for electric
clothes dryers and 4.6 for gas clothes
dryers of appendix D to this subpart, the
resulting quotient then being rounded
off to the nearest hundredth (.01).
(3) The integrated energy factor,
expressed in pounds of clothes per
kilowatt-hour, for clothes dryers shall be
either the quotient of a 3-pound bonedry test load for compact dryers, as
described in 2.7.1 of appendix D to this
subpart, or the quotient of a 7-pound
bone-dry test load for standard dryers,
as described in 2.7.2 of appendix D to
this subpart, as applicable, divided by
the clothes dryer integrated energy
consumption per cycle, as determined
according to 4.8 of appendix D to this
subpart, the resulting quotient then
being rounded off to the nearest
hundredth (.01).
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(f) Room air conditioners. (1) The
estimated annual operating cost for
room air conditioners, expressed in
dollars per year, shall be determined by
multiplying the following three factors:
(i) Electrical input power in kilowatts
as determined in accordance with 5.2 of
appendix F to this subpart;
(ii) The representative average-use
cycle of 750 hours of compressor
operation per year; and
(iii) A representative average unit cost
of electrical energy in dollars per
kilowatt-hour as provided by the
Secretary, the resulting product then
being rounded off to the nearest dollar
per year.
(2) The energy efficiency ratio for
room air conditioners, expressed in
Btu’s per watt-hour, shall be the
quotient of:
(i) The cooling capacity in Btu’s per
hour as determined in accordance with
5.1 of appendix F to this subpart
divided by:
(ii) The electrical input power in
watts as determined in accordance with
5.2 of appendix F to this subpart, the
resulting quotient then being rounded
off to the nearest 0.1 Btu per watt-hour.
(3) The average annual energy
consumption for room air conditioners,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per year,
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shall be determined by multiplying
together the following two factors:
(i) Electrical input power in kilowatts
as determined in accordance with 5.2 of
appendix F to this subpart; and
(ii) The representative average-use
cycle of 750 hours of compressor
operation per year, the resulting product
then being rounded off to the nearest
kilowatt-hour per year.
(4) The integrated annual energy
consumption for room air conditioners,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per year,
shall be the sum of:
(i) The average annual energy
consumption as determined in
accordance with paragraph (f)(3) of this
section; and
(ii) The standby mode and off mode
energy consumption, as determined in
accordance with 5.3 of appendix F to
this subpart, the resulting sum then
being rounded off to the nearest
kilowatt-hour per year.
(5) The integrated energy efficiency
ratio for room air conditioners,
expressed in Btu’s per watt-hour, shall
be the quotient of:
(i) The cooling capacity in Btu’s per
hour as determined in accordance with
5.1 of appendix F to this subpart
multiplied by the representative
average-use cycle of 750 hours of
compressor operation per year, divided
by
(ii) The integrated annual energy
consumption as determined in
accordance with paragraph (f)(4) of this
section multiplied by a conversion
factor of 1,000 to convert kilowatt-hours
to watt-hours, the resulting quotient
then being rounded off to the nearest 0.1
Btu per watt-hour.
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Appendix D—[Amended]
4. Appendix D to subpart B of part 430 is
amended:
a. By adding introductory text;
b. By revising section 1. Definitions;
c. In section 2. Testing Conditions, by:
1. Revising section 2.2;
2. Adding new sections 2.2.1 and 2.2.2;
3. Adding new section 2.3.1.1;
4. Adding new section 2.4.7;
5. Revising section 2.6.3(4);
d. In section 3. Test Methods and
Measurements, by:
1. Revising section 3.5;
2. Adding new sections 3.6, 3.6.1, through
3.6.4;
e. In section 4, Calculation of Derived
Results From Test Measurements, by:
1. Revising section 4.1;
2. Adding new sections 4.7 and 4.8.
The additions and revisions read as
follows:
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Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 430—
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Clothes Dryers
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The procedures and calculations in
sections 3.6, 3.6.1 through 3.6.4, 4.7, and 4.8
of this appendix D need not be performed to
determine compliance with energy
conservation standards for clothes dryers
established prior to [EFFECTIVE DATE OF
FINAL TEST PROCEDURE RULE].
1. Definitions
1.1 ‘‘Active mode’’ means a mode in
which the clothes dryer is performing the
main function of tumbling the clothing with
or without heated or unheated forced air
circulation to remove moisture from and/or
remove or prevent wrinkling of the clothing.
1.2 ‘‘AHAM’’ means the Association of
Home Appliance Manufacturers.
1.3 ‘‘Automatic termination control’’
means a dryer control system with a sensor
which monitors either the dryer load
temperature or its moisture content and with
a controller which automatically terminates
the drying process. A mark or detent which
indicates a preferred automatic control
setting must be present if the dryer is to be
classified as having an ‘‘automatic
termination control.’’ A mark is a visible
single control setting on one or more dryer
controls.
1.4 ‘‘Bone dry’’ means a condition of a
load of test clothes which has been dried in
a dryer at maximum temperature for a
minimum of 10 minutes, removed and
weighed before cool down, and then dried
again for 10-minute periods until the final
weight change of the load is 1 percent or less.
1.5 ‘‘Compact’’ or ‘‘compact size’’ means
a clothes dryer with a drum capacity of less
than 4.4 cubic feet.
1.6 ‘‘Cool down’’ means that portion of
the clothes drying cycle when the added gas
or electric heat is terminated and the clothes
continue to tumble and dry within the drum.
1.7 ‘‘Cycle’’ means a sequence of
operation of a clothes dryer which performs
a clothes drying operation, and may include
variations or combinations of the functions of
heating, tumbling and drying.
1.8 ‘‘Cycle finished mode’’ means a
standby mode that provides continuous
status display following operation in active
mode.
1.9 ‘‘Delay start mode’’ means a standby
mode that facilitates the activation of active
mode by a timer.
1.10 ‘‘Drum capacity’’ means the volume
of the drying drum in cubic feet.
1.11 ‘‘HLD–1’’ means the test standard
promulgated by AHAM and titled ‘‘AHAM
Performance Evaluation Procedure for
Household Tumble Type Clothes Dryers’’,
June 1974, and designated as HLD–1.
1.12 ‘‘HLD–2EC’’ means the test standard
promulgated by AHAM and titled ‘‘Test
Method for Measuring Energy Consumption
of Household Tumble Type Clothes Dryers,’’
December 1975, and designated as HLD–2EC.
1.13 ‘‘IEC 62301’’ means the test standard
published by the International
Electrotechnical Commission, titled
‘‘Household electrical appliances—
Measurement of standby power,’’ Publication
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62301 (First Edition, 2005–06) (incorporated
by reference at 10 CFR 430.22).
1.14 ‘‘Inactive mode’’ means a standby
mode other than delay start mode or cycle
finished mode that facilitates the activation
of active mode by remote switch (including
remote control), internal sensor, or timer, or
that provides continuous status display.
1.15 ‘‘Moisture content’’ means the ratio
of the weight of water contained by the test
load to the bone-dry weight of the test load,
expressed as a percent.
1.16 ‘‘Moisture sensing control’’ means a
system which utilizes a moisture sensing
element within the dryer drum that monitors
the amount of moisture in the clothes and
automatically terminates the dryer cycle.
1.17 ‘‘Off mode’’ means a mode in which
the clothes dryer is not performing any active
or standby function.
1.18 ‘‘Standard size’’ means a clothes
dryer with a drum capacity of 4.4 cubic feet
or greater.
1.19 ‘‘Standby mode’’ means the
condition in which a clothes dryer is
connected to a main power source and offers
one or more of the following user-oriented or
protective functions:
(1) To facilitate the activation or
deactivation of other functions (including
active mode) by remote switch (including
remote control), internal sensor, or timer;
(2) Continuous functions, including
information or status displays (including
clocks) or sensor-based functions.
1.20 ‘‘Temperature sensing control’’
means a system which monitors dryer
exhaust air temperature and automatically
terminates the dryer cycle.
2. Testing Conditions
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*
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2.2 Ambient temperature and humidity.
2.2.1 For drying testing, maintain the
room ambient air temperature at 75 ± 3°F and
the room relative humidity at 50 ± 10 percent
relative humidity.
2.2.2 For standby and off mode testing,
maintain room ambient air temperature
conditions as specified in Section 4,
Paragraph 4.2 of IEC 62301.
*
*
*
*
*
2.3.1.1 Supply voltage waveform. For the
clothes dryer standby mode and off mode
testing, maintain the electrical supply voltage
waveform indicated in Section 4, Paragraph
4.4 of IEC 62301.
*
*
*
*
*
2.4.7 Standby mode and off mode watt
meter. The watt meter used to measure
standby mode and off mode power
consumption of the clothes dryer shall have
the resolution specified in Section 4,
Paragraph 4.5 of IEC 62301. The watt meter
shall also be able to record a ‘‘true’’ average
power as specified in Section 5, Paragraph
5.3.2(a) of IEC 62301.
*
*
2.6.3
*
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Test Cloth Preconditioning
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(4) Bone dry the load as prescribed in
Section 1.4 and weigh the load.
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3. Test Procedures and Measurements
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3.5 Test for automatic termination field
use factor credits. Credit for automatic
termination can be claimed for those dryers
that meet the requirements for either
temperature sensing control, 1.20, or
moisture sensing control, 1.16, and have the
appropriate mark or detent feed defined in
1.3.
3.6 Standby mode and off mode power.
Establish the testing conditions set forth in
Section 2, ‘‘Testing Conditions,’’ of this
appendix, omitting the requirement to
disconnect all console light or other lighting
systems on the clothes dryer that do not
consume more than 10 watts during the
clothes dryer test cycle in Section 2.1. If the
clothes dryer waits in a higher power state
at the start of standby mode or off mode
before dropping to a lower power state, wait
until the clothes dryer passes into the lower
power state before starting the measurement,
as discussed in Section 5, Paragraph 5.1, note
1 of IEC 62301. Follow the test procedure
specified in Section 5, Paragraph 5.3 of IEC
62301 for testing in each possible mode as
described in Sections 3.61 through 3.64. For
units in which power varies over a cycle, as
described in Section 5, Paragraph 5.3.2 of IEC
62301, use the average power approach
described in Paragraph 5.3.2(a) of IEC 62301.
3.6.1 If a clothes dryer has an inactive
mode, as defined in Section 1.14, measure
and record the average inactive mode power
of the clothes dryer, PIA, in watts.
3.6.2 If a clothes dryer has an off mode,
as defined in Section 1.17, measure and
record the average off mode power of the
clothes dryer, POFF, in watts.
3.6.3 If a clothes dryer has a delay start
mode, as defined in section 1.9, test it in this
mode by setting it to a delay start time of 5
hours, allowing at least 5 minutes for the
power to stabilize, and then measure and
record the average delay start mode power of
the clothes dryer, PDS, in watts, for the
following 60 minutes.
3.6.4 If a clothes dryer has a cycle
finished mode, as defined in Section 1.8, test
it in this mode after termination of a drying
cycle that does not include operation of the
drum or blower after the drying cycle is
completed. Measure and record the average
cycle finished mode power of the clothes
dryer, PCF, in watts.
4. Calculation of Derived Results From Test
Measurements
4.1 Total per-cycle electric dryer energy
consumption. Calculate the total electric
dryer energy consumption per cycle, Ece,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per cycle and
defined as:
Ece = [66/(Ww · Wd)] x Et x FU,
Where:
Et = the energy recorded in 3.4.5.
66 = an experimentally established value for
the percent reduction in the moisture
content of the test load during a
laboratory test cycle expressed as a
percent.
FU = Field use factor.
= 1.18 for time termination control systems.
= 1.04 for automatic control systems which
meet the requirements of the definitions
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for automatic termination controls in 1.3,
1.16, and 1.20.
Ww = the moisture content of the wet test
load as recorded in 3.4.2.
Wd = the moisture content of the dry test load
as recorded in 3.4.3.
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4.7 Per-cycle standby mode and off mode
energy consumption. Calculate the dryer
combined standby mode and off mode energy
consumption per cycle, ETSO, expressed in
kWh per cycle and defined as:
ETSO = [(PIA × SIA) + (POFF × SOFF) + (PDS ×
SDS) + (PCF × SCF)] × K / 416
Where:
PIA = dryer inactive mode power, in watts, as
measured in section 3.6.1.
POFF = dryer off mode power, in watts, as
measured in section 3.6.2.
PDS = dryer delay start mode power, in watts,
as measured in section 3.6.3.
PCF = dryer cycle finished mode power, in
watts, as measured in section 3.6.4.
If the clothes dryer has both inactive mode
and off mode, SIA and SOFF both equal STOT/
2, where STOT is the total inactive and off
mode annual hours, determined from the
following table;
If the clothes dryer has an inactive mode
but no off mode, the inactive mode annual
hours, SIA, is equal to STOT and the off mode
annual hours, SOFF, is equal to 0;
If the clothes dryer has an off mode but no
inactive mode, SIA is equal to 0 and SOFF is
equal to STOT;
SDS = dryer delay start mode annual hours,
as determined from the following table;
SCF = dryer cycle finished mode annual
hours, as determined from the following
table;
K = 0.001 kWh/Wh conversion factor for
watt-hours to kilowatt-hours; and
416 = representative average number of
clothes dryer cycles in a year.
Clothes dryer standby modes present
Delay start
and cycle
finished
modes
Annual hours
SDS ...................................................................................................................................
SCF ...................................................................................................................................
STOT .................................................................................................................................
4.8 Per-cycle integrated total energy
consumption expressed in kilowatt-hours.
Calculate the per-cycle integrated total
energy consumption, ECI, expressed in
kilowatt-hours per cycle and defined for an
electric clothes dryer as:
ECI = Ece + ETSO,
Where:
Ece = the energy recorded in 4.1, and
ETSO = the energy recorded in 4.7,
and for a gas clothes dryer as:
ECI = Ecg + ETSO,
Where:
Ecg = the energy recorded in 4.6, and
ETSO = the energy recorded in 4.7.
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Appendix F—[Amended]
5. Appendix F to subpart B of part 430 is
amended by:
a. Adding introductory text;
b. Redesignating sections 1 through 4 as 2
through 5;
c. Adding new sections 1 and 1.1 through
1.7;
d. Revising newly redesignated section 2;
e. Revising newly redesignated section 3;
f. Revising newly redesignated section 4;
and
g. Adding new section 5.3.
The additions and revisions read as follows:
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Appendix F to Subpart B of Part 430—
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Room Air
Conditioners
The procedures and calculations in
sections 4.2, 4.2.1 through 4.2.4, and 5.3 of
this appendix F need not be performed to
determine compliance with energy
conservation standards for room air
conditioners established prior to [EFFECTIVE
DATE OF FINAL TEST PROCEDURE RULE].
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34
429
8,157
1. Definitions
1.1 ‘‘Active mode’’ means a mode in
which the room air conditioner is performing
the main function of cooling or heating the
conditioned space, or circulating air through
activation of its fan or blower, with or
without energizing active air-cleaning
components or devices such as ultraviolet
(UV) radiation, electrostatic filters, ozone
generators, or other air-cleaning devices.
1.2 ‘‘Delay start mode’’ means a standby
mode in which activation of an active mode
is facilitated by a timer.
1.3 ‘‘IEC 62301’’ means the test standard
published by the International
Electrotechnical Commission, titled
‘‘Household electrical appliances—
Measurement of standby power,’’ Publication
62301 (First Edition 2005–06) (incorporated
by reference at 10 CFR 430.22).
1.4 ‘‘Inactive mode’’ means a standby
mode other than delay start mode or off-cycle
mode that facilitates the activation of active
mode by remote switch (including remote
control) or internal sensor or which provides
continuous status display.
1.5 ‘‘Off mode’’ means a mode in which
a room air conditioner is not performing any
active or standby function.
1.6 ‘‘Off-cycle mode’’ means a standby
mode in which the room air conditioner:
(1) Has cycled off its main function by
thermostat or temperature sensor;
(2) Does not have its fan or blower
operating; and
(3) Will reactivate the main function
according to the thermostat or temperature
sensor signal.
1.7 ‘‘Standby mode’’ means the condition
in which a room air conditioner is connected
to the main power source and offers one or
more of the following user-oriented or
protective functions:
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mode
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8,586
No delay
start or
cycle
finished
modes
0
0
8,620
(1) To facilitate the activation or
deactivation of other functions (including
active mode) by remote switch (including
remote control), internal sensor, or timer;
and/or
(2) Continuous functions, including
information or status displays (including
clocks) or sensor-based functions.
2. Test Methods
2.1 Cooling mode. The test method for
testing room air conditioners in cooling mode
shall consist of application of the methods
and conditions in American National
Standard (ANS) Z234.1–1972, ‘‘Room Air
Conditioners,’’ Sections 4, 5, 6.1, and 6.5,
and in American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) Standard 16–69, ‘‘Method of
Testing for Rating Room Air Conditioners.’’
2.2 Standby and off modes. The method
for testing room air conditioners in standby
and off modes shall consist of application of
the methods and conditions in IEC 62301, as
modified by the requirements of this
standard. The testing may be conducted in
test facilities used for testing cooling mode.
If testing is not conducted in such a facility,
the test facility shall comply with IEC 62301
Section 4.2.
3. Test Conditions
3.1 Cooling mode. Establish the test
conditions described in Sections 4 and 5 of
ANS Z234.1–1972 and in accordance with
ASHRAE Standard 16–69.
3.2 Standby and off modes.
3.2.1 Test room conditions. If the standby
and off mode testing is conducted in a
facility that is also used for testing cooling
mode, or in a similar facility with separate
room side and outdoor side compartments,
maintain both the room side and outdoor
side compartment temperatures at 74 ± 2 °F.
If the unit is equipped with an outdoor air
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ventilation damper, close this damper during
testing. Requirements for maintaining
temperature levels in the controlledtemperature air space outside the test
compartments of a balanced ambient test
chamber, as described in ASHRAE Standard
16–69, are waived for all standby and off
mode testing. If the standby and off mode
testing is conducted in a facility without
separate compartments, maintain the ambient
temperature at 74 ± 2 °F for testing all modes.
Air velocities near the room air conditioner
shall be no more than 100 feet per minute.
The ambient air temperature variation from
minimum to maximum shall be no more than
3 °F at locations within 12 inches of all sides
of the room air conditioner at elevations from
the bottom edge to the top edge of the air
conditioner.
3.2.2 Power supply. Maintain power
supply conditions specified in section 4.3 of
IEC 62301. Use room air conditioner
nameplate voltage and frequency as the basis
for power supply conditions. Maintain power
supply voltage waveform according to the
requirements of section 4.4 of IEC 62301.
3.2.3 Watt meter. The watt meter used to
measure standby mode and off mode power
consumption of the room air conditioner
shall have the resolution specified in Section
4, Paragraph 4.5 of IEC 62301. The watt meter
shall also be able to record a ‘‘true’’ average
power specified in Section 5, Paragraph
5.3.2(a) of IEC 62301.
3.2.4 Install the room air conditioner in
the test facility either as required by
ASHRAE Standard 16–69, if standby and off
mode testing is conducted in a facility that
is also used for testing the cooling mode, or,
if standby and off mode testing is conducted
in a facility without separate compartments,
place the room air conditioner in the facility
with a minimum of 2 feet of clearance to any
walls or obstructions.
4. Measurements.
5. Calculations.
4.1 Cooling mode. Measure the quantities
delineated in Section 5 of ANS Z234.1–1972.
4.2 Standby and off modes. Establish the
testing conditions set forth in Section 3.2. For
room air conditioners that drop from a higher
power state to a lower power state as
discussed in Section 5, Paragraph 5.1, note 1
of IEC 62301, allow sufficient time for the
room air conditioner to reach the lower
power state before proceeding with the test
measurement. Follow the test procedure
specified in Section 5, Paragraph 5.3 of IEC
62301. For units in which power varies over
a cycle, as described in Section 5, Paragraph
5.3.2 of IEC 62301, use the average power
approach in Paragraph 5.3.2(a). For testing all
standby and off modes for which a control
setpoint or thermostat can be adjusted for the
room air conditioner, adjust the setpoint or
thermostat to 79 °F.
4.2.1 If a room air conditioner has an
inactive mode, as defined in Section 1.5,
measure and record the average inactive
mode power of the room air conditioner, PIA,
in watts.
4.2.2 If a room air conditioner has an off
mode, as defined in Section 1.6, measure and
record the average off mode power of the
room air conditioner, POFF, in watts.
4.2.3 If a room air conditioner has a delay
start mode, as defined in section 1.3, test it
in this mode by setting it to a delay start time
of 5 hours, allowing at least 5 minutes for the
power input to stabilize, and then measure
and record the average delay start mode
power of the room air conditioner, PDS, in
watts, for the following 60 minutes.
4.2.4 If a room air conditioner has an offcycle mode, as defined in Section 1.7,
measure and record the average off-cycle
mode power of the room air conditioner, PCF,
in watts.
*
*
*
*
*
5.3 Standby mode and off mode annual
energy consumption. Calculate the standby
mode and off mode annual energy
consumption for room air conditioners, ETSO,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per year,
according to the following:
ETSO = [(PIA × SIA) + (POFF × SOFF) + (PDS ×
SDS) + (POC × SOC)] × K
Where:
PIA = room air conditioner inactive mode
power, in watts, as measured in section
4.2.1
POFF = room air conditioner off mode power,
in watts, as measured in section 4.2.2.
PDS = room air conditioner delay start mode
power, in watts, as measured in section
4.2.3.
POC = room air conditioner off-cycle mode
power, in watts, as measured in section
4.2.4.
If the room air conditioner has both
inactive mode and off mode, SIA and SOFF
both equal STOT/2, where STOT is the total
inactive and off mode annual hours,
determined from the following table;
If the room air conditioner has an inactive
mode but no off mode, the inactive mode
annual hours, SIA, is equal to STOT and the
off mode annual hours, SOFF, is equal to 0;
If the room air conditioner has an off mode
but no inactive mode, SIA is equal to 0 and
SOFF is equal to STOT;
SDS = room air conditioner delay start mode
annual hours, as determined from the
following table;
SOC = room air conditioner off-cycle mode
annual hours, as determined from the
following table; and
K = 0.001 kWh/Wh conversion factor for
watt-hours to kilowatt-hours.
Room air conditioner standby modes present
Annual hours
Delay start
and offcycle modes
SDS ...................................................................................................................................
SOC ...................................................................................................................................
STOT .................................................................................................................................
[FR Doc. E8–28952 Filed 12–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 1004
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
RIN 1901–AA32
Revision of Department of Energy’s
Freedom of Information Act
Regulations
AGENCY: Office of FOIA and Privacy Act,
Office of Information Resources,
Department of Energy.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:59 Dec 08, 2008
Jkt 217001
90
440
4,850
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
and opportunity for comment.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy
(DOE) publishes a proposed rule to
amend the existing regulations at Part
1004 that establish procedures by which
records may be requested from all DOE
offices pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). This proposed
rule would streamline DOE’s procedures
for determining the releasability of
information and update the fee
requirements for the reproduction of
documents.
This proposed rule would remove the
so-called ‘‘extra balancing test’’ in
section 1004.1 which states: ‘‘To the
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
No delay
start mode
0
470
4,880
No off-cycle
mode
No delay
start or offcycle mode
90
0
5,070
0
0
5,115
extent permitted by other laws, the DOE
will make records available which it is
authorized to withhold under 5 U.S.C.
552 whenever it determines that such
disclosure is in the public interest.’’
This sentence imposes an additional
burden on DOE to reconsider a
determination to legally withhold
information in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552.
In addition, this proposed rule would
amend section 1004.9(a)(4) to raise the
per page rate for paper copy
reproductions and microform to paper
copies to the rate of 20 cents per page.
Additional administrative changes
which do not require notice and
comment will be promulgated in the
E:\FR\FM\09DEP1.SGM
09DEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 9, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74639-74658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28952]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-TP-0010]
RIN 1904-AB76
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test
Procedures for Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In order to implement recent amendments to the Energy Policy
and Conservation Act (EPCA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
proposes to amend its test procedures for residential clothes dryers
and room air conditioners to provide for measurement of standby mode
and off mode power use by these products. The amendments would
incorporate into the DOE test procedures relevant provisions from the
International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC) Standard 62301,
``Household electrical appliances--Measurement of standby power''
(First Edition 2005-06), as well as language to clarify application of
these provisions specifically for measuring standby mode and off mode
power consumption in clothes dryers and room air conditioners. DOE will
hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the issues
presented in this notice.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the
notice of
[[Page 74640]]
proposed rulemaking (NOPR) before and after the public meeting, but no
later than February 23, 2009. See section V, ``Public Participation,''
of this NOPR for details.
DOE will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, December 17, 2008,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Washington, DC. DOE must receive requests to
speak at the public meeting before 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 10,
2008. DOE must receive a signed original and an electronic copy of
statements to be given at the public meeting before 4 p.m., Wednesday,
December 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. To attend the public meeting, please notify
Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945. (Please note that foreign
nationals visiting DOE Headquarters are subject to advance security
screening procedures. Any foreign national wishing to participate in
the public meeting should advise DOE as soon as possible by contacting
Ms. Edwards to initiate the necessary procedures.)
Any comments submitted must identify the NOPR on Test Procedures
for Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners, and provide the docket
number EERE-2008-BT-TP-0010 and/or Regulatory Information Number (RIN)
1904-AB76. Comments may be submitted using any of the following
methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
2. E-mail: AHAM2-2008-TP-0010@hq.doe.gov. Include docket number
EERE-2008-BT-TP-0010 and/or RIN 1904-AB76 in the subject line of the
message.
3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please submit one signed paper original.
4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite
600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit one
signed paper original.
For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see section V, ``Public
Participation,'' of this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, visit the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room
of the Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite
600, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda
Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information about
visiting the Resource Room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stephen Witkowski, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7463. E-mail:
Stephen.Witkowski@ee.doe.gov.
Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General
Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507. E-mail: Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.
For information on how to submit or review public comments and on
how to participate in the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards,
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, Building Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. E-mail:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background and Authority
II. Summary of the Proposal
III. Discussion
A. Products Covered by the Test Procedure Changes
B. Effective Date for the Amended Test Procedures
C. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition,
2005-06) for Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode Power in Clothes
Dryers and Room Air Conditioners
D. Determination of Modes To Be Incorporated
1. Clothes Dryer Mode Definitions
2. Room Air Conditioner Mode Definitions
E. Adding Specifications for the Test Methods and Measurements
for Clothes Dryer and Room Air Conditioner Standby Mode and Off Mode
Testing
1. Clothes Dryers
2. Room Air Conditioners
F. Calculation of Energy Use Associated With Standby Modes and
Off Mode
1. Clothes Dryers
2. Room Air Conditioners
G. Measures of Energy Consumption
1. Clothes Dryers
2. Room Air Conditioners
H. Correction of Text Describing Energy Factor Calculation for
Clothes Dryers
I. Correction of Text Reference to Room Air Conditioner Test
Standard
J. Compliance With Other EPCA Requirements
1. Test Burden
2. Potential Incorporation of IEC Standard 62087
3. Integration of Standby Mode and Off Mode Energy Consumption
Into the Energy Efficiency Metrics
IV. Procedural Requirements
A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government
Appropriations Act, 1999
I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
J. Review Under the Treasury and General Government
Appropriations Act, 2001
K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration
Act of 1974
V. Public Participation
A. Attendance at the Public Meeting
B. Procedure for Submitting Requests To Speak
C. Conduct of Public Meeting
D. Submission of Comments
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
1. Incorporation of IEC Standard 62301
2. Standby Mode Definitions
3. Clothes Dryer Standby Modes
4. Room Air Conditioner Standby Modes
5. Delay Start Test Procedure
6. Test Room Conditions
7. Energy Use Calculation for Standby and Off Modes for Clothes
Dryers
8. Energy Use Calculation for Standby and Off Modes for Room Air
Conditioners
9. New Integrated Measures of Energy Consumption and Energy
Efficiency
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Background and Authority
Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C.
6291, et seq.; ``EPCA'' or, in context, ``the Act'') sets forth a
variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. Part A of
Title III (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) establishes the ``Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles,'' including
clothes dryers and room air conditioners (all of which are referred to
below as ``covered products'').\1\ (42 U.S.C. 6291(1)-(2) and
6292(a)(2) and (8))
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All references to EPCA refer to the statute as amended
including through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,
Public Law 110-140.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the Act, this program consists essentially of three parts:
(1) Testing; (2) labeling; and (3) Federal energy conservation
standards. The testing requirements consist of test procedures that,
pursuant to EPCA, manufacturers
[[Page 74641]]
of covered products must use as the basis for certifying to DOE that
their products comply with applicable energy conservation standards
adopted under EPCA and for representations about the efficiency of
those products. Similarly, DOE must use these test requirements to
determine whether the products comply with EPCA standards. Under 42
U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth criteria and procedures for DOE's adoption
and amendment of such test procedures. EPCA provides that ``[a]ny test
procedures prescribed or amended under this section shall be reasonably
designed to produce test results which measure energy efficiency,
energy use * * * or estimated annual operating cost of a covered
product during a representative average use cycle or period of use, as
determined by the Secretary [of Energy], and shall not be unduly
burdensome to conduct.'' (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) In addition, if DOE
determines that a test procedure amendment is warranted, it must
publish proposed test procedures and offer the public an opportunity to
present oral and written comments thereon, with a comment period no
less than 60 days and not to exceed 270 days. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(2))
Finally, in any rulemaking to amend a test procedure, DOE must
determine ``to what extent, if any, the proposed test procedure would
alter the measured energy efficiency * * * of any covered product as
determined under the existing test procedure.'' (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1))
If DOE determines that the amended test procedure would alter the
measured efficiency of a covered product, DOE must amend the applicable
energy conservation standard accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2))
DOE's test procedures for clothes dryers are found at 10 CFR part
430, subpart B, appendix D. DOE established its test procedure for
clothes dryers in a final rule published in the Federal Register on May
19, 1981. 46 FR 27324. The test procedure includes provisions for
determining the energy factor (EF) for clothes dryers, which is a
measure of the total energy required to dry a standard test load of
laundry to a ``bone dry'' \2\ state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``Bone dry'' is defined in the DOE clothes dryer test
procedure as ``a condition of a load of test clothes which has been
dried in a dryer at maximum temperature for a minimum of 10 minutes,
removed and weighed before cool down, and then dried again for 10-
minute periods until the final weight change of the load is 1
percent or less.'' (10 CFR subpart B, appendix D, section 1.2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE's test procedures for room air conditioners are found at 10 CFR
part 430, subpart B, appendix F. DOE established its room air
conditioner test procedure on June 1, 1977, and redesignated and
amended it on June 29, 1979. 42 FR 27898; 44 FR 37938. The existing
room air conditioner test procedure incorporates by reference two
industry test standards: (1) American National Standard (ANS) (since
renamed American National Standards Institute (ANSI)) Z234.1-1972,
``Room Air Conditioners;'' \3\ and (2) American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 16-69,
``Method of Testing for Rating Room Air Conditioners.'' \4\ The DOE
test procedure includes provisions for determining the energy
efficiency ratio (EER) of room air conditioners, which is the ratio of
the cooling capacity in British thermal units (Btu) to the power input
in watts (W).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ ANSI standards are available for purchase at https://
www.ansi.org.
\4\ ASHRAE standards are available for purchase at https://
www.ashrae.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As currently drafted, the test procedures for the products at issue
in this rulemaking generally do not account for standby mode and off
mode energy consumption, except in one narrow product class.
Specifically, for gas dryers with continuously burning pilot lights,
DOE's current test procedure for clothes dryers addresses the standby
energy use of such pilot lights, but otherwise, neither this test
procedure nor DOE's test procedure for room air conditioners addresses
energy use in the standby or off modes.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 \5\ (EISA 2007)
amended EPCA, and in relevant part, directs DOE to amend its test
procedures to include measures of standby mode and off mode energy
consumption. The EISA 2007 amendments to EPCA further direct DOE to
amend the test procedures to integrate such energy consumption into a
single energy descriptor for that product. If that is technically
infeasible, DOE must prescribe a separate standby mode and off mode
energy use test procedure, if technically feasible. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A)) Any such amendment must consider the most current
versions of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standard 62301 and IEC Standard 62087 [``Methods of measurement for the
power consumption of audio, video, and related equipment'' (Second
Edition, 2008-09)].\6\ Id. For clothes dryers and room air
conditioners, DOE must prescribe any such amendment to the test
procedures by March 31, 2009. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(B)(ii))
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Public Law 110-140 (enacted Dec. 19, 2007).
\6\ IEC standards are available for purchase at: https://
www.iec.ch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On October 9, 2007, DOE published a notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of a framework document to initiate
rulemaking to consider amended energy conservation standards for
residential clothes dryers and room air conditioners (hereafter the
October 2007 Framework Document). 72 FR 57254. The issuance of a
framework document is the first step in conducting an appliance
standards rulemaking. In the October 2007 Framework Document, DOE
identified specific ways in which it could revise its test procedures
for these two products and requested stakeholder comment on whether it
should adopt such revisions. Specifically, DOE sought comment on
potential amendments to the clothes dryer test procedure to: (1)
Reflect lower remaining moisture content in clothes loads; (2) account
for fewer use cycles; and (3) add the capability to test vent-less
clothes dryers. (Framework Document, No. 1 at pp. 4-6) \7\ For room air
conditioners, DOE requested input on potential amendments to the test
procedure to: (1) Incorporate the most recent ANSI and ASHRAE test
standards; (2) reduce the annual operating hours; and (3) measure part-
load performance. (Framework Document, No. 1 at pp. 6-7)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ A notation in this form provides a reference for information
that is in the docket of DOE's rulemaking to develop standards for
clothes dryers and room air conditioners (Docket No. EERE-2007-BT-
STD-0010), which is maintained in the Resource Room of the Building
Technologies Program. This notation indicates that the statement
preceding the reference was made in DOE's Framework Document, which
is document number 1 in the docket, and appears at pages 4-6 of that
document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because the October 2007 Framework Document was issued before the
enactment of EISA 2007, these potential revisions did not address
standby mode or off mode energy use. DOE is continuing to consider all
such potential revisions, but in this rulemaking, DOE's proposal is
limited to amending its test procedures for clothes dryers and room air
conditioners to include methods for measuring standby mode and off mode
power consumption, thereby allowing the agency to meet the EISA 2007
deadline of March 31, 2009 for adopting such amendments. DOE plans to
publish a separate Federal Register notice to address the balance of
the test procedure issues, including those on which it requested
comment in the October 2007 Framework Document.
Both test procedure rulemakings are anticipated to support a
concurrent energy conservation standards rulemaking for residential
clothes dryers
[[Page 74642]]
and room air conditioners. For clothes dryers, the National Appliance
Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, amended
EPCA to establish prescriptive standards for clothes dryers, requiring
that gas dryers manufactured on or after January 1, 1988 not be
equipped with a constant burning pilot and further requiring that DOE
conduct two cycles of rulemakings to determine if more stringent
standards are justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(3) and (4)) On May 14,
1991, DOE published a final rule in the Federal Register establishing
the first set of performance standards for residential clothes dryers
(56 FR 22250); the new standards became effective on May 14, 1994. 10
CFR 430.32(h). DOE initiated a second standards rulemaking for
residential clothes dryers by publishing an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking (ANOPR) in the Federal Register on November 14, 1994. 59 FR
56423. However, pursuant to the priority-setting process outlined in
DOE's ``Procedures for Consideration of New or Revised Energy
Conservation Standards for Consumer Products'' (the ``Process
Rule''),\8\ DOE classified the clothes dryer standards rulemaking as a
low priority for its fiscal year 1998 priority-setting process. As a
result, DOE suspended the standards rulemaking activities for them. DOE
has since resumed the rulemaking activities, and has recently initiated
the second cycle of clothes dryer standards rulemakings. 72 FR 57254
(October 9, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 61 FR 36974 (July 15, 1996) (establishing 10 CFR part 430,
subpart C, appendix A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAECA established performance standards for room air conditioners
that became effective on January 1, 1990, and directed DOE to conduct
two cycles of rulemakings to determine if more stringent standards are
justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(c)(1) and (2)) On March 4, 1994, DOE
published a NOPR for several products, including room air conditioners.
59 FR 10464. As a result of the Process Rule, DOE suspended activities
to finalize standards for room air conditioners. DOE subsequently
resumed rulemaking activities related to room air conditioners, and on
September 24, 1997, DOE published a final rule establishing an updated
set of performance standards, with an effective date of October 1,
2000. 62 FR 50122; 10 CFR 40.32(b). Concurrent with the clothes dryer
rulemaking, DOE has recently initiated the second cycle of room air
conditioner standards rulemakings. 72 FR 57254.
EISA 2007 includes amendments to EPCA that direct DOE to
incorporate standby and off mode energy use into any final rule
establishing or revising a standard for a covered product adopted after
July 1, 2010. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)) DOE anticipates publishing the
next final rule revising efficiency standards for clothes dryers and
room air conditioners by June 30, 2011. Because publication of the
final rule revising efficiency standards will fall after July 1, 2010
(the date after which any final rule establishing or revising a
standard must incorporate standby and off mode energy use), this final
rule must incorporate standby and off mode energy use, thereby
necessitating the adoption of relevant standby and off mode provisions
into the test procedures for these products.
II. Summary of the Proposal
In today's NOPR, DOE proposes to amend the test procedures for
clothes dryers and room air conditioners in order to: (1) Provide a
foundation for DOE to develop and implement energy conservation
standards that address the energy use of these products when in standby
mode and off mode; and (2) address the statutory requirement to expand
test procedures to incorporate measures of standby mode and off mode
power consumption. The following paragraphs summarize these proposed
changes.
In amending the current test procedures, DOE proposes to
incorporate by reference into both the clothes dryer and room air
conditioner test procedures specific clauses from IEC Standard 62301,
``Household electrical appliances--measurement of standby power''
(First Edition, 2005-06) regarding test conditions and test procedures
for measuring standby mode and off mode power consumption. DOE also
proposes to incorporate into each test procedure the definitions of
``active mode,'' ``standby mode,'' and ``off mode'' that are set forth
in section 325(gg)(1)(A) of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)) Further,
DOE proposes to include in each test procedure additional language that
would clarify the application of clauses from IEC Standard 62301 for
measuring standby mode and off mode power consumption.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ EISA 2007 directs DOE to also consider IEC Standard 62087
when amending its test procedure to include standby mode and off
mode energy consumption. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A). However, IEC
Standard 62087 addresses the methods of measuring the power
consumption of audio, video, and related equipment. As explained
subsequently in this notice, the narrow scope of this particular IEC
Standard reduces its relevance to today's proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For clothes dryers, DOE is proposing definitions for different
standby modes--a general ``inactive'' mode, a ``cycle finished'' mode,
and a ``delay start'' mode--each of which would be separately tested
under the procedure, along with energy use in the off mode.
Furthermore, DOE proposes to clarify testing in the delay start mode by
requiring that the delay time be set at 5 hours and that the test be
conducted for 60 minutes, after waiting at least 5 minutes for power
input to stabilize. Finally, DOE proposes to establish new methods to
calculate clothes dryer energy use and energy efficiency that include
the energy used in the standby modes and the off mode.
For room air conditioners, DOE proposes definitions for different
standby modes--a general ``inactive'' mode, a ``delay start'' mode, and
an ``off-cycle'' mode--each of which would be separately tested under
the procedure, along with energy use in the off mode. DOE also proposes
to specify the test duration for cases in which the measured power is
unstable (i.e., varies more than 5 percent during a 5-minute period),
and proposes that standby mode and off mode testing be conducted with
roomside air temperature at 74 2 degrees Fahrenheit
([deg]F) to reflect typical operating conditions for room air
conditioners. In addition, DOE proposes to specify that, during standby
mode and off mode testing for which setting the thermostat or
temperature setpoint \10\ is applicable, the setpoint for the room air
conditioner is to be set at 79 [deg]F, in order to provide uniform
testing conditions. Finally, DOE proposes to establish new methods to
calculate energy use and energy efficiency, which include energy use in
the standby modes and the off mode.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ The term ``setpoint'' refers to the desired value in a
closed-loop feedback system and is typically used in the context of
regulating temperature or pressure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C), EPCA provides that amendments to
the test procedures to include standby mode and off mode energy
consumption will not determine compliance with previously established
standards. (U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C)) Because the proposed amended test
procedures would not alter existing measures of energy consumption or
efficiency, today's notice would not affect a manufacturer's ability to
demonstrate compliance with previously established standards. These
amended test procedures would become effective, in terms of adoption
into the CFR, 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal
Register of the final rule in this test procedures rulemaking. However,
DOE's amended test procedure regulations codified in the CFR would
[[Page 74643]]
clarify that the procedures and calculations for standby mode and off
mode energy consumption need not be performed to determine compliance
with the current energy conservation standards for clothes dryers and
room air conditioners, because the current energy conservation
standards do not account for standby and off mode power consumption.
Instead, manufacturers would be required to use the test procedures'
standby and off mode provisions to demonstrate compliance with DOE's
energy conservation standards on the effective date of a final rule
establishing amended energy conservation standards for these products
that address standby and off mode power consumption.
III. Discussion
A. Products Covered by the Test Procedure Changes
Today's proposed amendments to DOE's clothes dryer test procedure
cover both electric and gas clothes dryers, which DOE's regulations
define as:
Electric clothes dryer means a cabinet-like appliance designed to
dry fabrics in a tumble-type drum with forced air circulation. The heat
source is electricity and the drum and blower(s) are driven by an
electric motor(s).
Gas clothes dryers means a cabinet-like appliance designed to dry
fabrics in a tumble-type drum with forced air circulation. The heat
source is gas and the drum and blower(s) are driven by an electric
motor(s).
10 CFR 430.2
These definitions and the proposed amendments thereto cover both
vented and vent-less clothes dryers, as well as combination washer/
dryers.
Today's proposed amendments to DOE's room air conditioner test
procedure cover products that meet the following definition from DOE's
regulations:
Room air conditioner means a consumer product, other than a
``packaged terminal air conditioner,'' which is powered by a single
phase electric current and which is an encased assembly designed as a
unit for mounting in a window or through the wall for the purpose of
providing delivery of conditioned air to an enclosed space. It includes
a prime source of refrigeration and may include a means for ventilating
and heating.
10 CFR 430.2
This definition and the proposed amendments thereto cover room air
conditioners designed for single- or double-hung windows with or
without louvered sides and with or without reverse cycle, as well as
casement-slider and casement-only window-type room air conditioners.
B. Effective Date for the Amended Test Procedures
As indicated above, EPCA requires DOE to amend the test procedures
for clothes dryers and room air conditioners to incorporate measurement
of standby mode and off mode energy use in a final rule issued no later
than March 31, 2009. Such action is necessary to permit manufacturers
to certify that equipment complies with any newly established energy
conservation standards that take into account standby and off mode
energy use. When DOE is developing energy conservation standards and
determines that test procedure amendments are required, DOE strives to
issue a final rule amending the test procedure before issuing a
proposed rule for energy conservation standards. The effective date of
the modified clothes dryer and room air conditioner test procedures
would be 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register
of a final rule in this test procedures rulemaking. However, DOE's
amended test procedure regulations codified in the CFR would clarify
that the procedures and calculations for standby mode and off mode
energy consumption need not be performed to determine compliance with
the current energy conservation standards for clothes dryers and room
air conditioners, because the current energy conservation standards do
not account for standby and off mode power consumption.\11\ The
proposed notes regarding the applicability of the test procedure
provisions on standby mode and off mode energy use in Appendix D
(clothes dryers) and Appendix F (room air conditioners) will be removed
in subsequent notices of final rulemaking that amend the energy
conservation standards for these products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Pursuant to a court consent decree, DOE must complete a
standards rulemaking for residential clothes dryers and room air
conditioners by June 30, 2011. As part of the rulemaking considering
amended energy conservation standards for these products, DOE will
also address the issue of standby and off mode power consumption. If
adopted, such standards would be effective in June 2014, at which
time the standby and off mode provisions of the test procedures
would become mandatory for determining compliance with the amended
energy conservation standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition, 2005-
06) for Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode Power in Clothes Dryers and
Room Air Conditioners
Per EPCA, DOE considered the most current versions of IEC Standard
62301 and IEC Standard 62087 for measuring power consumption in standby
mode and off mode. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) DOE noted that IEC
Standard 62301 provides for measuring standby power in electrical
appliances, including clothes dryers and room air conditioners, and,
thus, is applicable to the proposed amendments to the clothes dryer and
room air conditioner test procedures. DOE also reviewed IEC Standard
62087, which specifies methods of measuring the power consumption of TV
receivers, video cassette recorders (VCRs), set top boxes, audio
equipment, and multi-function equipment for consumer use. IEC Standard
62087 does not, however, include measurement for the power consumption
of electrical appliances such as clothes dryers and room air
conditioners. Therefore, DOE determined that IEC Standard 62087 was
unsuitable for the proposed amendments to the clothes dryer and room
air conditioner test procedures.
DOE proposes to incorporate by reference into the DOE test
procedures for clothes dryers and room air conditioners specific
clauses from IEC Standard 62301 for measuring standby mode and off mode
power. Specifically, these clauses provide test conditions and test
procedures for measuring the average standby mode and average off mode
power consumption. Regarding testing conditions, section 4 of IEC
Standard 62301 provides conditions for the supply voltage, frequency,
and voltage waveform, and power measurement meter tolerances to provide
for repeatable and precise measurements of standby mode and off mode
power consumption. Section 5 of IEC Standard 62301 regarding test
procedures provides a method for measuring power consumption when the
power measurement is stable, as well as a method of measuring when the
power measurement is unstable.
Other provisions of IEC Standard 62301 are not applicable to
measuring standby mode and off mode power testing of clothes dryers and
room air conditioners. Hence, not all provisions of IEC Standard 62301
are incorporated by reference into the DOE test procedures. For
example, IEC Standard 62301 provides general conditions for power
supply voltage and frequency, which the current DOE test procedure
[[Page 74644]]
for clothes dryers already addresses. IEC Standard 62301 also provides
requirements for information to be recorded in a test report, which are
beyond the scope of DOE's test procedure. Consequently, only the
applicable sections and clauses (as stated above) are incorporated by
reference in today's proposed rule.
Specifically, DOE proposes to incorporate by reference in the DOE
test procedure for clothes dryers the following sections from IEC
Standard 62301: From section 4 (``General conditions for
measurements''), paragraph 4.2, ``Test room,'' paragraph 4.4, ``Supply
voltage waveform,'' and paragraph 4.5, ``Power measurement accuracy;''
and section 5 (``Measurements''), paragraph 5.1, ``General'' and
paragraph 5.3, ``Procedure.'' DOE proposes to reference these same
provisions in the DOE test procedure for room air conditioners, as well
as section 4, paragraph 4.3, ``Power supply.''
The EPCA requirement to consider IEC Standard 62301 in developing
modified test procedures for clothes dryers and room air conditioners
presents a potential conflict in defining ``standby mode.'' EPCA
defines ``standby mode'' as the condition in which a product is
connected to a main power source and offers one or more of the
following user-oriented or protective functions: (1) To facilitate the
activation or deactivation of other functions (including active mode)
by remote switch (including remote control), internal sensor, or timer;
and/or (2) to provide continuous functions, including information or
status displays (including clocks) or sensor-based functions. (42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(iii)). In contrast, paragraph 3.1 of the current
version of IEC Standard 62301 defines ``standby mode'' as the ``lowest
power consumption mode which cannot be switched off (influenced) by the
user and that may persist for an indefinite time when an appliance is
connected to the main electricity supply and used in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.'' In addition, prior to EISA 2007, DOE
adopted a definition for ``standby mode'' nearly identical to that of
IEC Standard 62301 in the dishwasher test procedure, in which ``standby
mode'' ``means the lowest power consumption mode which cannot be
switched off or influenced by the user and that may persist for an
indefinite time when an appliance is connected to the main electricity
supply and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.''
(10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix C, section 1.14). DOE welcomes
comment on the appropriate approach for resolving these inconsistencies
between EPCA, the IEC Standard 62301 which EPCA references, and the
precedent set by the dishwasher test procedure. While EPCA specifies
that DOE may consider the definition for ``standby mode'' provided in
the most current version of IEC Standard 62301 in updating its test
procedure, DOE proposes to adopt the broader, statutory definition of
``standby mode'' provided in EPCA for reasons of greater specificity
and clarity, and to include that definition in the test procedures for
clothes dryers and room air conditioners.
Further, the agency notes that, while section 325(gg)(2)(A) of EPCA
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) requires that the amended test procedures
consider the most current version of IEC Standard 62301, the IEC is
developing an updated version of this standard, IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition). This updated version of IEC Standard 62301 is
expected to include definitions of ``off mode,'' ``network-connected
standby mode,'' and ``disconnected mode,'' and would also revise the
current IEC Standard 62301 definition of ``standby mode.'' However,
because the IEC anticipates that this new version of Standard 62301
will likely be published in July 2009, this later version of the
standard will be unavailable in time for DOE to consider it and to
still meet the EISA 2007 deadline for issuance of a final rule amending
the relevant test procedure to include measures of standby mode and off
mode energy consumption by March 31, 2009. See 42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(B)(ii). Hence, the First Edition 2005-06 of IEC Standard
62301 will be the ``current version'' at the time of publication of the
final rule, so consideration thereof will comply with EPCA.
Accordingly, DOE plans to use the First Edition 2005-06 of IEC Standard
62301 in today's proposed test procedure. After the final rule is
published, amendments to the referenced standards would be adopted by
DOE only if the agency later incorporates them into its procedures.
In reviewing alternative standby power test procedures for
potential amendments to the DOE test procedure, DOE also investigated
both testing conditions and testing methods specified in the test
procedures used by countries that are considered to be international
leaders in reducing standby power consumption. These countries include
Japan, Korea, and Australia, all of which use procedures similar to
those of IEC Standard 62301, and/or reference that standard.
D. Determination of Modes To Be Incorporated
As noted above, DOE proposes to incorporate into the clothes dryer
and room air conditioner test procedure the definitions of ``active
mode,'' ``standby mode,'' and ``off mode'' specified by EPCA. EPCA
defines ``active mode'' as ``the condition in which an energy-using
product--
(I) Is connected to a main power source;
(II) Has been activated; and
(III) Provides 1 or more main functions.''
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(i))
EPCA defines ``standby mode'' as ``the condition in which an
energy-using product--
(I) Is connected to a main power source; and
(II) Offers 1 or more of the following user-oriented or protective
functions:
(aa) To facilitate the activation or deactivation of other
functions (including active mode) by remote switch (including remote
control), internal sensor, or timer.
(bb) Continuous functions, including information or status displays
(including clocks) or sensor-based functions.''
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(iii)) This definition differs from the
one provided in IEC Standard 62301 by permitting the inclusion of
multiple standby modes.
EPCA defines ``off mode'' as ``the condition in which an energy-
using product --
(I) Is connected to a main power source; and
(II) Is not providing any standby mode or active mode function.''
\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ DOE notes that some features that provide consumer utility,
such as displays and remote controls, are associated with standby
mode and not off mode. A clothes dryer or room air conditioner is
considered to be in ``off mode'' if it is plugged in to a main power
source, is not being used for an active function such as drying
clothing or providing cooling, and is consuming power for features
other than a display, controls (including a remote control), or
sensors required to reactivate it from a low power state. For
example, a clothes dryer with mechanical controls and no display or
continuously-energized moisture sensor, but that consumed power for
components such as a power supply when the unit was not activated,
would be considered to be in off mode when not providing an active
function. For room air conditioners, a unit with mechanical controls
and no display or remote control but with a power supply which is
consuming energy, for example, could be considered to be in off mode
while not providing an active function.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(ii))
DOE recognizes that these definitions for ``active mode,''
``standby mode,'' and ``off mode'' were developed to be broadly
applicable for many energy-using products. For specific products
[[Page 74645]]
with multiple functions, these broad definitions could lead to
unintended consequences if the meaning of ``main functions'' is
narrowly interpreted, as illustrated by the following example:
A ``room air conditioner,'' as defined in section III.A, provides
delivery of conditioned air to an enclosed space. This product includes
a prime source of refrigeration and may include a means for ventilating
and heating. A narrow interpretation of this definition would be that
the main function of providing delivery of conditioned air is strictly
a cooling function. Such an interpretation would imply that delivery of
cooled air is the only active mode under the EPCA definition, as
amended by EISA 2007. Under such an interpretation, operation of the
room air conditioner fan without operation of the compressor would
likely be considered an off mode, since it does not strictly fit the
definition of standby mode and because off mode includes all modes
which are not standby mode or active mode.
To address this potential problem, DOE proposes to amend to the
clothes dryer and room air conditioner test procedures to clarify the
range of main functions that would be classified as active mode
functions. DOE further proposes to amend the clothes dryer and room air
conditioner test procedures to define multiple standby modes that would
be separately tested under the procedures. DOE welcomes comment on the
above approach.
1. Clothes Dryer Mode Definitions
DOE proposes the following mode definitions for clothes dryers:
``Active mode'' means a mode in which the clothes dryer is
performing the main function of tumbling the clothing with or without
heated or unheated forced air circulation to remove moisture from the
clothing and/or remove or prevent wrinkling of the clothing;
``Inactive mode'' means a standby mode other than delay start mode
or cycle finished mode that facilitates the activation of active mode
by remote switch (including remote control), internal sensor, or timer,
or provides continuous status display;
``Cycle finished mode'' means a standby mode that provides
continuous status display following operation in active mode;
``Delay start mode'' means a standby mode that facilitates the
activation of active mode by timer; and
``Off mode'' means a mode in which the clothes dryer is not
performing any active or standby function.
2. Room Air Conditioner Mode Definitions
For room air conditioners, DOE proposes the following mode
definitions:
``Active mode'' means a mode in which the room air conditioner is
performing the main function of cooling or heating the conditioned
space, or circulating air through activation of its fan or blower, with
or without energizing active air-cleaning components or devices such as
ultraviolet (UV) radiation, electrostatic filters, ozone generators, or
other air-cleaning devices;
``Inactive mode'' means a standby mode other than delay start mode
or off-cycle mode that facilitates the activation of active mode by
remote switch (including remote control) or internal sensor or provides
continuous status display;
``Delay start mode'' means a standby mode in which activation of an
active mode is facilitated by a timer;
``Off-cycle mode'' means a standby mode in which the room air
conditioner: (1) Has cycled off its main function by thermostat or
temperature sensor; (2) does not have its fan or blower operating; and
(3) will reactivate the main function according to the thermostat or
temperature sensor signal;
``Off mode'' means a mode in which a room air conditioner is not
performing any active or standby function.
Off-cycle mode could be considered part of an active mode in which
a room air conditioner is cycling its compressor on and off to maintain
an average room temperature. However, since the current test procedure
treats the cooling mode as occuring only when the compressor is
operating, DOE proposes the off-cycle mode to account for the time when
the space is being conditioned and the compressor and fan are not
operating.
E. Adding Specifications for the Test Methods and Measurements for
Clothes Dryer and Room Air Conditioner Standby Mode and Off Mode
Testing
DOE is proposing test procedures for measuring all standby and off
modes associated with clothes dryers and room air conditioners. This
section discusses product-specific clarifications of the procedures of
IEC Standard 62301 when used to measure standby and off mode energy use
for clothes dryers and room air conditioners.
1. Clothes Dryers
DOE understands that displays on clothes dryers may reduce power
consumption by dimming after a certain period of user inactivity. For
those clothes dryers for which the power input in inactive mode varies
in this fashion during testing, DOE proposes that the test be conducted
after the power level has dropped to its low level.
DOE understands that clothes dryers with a delay start capability
may use varying amounts of power during delay start mode depending on
the delay time, the time displayed, and/or display indication of mode
status. Paragraph 5.3.1 of section 5.3 ``Procedure'' of IEC Standard
62301 instructs a test technician to ``[c]onnect the product to be
tested to the metering equipment, and select the mode to be measured.
After the product has been allowed to stabilize for at least 5 min.,
monitor the power consumption for not less than an additional 5 min.''
The lack of specificity in this language regarding the test period
could allow a manufacturer to measure standby power consumption by
selecting delay start times with relatively low power consumption,
producing test results that would neither be comparable to those
obtained using other time periods nor represent the true standby power
consumption of its clothes dryers. Consequently, to ensure comparable
and valid results, DOE proposes to include in the clothes dryer test
procedure a specification for the delay start time to be set at 5
hours, and for power to be monitored for 60 minutes after waiting at
least 5 minutes for power input to stabilize.
In determining the specifications for delay start parameters, DOE
considered the possibility that display power input would depend on the
time displayed, which is typically the time in hours remaining before
the start. Displays may be one or two digits. Some two-digit displays
may show whole numbers for remaining delay hours of 10 or more and both
the ones and tenths digits for remaining delay hours of 9.9 or less. By
analyzing the number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) activated in LED
displays of the remaining hours over a range of delay times, DOE
concluded that the average number of LEDs lit for the range of all
possible delay times would be best approximated by the average LEDs lit
for either single-digit or two-digit displays in a 60-minute test if
the delay time is set at 5 hours. DOE also is aware that some clothes
dryers with the delay start feature do not allow delay time greater
than 5 hours.
DOE proposes to adopt the test room ambient temperature specified
by IEC Standard 62301 for standby mode and off mode testing. Under
these conditions, the test room ambient temperature would be 73.4
9 [deg]F, which is slightly different from the
[[Page 74646]]
ambient temperature currently specified for DOE's drying performance
tests of clothes dryers (75 3 [deg]F). Today's proposal,
however, permits manufacturers who opt to test simultaneously for all
three conditions to do so using the current ambient temperature
requirements for drying tests, since these are within the limits
specified by IEC Standard 62301. Alternatively, the proposed
temperature specifications would allow a manufacturer that opts to
conduct standby mode and off mode testing separately from drying tests
more latitude in maintaining ambient conditions. DOE requests comment
on the appropriateness of this proposed modified test room ambient
temperature range.
2. Room Air Conditioners
A given unit or model of a room air conditioner with a temperature,
clock, or timer display may use varying amounts of standby power
depending on the numbers being displayed. During preliminary testing
conducted by DOE for room air conditioners (``RAC Standby Testing''),
for a two-digit display capable of displaying temperature or delay
start time, standby power use for different digit combinations was
observed to vary by as much as 22 percent. (RAC Standby Testing, No. 1
at p.1) Paragraph 5.3.1 of section 5.3 ``Procedure'' of IEC Standard
62301 instructs a test technician to ``[c]onnect the product to be
tested to the metering equipment, and select the mode to be measured.
After the product has been allowed to stabilize for at least 5 min.,
monitor the power consumption for not less than an additional 5 min.''
As with clothes dryers, the lack of specificity in this IEC Standard
62301 language regarding the test period or control setting could allow
a manufacturer to measure standby power consumption by selecting
temperatures or time periods with relatively low power consumption,
thereby producing test results that would not be comparable to those
obtained using other temperatures or time periods and that would not
represent the true standby power consumption of its room air
conditioners. In addition, different manufacturers could take different
approaches in selecting cycles for testing.
Another concern arises when a room air conditioner has a delay
start mode. To ensure comparable and valid results, DOE proposes to
include in this test procedure a separate test in the delay start mode,
in which the unit is set to a delay start time of 5 hours and the power
is monitored for 60 minutes after allowing the power input level to
stabilize for at least 5 minutes. The rationale for specifying the 5-
hour delay start time and the 60-minute measurement time is the same as
that presented above regarding selection of parameters for clothes
dryer testing in delay start mode (i.e., the average power consumption
of a display for these conditions would be most representative of
average power consumption under the entire range of possible delay
hours).
DOE recognizes that different room air conditioners provide
different temperature displays when operating. Some room air
conditioners display actual room temperature, while others display
setpoint temperature. DOE proposes to address the possibility of these
different approaches by requiring that the test room temperature be
maintained at 74 2 [deg]F and that the room setpoint
temperature be set at 79 [deg]F. DOE selected this test room
temperature, which is lower than the room air temperature which is
specified for the existing DOE cooling performance tests (80 0.5 [deg]F), because DOE has tentatively concluded that the
display energy consumption associated with the proposed room
temperature range would be the most representative of an average
display energy consumption over all reasonable room temperature
conditions. DOE considered that a different number of LEDs may be
energized in an LED display, depending on actual room or setpoint
temperature. For the specified room temperature range and setpoint, the
average power consumption for the possible combinations of LEDs
energized would be close to the average power consumption for the full
range of reasonable actual room and setpoint temperatures displayed
(i.e., 70 [deg]F to 85 [deg]F). Hence, the chosen room ambient and
setpoint temperatures would ensure that: (1) The power consumption of
any display, whether indicating actual or setpoint temperature,
represents an average power consumption associated with the range of
typical user room temperatures and setpoints; and (2) the room air
conditioner will not cycle the compressor on, since the setpoint will
be higher than actual room ambient temperature. DOE also notes that,
although the 80 0.5 [deg]F room air temperature specified
by the current test procedure falls within the allowable range
specified in IEC Standard 62301 (73.4 9 [deg]F), the
proposed test room temperature would be more representative of
conditions in which a room air conditioner would likely be in standby
mode, since it is reasonable to assume the unit would be in active mode
if the room air temperature were near 80 [deg]F. DOE requests comment
on the appropriateness of this proposed modified test room ambient
temperature range.
DOE believes that IEC Standard 62301 is otherwise suitable to
address possible variation in the power levels associated with the off
and standby modes, requiring only appropriate lengthening of the sample
period, averaging of the power input, and measurement of a number of
complete cycles, if necessary, to capture cyclic power input.
F. Calculation of Energy Use Associated With Standby Modes and Off Mode
Measurements of energy consumption associated with each standby and
off mode for clothes dryers and room air conditioners are expressed in
W. The total energy impact of the power expended in these modes depends
on both the power level in W of each mode and the time spent in each
mode. This section discusses the approach proposed for clothes dryers
and room air conditioners for calculating energy use associated with
standby modes and off mode and the numbers of hours proposed to be
associated with each mode.
1. Clothes Dryers
Energy use for clothes dryers is expressed in terms of total energy
use per drying cycle; measurements of standby and off mode energy use
will be expressed in this fashion as well, in order to maintain
consistency. Energy used during a drying cycle is directly measured as
energy use per cycle in the test procedure, although adjustments are
made to the directly measured energy to account for differences between
test and field conditions. The energy use associated with continuously
burning pilot lights of gas dryers is measured and is converted to an
energy use per cycle by dividing calculated annual gas energy use by
the representative average number of drying cycles per year (i.e.,
416). 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix D, section 4.4. This
procedure for gas pilot lights provides an approach for calculating
standby power consumption.
In the existing test procedure, energy use per cycle for
continuously burning pilot lights is calculated by multiplying the
energy use measured for a period of one hour by an established number
of hours per year that the dryer is not in drying mode, and dividing by
the representative average cycles per year. The existing test procedure
established that a gas clothes dryer is in the drying mode 140 hours
per year, and that the
[[Page 74647]]
balance of the year (8,620 hours) is the established number of hours
associated with the pilot light energy consumption.
DOE proposes to adopt a similar approach for measuring energy
consumption during standby and off modes for clothes dryers.
Specifically, DOE proposes to adopt the current 140 hours associated
with drying (i.e., the active mode) and to associate the remaining
8,620 hours of the year with the standby and off modes. DOE is
proposing this approach because it believes that the number of drying
hours established in the existing test procedure for gas dryers is a
reasonable representation of the active mode hours for all dryers, and
because, to date, DOE has not identified any other reliable data
regarding average dryer cycle times. DOE welcomes information and data
on such average cycle times, as well as annual dryer usage.
In order to establish the number of hours per year in each standby
and off mode, as defined in section III.D.1, DOE investigated studies
of dryer usage patterns and found only one study of the time spent by
clothes dryers in different standby modes.\13\ This publication
presents results of a household survey conducted in 2000, which
measured standby modes for 35 clothes dryers with an average age of 11
years. The daily time spent in each mode in this study averaged one
quarter hour for ``drying,'' zero hours for ``delay start'' and
``active standby'' modes, and the remaining hours split 5 percent for
``end of program'' mode and 95 percent for off mode. The ``active
standby mode'' of the study is equivalent to the ``inactive mode''
defined in section III.D.1 of this notice, and the ``end of program
mode'' is equivalent to the ``cycle finished mode'' in section III.D.1.
DOE has tentatively concluded from these results that clothes dryers
spend little time in cycle finished mode and probably spend little time
in delay start mode. The average age of the clothes dryers in the study
suggests that most of these dryers had electromechanical rather than
electronic controls (prevalent among dryers currently on the market),
indicating that the dryers in the study would not likely have had
inactive mode or delay start mode. Hence, DOE does not infer from those
results that modern clothes dryers spend negligible time in inactive
mode, and the findings are by themselves inconclusive regarding the
time modern clothes dryers spend in delay start mode.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Standby Product Profile--Clothes Dryers (Report 2003/09).
National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Committee
(NAEEEC) of Australia (October 2003). Available at: https://
www.energyrating.gov.au/library/pubs/sb200309-dryers.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A different study on clothes washers provides some additional
evidence suggesting a small number of hours associated with clothes
dryer delay start mode.\14\ This study monitored time clothes washers
in Australia and New Zealand spent in different modes, and showed that
the average amount of time spent in delay start mode per wash cycle was
approximately 5 minutes. DOE believes that the results for clothes
washers may be applicable for clothes dryers as well, because of the
similarities between the control capabilities for both types of
products and comparable consumer usage patterns when a clothing load is
washed and dried.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ ``A Submission to NAEEEC on Mode Times for Use When
Determining Standby Energy Consumption of Clothes Washers,
Dishwashers, and Dryers,'' Australian Electrical and Electronic
Manufacturers' Association (March 11, 2005), Appendix B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on these two information sources, DOE has tentatively
concluded that a typical modern clothes dryer spends a small amount of
time in delay start mode. Using an estimated 5 minutes per cycle, the
total annual amount of time spent in delay start mode using the
representative 416 cycles per year is 34 hours. The remaining time not
associated with active mode or delay start mode can be split as
suggested by the Australian study: 5 percent allocated to cycle
finished mode and 95 percent allocated to off or inactive mode.
Table III.1 presents a comparison of the annual energy use
associated with all modes. The approximate range of wattages associated
with the standby and off modes are based on the references cited
previously in this section and on ``Clothes Dryers Background/Issues/
Standby,'' presented by Robert Foster of Energy Efficiency Strategies
at the E3 White Goods Forum in Sydney, Australia, in February 2007.\15\
Active mode annual energy use is calculated based on 416 cycles per
year in a standard-size electric dryer with a minimum standard EF of
3.01. Per-cycle energy use for such a clothes dryer is calculated as 7
pounds (lbs) divided by 3.01 lbs per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is
equal to 2.33 kWh. The typical average power level during active mode
is calculated as 967 kWh per year of annual energy use divided by 140
hours in active mode, which is equal to 6,907 W.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ Available at https://www.energyrating.gov.au/pubs/2007-
whitegoods-foster4.pdf.
Table III.1--Estimate of Annual Energy Use of Clothes Dryer Modes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Typical power Annual energy
Mode Hours (W) use (kWh)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active.......................................................... 140 6,907 967
Delay Start..................................................... * 34 3 0.1
Cycle Finished.................................................. ** 429 3 1
Off and Inactive................................................ [dagger] 8,157 0.5 to 3 4 to 24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 5 minutes per cycle x 416 cycles per year.
** 5 percent of remaining time (0.05 x (8,760-140-34) = 429).
[dagger] 95 percent of remaining time (0.95 x (8,760-140-34) = 8,157).
To determine the annual hours per mode for clothes dryers for which
not all standby modes are possible, DOE estimated values based upon
reallocating the hours for modes that are not present according to the
ratios discussed previously (i.e., that cycle finished mode, if
present, would account for 5 percent of annual hours not allocated to
active and delay start modes, and off/inactive modes would account for
the remaining 95 percent). DOE's logic for this distribution of hours
is as follows:
If delay start is not possible, cycle finished mode would
be 0.05 x (8,760 total hours-140 active mode hours) = 431 hours. The
remaining 8,189 hours would be allocated for off/inactive modes.
If cycle finished mode is not possible, delay start mode,
which is assumed to be a fixed value of 5 minutes per cycle for each of
the 416 cycles per
[[Page 74648]]
year specified in the DOE test procedure, would account for 34 hours.
Thus, off/inactive modes would be 8,760 total hours-140 active mode
hours-34 delay start mode hours = 8,586 hours.
If neither delay start nor cycle finished modes are
possible, then off/inactive modes would simply be 8,760 total hours-140
active mode hours = 8,620 hours.
Table III.2 summarizes the allocation of hours to different
possible modes under each scenario.
Table III.2--Estimate of Annual Hours of Possible Clothes Dryer Modes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No delay start
Mode All modes No delay start No cycle or cycle
possible mode finished mode finished modes
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Active.......................................... 140 140 140 140
Delay Start *................................... 34 0 34 0
Cycle Finished **....
