Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes Washers, 49238-49273 [2011-19440]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 429 and 430
[Docket No. EERE–2010–BT–TP–0021]
RIN 1904–AC08
Energy Conservation Program: Test
Procedures for Residential Clothes
Washers
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
In this supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking (SNOPR), the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to
revise its test procedure for residential
clothes washers established under the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(EPCA). DOE proposes to incorporate
provisions of the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standard 62301, ‘‘Household electrical
appliances—Measurement of standby
power’’ (Second Edition). DOE also
proposes to update the provisions for
measuring active mode energy and
water consumption.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,
and information regarding this SNOPR
no later than September 8, 2011 See
section V, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for
details.
ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted
must identify the SNOPR for Test
Procedures for residential clothes
washers, and provide docket number
EERE–2010–BT–TP–0021 and/or
regulatory information number (RIN)
number 1904–AC08. 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: RES-CW-2010-TP0021@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket
number and/or RIN 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. If
possible, please submit all items on a
CD. It is not necessary to include
printed copies.
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. If possible, please
submit all items on a CD. It is not
necessary to include printed copies.
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SUMMARY:
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Written comments regarding the
burden-hour estimates or other aspects
of the collection-of-information
requirements contained in this proposed
rule may be submitted to Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy through the methods listed
above and by e-mail to
Christine_J._Kymn@omb.eop.gov.
For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see section V of this document (Public
Participation).
Docket: The docket is available for
review at https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2010-BT-TP0021, including Federal Register
notices, framework documents, public
meeting attendee lists and transcripts,
comments, and other supporting
documents/materials. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
regulations.gov index. However, not all
documents listed in the index may be
publicly available, such as information
that is exempt from public disclosure.
The regulations.gov web page contains
instructions on how to access all
documents, including public comments,
in the docket. See section V for
information on how to submit
comments through regulations.gov.
For further information on how to
submit a comment or review other
public comments and the docket,
contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202)
586–2945 or by e-mail:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
Mr.
Stephen L. 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.
Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–7796. E-mail:
Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Supplemental Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking
A. Standby Mode and Off Mode
B. Current Usage Patterns and Capabilities
C. Additional Proposals
III. Discussion
A. Use of Proposed Test Procedure
B. Newly Proposed Standby Mode, Off
Mode, and Active Mode Test Procedure
Provisions
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1. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard
62301 Edition 2.0 for Measuring Standby
Mode and Off Mode Power Consumption
2. Calculation of Energy Use in Low-Power
Modes
3. Energy Test Cycle Definition
4. Load Adjustment Factor
5. Wash Time Setting
6. Annual Energy Cost
7. Additional Proposals
C. Compliance With Other EPCA
Requirements
1. Test Burden
2. Integration of Standby Mode and Off
Mode Energy Consumption Into the
Efficiency Metric
3. Commercial Clothes Washers
4. Certification Requirements
D. Impact on EnergyGuide
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
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 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. Submission of Comments
B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Authority and Background
Title III of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291, et
seq.; ‘‘EPCA’’ or, ‘‘the Act’’) sets forth a
variety of provisions designed to
improve energy efficiency. (All
references to EPCA refer to the statute
as amended through the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007
(EISA 2007), Public Law 110–140 (Dec.
19, 2007)). Part B of title III (42 U.S.C.
6291–6309), which was subsequently
redesignated for editorial reasons as Part
A on codification in the U.S. Code,
establishes the ‘‘Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles.’’ These include
residential clothes washers, the subject
of today’s notice. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(7))
Under EPCA, this program consists
essentially of four parts: (1) Testing, (2)
labeling, (3) Federal energy conservation
standards, and (4) certification and
enforcement procedures. The testing
requirements consist of test procedures
that manufacturers of covered products
must use (1) As the basis for certifying
to DOE that their products comply with
the applicable energy conservation
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standards adopted under EPCA, and (2)
for making representations about the
efficiency of those products. Similarly,
DOE must use these test requirements to
determine whether the products comply
with any relevant standards
promulgated under EPCA.
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General Test Procedure Rulemaking
Process
Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth
the criteria and procedures DOE must
follow when prescribing or amending
test procedures for covered products.
EPCA provides in relevant part that any
test procedures prescribed or amended
under this section must be reasonably
designed to produce test results that
measure energy efficiency, energy use or
estimated annual operating cost of a
covered product during a representative
average use cycle or period of use. Test
procedures must 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 on them. (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 Test Procedure at Appendix J1
The DOE test procedure for clothes
washers currently being manufactured
is found at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix J1. DOE adopted appendix J1
in a 1997 final rule (hereinafter referred
to as the August 1997 Final Rule) to
correct for changes in consumer habits
that resulted in an overstatement of
average annual energy consumption
when using the methods specified in
appendix J. 62 FR 45508 (Aug. 27,
1997). DOE added appendix J1, rather
than amending appendix J, to
accommodate continued use of
appendix J until DOE amended the
residential clothes washer conservation
standards to reference the new appendix
J1.1 On January 12, 2001, DOE
published a final rule (hereinafter
1 Because appendix J applies only to clothes
washers manufactured before January 1, 2004,
appendix J is now obsolete. 10 CFR 430 appendix
J1.
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referred to as the January 2001 Final
Rule), to amend the energy conservation
standards for residential clothes
washers. The January 2001 Final Rule
references the efficiency metrics as
defined in appendix J1. 66 FR 3314. Use
of the amended J1 test procedure was
required to demonstrate compliance
with these amended energy
conservation standards as of January 1,
2004. Since 1997, DOE has amended the
test procedure in appendix J1 three
times, twice substantively to address
test cloth correlation procedures, and
once to correct the introductory note. 63
FR 16669 (Apr. 6, 1998); 66 FR 3314,
3330 (Jan. 12, 2001); 68 FR 62198, 62204
(Oct. 31, 2003).
The test procedure at appendix J1
includes provisions for determining the
modified energy factor (MEF) for clothes
washers, which is a function of the total
energy used for each cubic foot (ft3) of
clothes washer capacity. The test
procedure measures the total energy
consumption of the clothes washer and
provides for calculation of the
remaining moisture content (RMC) of
the clothes at the completion of the
machine’s full cycle. The test procedure
at appendix J1 does not address energy
use in the standby or off modes.
DOE Test Procedure Updates: Authority
and Regulatory Background
EPCA requires DOE to review its test
procedures at least once every seven
years to determine whether
amendments are warranted. (42 U.S.C.
6293(b)(1)) This rulemaking satisfies
EPCA’s periodic review requirement.
The Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Public
Law No. 110–140 also amended EPCA
to require DOE to amend its test
procedures to integrate measures of
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption into the overall energy
efficiency, energy consumption, or other
energy descriptor for each covered
product unless the current test
procedure already fully accounts for and
incorporates standby and off mode
energy consumption or such integration
is technically infeasible. If an integrated
test procedure is technically infeasible,
DOE must prescribe a separate standby
mode and off mode energy use test
procedure for the covered product, if
technically feasible. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A)) Any such amendment
must consider the most current versions
of IEC Standard 62301 and IEC Standard
62087, ‘‘Methods of measurement for
the power consumption of audio, video,
and related equipment.’’ 2
2 IEC standards are available online at https://
www.iec.ch.
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In evaluating amendments to its test
procedure for clothes washers, DOE
considered input from the public
received in its separate rulemaking
proceeding to consider amendments to
the energy conservation standards
applicable to residential clothes
washers.3 On August 28, 2009, DOE
published a notice in the Federal
Register announcing the availability of
a framework document in its
rulemaking to consider amended energy
conservation standards for residential
clothes washers (hereafter the August
2009 framework document). 74 FR
44306. In the August 2009 framework
document, DOE requested comments on
revising the clothes washer test
procedure. DOE also held a public
meeting on September 21, 2009
(hereinafter referred to as the September
2009 public meeting) to discuss the
issues presented in the framework
document, including issues related to
the test procedure.
DOE received comments in response
to the August 2009 framework
document stating that it should consider
changes to the active mode test
procedure for clothes washers. As a
result, in addition to proposing
amendments to its test procedure to
include measures for standby and off
mode power consumption, DOE
proposed to address issues regarding the
active mode provisions of the test
procedure. As discussed in more detail
below, the proposals were set forth in a
notice of proposed rulemaking issued
on September 21, 2010 (75 FR 57556)
(hereinafter referred to as the September
2010 NOPR) and are being refined in
this SNOPR.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed a number of revisions and
additions to the test procedure at
appendix J1, including: (1)
Incorporating standby and off mode
power consumption into a combined
energy metric; (2) addressing
technologies not covered by the
appendix J1 test procedure, such as
steam wash cycles and self-clean cycles;
(3) revising the number of annual wash
cycles; (4) updating use factors; (5)
revising the procedures and
specifications for test cloth; (6)
redefining the appropriate water fill
3 EISA 2007 also amended EPCA, in relevant part,
to revise the energy conservation standards for
residential clothes washers. The revised standards
established a maximum water consumption factor
(WF) of 9.5, effective January 1, 2011. EISA 2007
further required that DOE publish a final rule no
later than December 31, 2011 determining whether
to amend the standards in effect for clothes washers
manufactured on or after January 1, 2015. (42 U.S.C.
6295(g)(9)) DOE is also required to consider standby
and off mode standards for residential clothes
washers. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C).
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level for the capacity measurement
method; (7) establishing a new measure
of water consumption; and (8) revising
the definition of the energy test cycle.
DOE requested comment on the
proposals in the September 2010 NOPR
and held a public meeting on October
28, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as the
October 2010 public meeting) to discuss
the issues presented.
The principal test procedure issues on
which interested parties commented
included: (1) The referenced version of
IEC Standard 62301; (2) mode
definitions; (3) inclusion of steam and
self-clean cycles; (4) measurement of
delay start and cycle finished mode; (5)
calculation of annual energy use; (6) test
cloth specifications; (7) usage patterns,
in particular annual use cycles, wash
temperatures, and load sizes, including
a potential bias in favor of large-capacity
clothes washers; and (8) test burden.
II. Summary of the Supplemental
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The following paragraphs summarize
the changes and additions to the
September 2010 NOPR that DOE
proposes in today’s SNOPR. In the
regulatory text set forth at the end of
this SNOPR, DOE sets forth the
proposed regulatory text from the
September 2010 NOPR, as amended by
today’s proposals. DOE’s supporting
analysis and discussion for the portions
of the proposed regulatory text not
affected by this SNOPR may be found in
the September 2010 NOPR. 75 FR 57556
(Sept. 21, 2010).
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A. Standby Mode and Off Mode
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed amendments to its clothes
washer test procedure including
incorporating by reference specific
provisions from IEC Standard 62301,
First Edition 2005–06 (‘‘IEC Standard
62301 (First Edition)’’ or ‘‘First
Edition’’) regarding test conditions and
test procedures for measuring standby
mode and off mode power consumption.
75 FR 57556, 57560 (Sept. 21, 2010).
DOE also proposed to incorporate the
definitions of ‘‘active mode,’’ ‘‘standby
mode,’’ and ‘‘off mode’’ that were based
on the definitions for those terms
provided in the most current draft at
that time of an updated version of IEC
Standard 62301 (the Committee Draft for
Vote, or ‘‘CDV’’ version). Id. at 57560–
62. Further, DOE proposed to include
additional language that would clarify
the application of clauses from IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition) for
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measuring standby mode and off mode
power consumption.4 Id. at 57562–63.
In response to the September 2010
NOPR, commenters suggested that the
draft updated version of IEC Standard
62301 would improve the mode
definitions and testing methodology.
The IEC published IEC Standard 62301,
Edition 2.0 2011–01 (‘‘IEC Standard
62301 (Second Edition)’’ or ‘‘Second
Edition’’) on January 27, 2011. DOE has
reviewed this updated test procedure
and believes that it improves some
measurements of standby mode and off
mode energy use. Accordingly, DOE
proposes in today’s SNOPR to
incorporate certain provisions of the IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition), along
with clarifying language, into the new
clothes washer test procedure. DOE also
proposes to incorporate into the new
test procedure definitions of ‘‘active
mode,’’ ‘‘standby mode,’’ and ‘‘off
mode’’ based on the definitions
provided in IEC Standard 62301 Second
Edition. In addition, DOE proposes to
incorporate measures of energy
consumption associated with delay start
and cycle finished modes. Although
these modes would be considered part
of active mode, the proposed
measurements and calculations for
standby and off mode power
consumption would include the energy
use in such modes in a simplified
approach to account for energy use
associated with all low-power modes by
means of a single power measurement.
Finally, DOE proposes in today’s
SNOPR to revise the calculations for
per-cycle energy use and annual energy
cost to incorporate non-active washing
mode energy consumption. (42 U.S.C.
6293(b)(3); 42 U.S.C. 6291(4), (7).
B. Current Usage Patterns and
Capabilities
The proposed test procedure would
update certain values from the existing
test procedure to reflect current usage
patterns and capabilities. DOE received
multiple comments on this issue in
response to the August 2009 framework
document, and reviewed current
consumer data from surveys conducted
in 2004 and 2005 to propose updates in
the September 2010 NOPR. Based on
this information and comments received
in response to the September 2010
NOPR, DOE is proposing additional
4 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). DOE
has considered IEC Standard 62087, which
addresses the methods of measuring the power
consumption of audio, video, and related
equipment, and determined that it is not relevant
to this proposal.
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amendments to the load adjustment
factor in today’s SNOPR. DOE is also
proposing in this SNOPR to update the
test load sizes specified in appendix J1
to reflect the same test load sizes
previously proposed for appendix J2,
allowing for testing of large-capacity
clothes washers to demonstrate
compliance with existing energy
conservation standards.
C. Additional Proposals
The revised clothes washer test
procedure amendments DOE is
proposing in today’s SNOPR would
update the procedure to clarify the
existing methods for determining the
energy test cycle, setting the wash time
for certain clothes washers, using the
most current AHAM Standard detergent,
and clarifying the definition of ‘‘cold
wash’’ for clothes washers that offer
both ‘‘cold wash’’ and ‘‘tap cold wash’’
settings. DOE is also proposing the
following amendments in today’s
SNOPR: Correcting the definition of
cold rinse in appendix J1; deleting the
redundant sections 2.6.1.1–2.6.1.2.4 in
appendix J1; and correcting the
calculations proposed in the September
2010 NOPR for per-cycle self-clean
water consumption.
III. Discussion
A. Use of Proposed Test Procedure
The amended test procedures in 10
CFR part 430 subpart B appendix J1 and
appendix J2 would become effective 30
days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register of the final rule in this
test procedure rulemaking. DOE would
clarify in the published amended test
procedures, however, that
manufacturers would be required to use
amended appendix J1 until the
compliance date of any final rule
establishing amended energy
conservation standards that addresses
standby and off mode power
consumption for these products. 42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(C). At such time,
manufacturers would begin using the
test procedures in appendix J2.
B. Newly Proposed Standby Mode, Off
Mode, and Active Mode Test Procedure
Provisions
1. Incorporating by Reference IEC
Standard 62301 Edition 2.0 for
Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode
Power Consumption
As noted in the September 2010
NOPR, DOE considered, pursuant to
EPCA, 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
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Standard 62301 provides for measuring
standby power in electrical appliances,
including clothes washers, and
therefore, is applicable to the provisions
included in the new clothes washer test
procedure. 75 FR 57556, 57560 (Sept.
21, 2010). DOE also noted that IEC
Standard 62087, which applies to audio,
video, and related equipment, is
inapplicable to this rulemaking, and did
not propose to include any of its
provisions in the new test procedure.
The Northwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance (NEEA) agreed with DOE’s
determination that IEC Standard 62301
is an appropriate reference standard and
that IEC Standard 62087 is not relevant
to this rulemaking. (NEEA, No. 12 at
p. 2).
DOE proposed in the September 2010
NOPR to incorporate by reference into
this test procedure all applicable
provisions from Sections 4 and 5 of IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition).
Specifically, DOE proposed to
incorporate, from section 4, (‘‘General
conditions for measurements’’),
paragraph 4.2, ‘‘Test room;’’ paragraph
4.4, ‘‘Supply voltage waveform;’’
paragraph 4.5, ‘‘Power measurement
accuracy;’’ and from section 5,
(‘‘Measurements’’), paragraph 5.1,
‘‘General,’’ Note 1; and paragraph 5.3,
‘‘Procedure.’’ 75 FR 57556, 57560 (Sept.
21, 2010). These clauses provide test
conditions and test procedures for
measuring average standby mode and
average off mode power consumption.
With respect to test conditions, section
4 of IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition)
provides specifications for the test room
conditions, supply voltage waveform,
and power measurement meter
tolerances to ensure repeatable and
precise measurements of standby mode
and off mode power consumption. With
respect to test procedures, section 5 of
IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition)
provides methods for measuring power
consumption when the power
measurement is stable and when it is
unstable.
DOE also proposed in the September
2010 NOPR to adopt certain provisions
from the IEC Standard 62301 Committee
Draft for Vote (CDV) version (an earlier
draft version of the IEC 62301 revision),
as well as the Final Draft International
Standard (FDIS) version (the draft
version developed just prior to the
issuance of the Second Edition).
Specifically, DOE proposed to adopt the
30-minute stabilization and 10-minute
measurement periods as described in
the CDV version and the mode
definitions for active, standby and off
mode as described in the FDIS version.
DOE noted in the September 2010
NOPR and at the October 2010 public
meeting that the IEC was developing an
updated version of IEC Standard 62301
(the Second Edition), and interested
parties commented on the appropriate
version to use for the measurement of
standby mode and off mode energy use.
Comments made at the public meeting
were predicated upon IEC Standard
62301 Final Draft International Standard
(FDIS) being the most current (draft)
version of the updated standard.
Alliance Laundry Systems (ALS); NEEA;
Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool); the
Association of Home Appliance
Manufacturers (AHAM); BSH Home
Appliances Corporation (BSH); and the
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E), Southern California Gas
Company (SCG), San Diego Gas and
Electric (SDG&E), and Southern
California Edison (SCE) (collectively,
the ‘‘California Utilities’’) commented
that DOE should reference the most
current available draft of the Second
Edition at the time, IEC Standard 62301
(FDIS). (ALS, No. 10 at p. 1; NEEA, No.
12 at p. 2; Whirlpool, No. 13 at pp. 1–
2; AHAM, No. 14 at pp. 2–3; AHAM,
Public Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at pp.
21–22; BSH, No. 17 at p. 3; California
Utilities, No. 18 at p. 1) Whirlpool
commented that the use of IEC Standard
62301 (FDIS) would support
international harmonization and reduce
manufacturer test burden. (Whirlpool,
No. 13 at pp. 1–2) AHAM stated that
combining mode definitions based on
IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS) with the test
methods from IEC Standard 62301 (First
Edition) could be confusing to
manufacturers, and ignores the intent of
IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS). AHAM and
Whirlpool further commented that DOE
should not choose to reference only
certain sections of IEC Standard 62301,
and that the document is meant to be
used in its entirety. (AHAM, No. 14 at
p. 3; Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3) BSH
agreed with DOE’s proposal to use IEC
Standard 62301 as the basis for the
standby and lower power mode
definitions, and noted that the most
recent version of the standard (i.e., IEC
Standard 62301 (FDIS)) should be
considered. (BSH, No. 17 at p. 2)
AHAM also submitted a comment
supporting the incorporation by
reference of the Second Edition in
response to a Request for Information
(RFI) issued by DOE to implement
Executive Order 13563, ‘‘Improving
Regulation and Regulatory Review. (76
FR 6123, Feb. 3, 2011; AHAM, 4) 5 DOE
considered this comment in today’s
SNOPR and, as stated below, is
proposing to incorporate by reference
relevant portions of the Second Edition.
IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
was issued on January 27, 2011 and is
now the most current version of IEC
Standard 62301. DOE has reviewed the
FDIS and Second Edition versions of
IEC Standard 62301, and notes that the
provisions of the Second Edition are
identical in substance to those of the
FDIS version. Therefore, DOE interprets
comments on IEC Standard 62301
(FDIS) to be equally applicable to IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition).
DOE notes that IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) is an internationally
accepted test procedure for measuring
standby power in residential appliances,
and that this version provides
clarification to certain sections as
compared to the First Edition, as
discussed in the following paragraphs.
Section 4, paragraph 4.4 of the Second
Edition revises the power measurement
accuracy provisions of the First Edition.
A more comprehensive specification of
required accuracy is provided in the
Second Edition that depends upon the
characteristics of the power being
measured. Testers using the Second
Edition are required to measure the crest
factor and power factor of the input
power, and calculate a maximum
current ratio (MCR). The Second Edition
then specifies calculations to determine
permitted uncertainty in MCR. DOE
notes, however, that the allowable
uncertainty is the same or less stringent
than the allowable uncertainty specified
in the First Edition, depending on the
value of MCR and the power level being
measured (see Table III.1 for example),
so that sufficient accuracy of
measurements is achieved under a full
range of possible measured power levels
without placing undue demands on the
instrumentation. These power
measurement accuracy requirements
were based upon detailed technical
submissions to the IEC in the
development of IEC Standard 62301
(FDIS), which showed that commonly
used power measurement instruments
were unable to meet the original
requirements for certain types of loads.
Therefore, the test burden associated
with the additional measurements and
calculations is offset by the more
reasonable requirements for testing
equipment, while maintaining
acceptable measurement accuracy. For
these reasons, DOE proposes in today’s
supplemental notice to incorporate by
5 All comments on the RFI are available at
https://www.gc.energy.gov/1705.htm.
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reference the power equipment
specifications in section 4, paragraph
4.4 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second
Edition).
TABLE III.1—COMPARISON OF ALLOWABLE UNCERTAINTY IN MEASURED POWER
Allowable uncertainty (W)
Measured power (W)
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5.0
2.0
1.0
0.5
0.2
IEC 62301 (first
edition)
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
Additionally, IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) adds certain
clarifications to the installation and
setup procedures in section 5, paragraph
5.2 of the First Edition. The First
Edition required that the product be
installed in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, except if
those instructions conflict with the
standby testing, and that if no
instructions are given, the factory or
default settings shall be used. IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition) added
provisions regarding products equipped
with battery recharging circuits, as well
as instructions for testing each relevant
configuration option identified in the
product’s instructions for use.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed that the clothes washer be
installed according to the
manufacturer’s instructions, but did not
propose additional provisions to require
the use of default settings for testing
standby energy consumption because it
did not have information regarding the
likelihood that consumers will alter the
default display settings. DOE requested
comment on the suitability of using the
manufacturer’s default settings in
testing standby energy consumption. 75
FR 57556, 57563 (Sept. 21, 2010).
AHAM, ALS, NEEA, and Whirlpool
commented that standby energy
consumption should be measured at the
manufacturer default settings. ALS and
AHAM further stated that if no factory
default setting is indicated, the clothes
washer should be tested with the
settings as shipped from the
manufacturer. AHAM stated that this
approach would yield repeatable,
reproducible results among test
laboratories. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 1;
AHAM, No. 14 at pp. 5–6; NEEA, No.
12 at p. 6; Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3)
DOE agrees with commenters that
testing a clothes washer for standby
mode energy use (and, by extension, the
combined low-power mode energy use)
at the default setting, or as shipped, if
a default setting is not indicated, would
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ensure consistency of results test-to-test
and among test laboratories. Therefore,
DOE is proposing in today’s SNOPR to
incorporate by reference, with
qualification as discussed below, the
installation instructions in section 5,
paragraph 5.2 of IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition). DOE is not aware of
any clothes washers with a battery
recharging circuit.
Section 5, paragraph 5.2 of IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition) also
states that, where instructions for use
provide configuration options, each
relevant option should be separately
tested. DOE believes that this
requirement to separately test each
configuration option could substantially
increase test burden and potentially
conflicts with the requirement within
the same section to set up the product
in accordance with the instructions for
use or, if no such instructions are
available, to use the factory or default
settings. Therefore, DOE tentatively
concludes that the portions of the
installation instructions in section 5,
paragraph 5.2 of IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) pertaining to batteries
and the determination, classification,
and testing of relevant modes are not
appropriate for the clothes washer test
procedure. Accordingly, DOE is
proposing qualifying language in the
test procedure amendments in today’s
SNOPR to disregard those portions of
the installation instructions.
The Second Edition also contains
provisions for the power supply (section
4.3) and power-measuring instruments
(section 4.4). Paragraph 4.3.2 requires
that the value of the harmonic content
of the voltage supply be recorded during
the test and reported. As described
previously, Paragraph 4.4.1 requires the
instrument to measure the crest factor
and maximum current ratio. Paragraph
4.4.3 requires the instrument to be
capable of measuring the average power
or integrated total energy consumption
over any operated-selected time
interval. DOE is aware of commercially
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MCR = 15
0.1
0.04
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.14
0.056
0.028
0.02
0.02
available power measurement
instruments that can perform each of
these required measurements
individually. However, DOE is aware
that certain industry-standard
instruments, such as the Yokogawa
WT210/WT230 digital power meter and
possibly others, are unable to measure
harmonic content or crest factor while
measuring average power or total
integrated energy consumption. DOE is
concerned that laboratories currently
using power-measuring instruments
without this capability would be
required to purchase, at potentially
significant expense, additional powermeasuring instruments that are able to
perform all these measurements
simultaneously. Therefore, DOE
proposes that it would be acceptable to
measure the total harmonic content,
crest factor, and maximum current ratio
before and after the actual test
measurement if the power measuring
instrument is unable to perform these
measurements during the actual test
measurement. DOE requests comment
on whether this represents an
acceptable interpretation of the power
measurement requirements of the
Second Edition.
The other changes in the Second
Edition that relate to the measurement
of standby mode and off mode power
consumption involve the measurement
techniques and specification of the
stability criteria required to measure
that power. The Second Edition
contains more detailed techniques to
evaluate the stability of the power
consumption and to measure the power
consumption for loads with different
stability characteristics. The user is
given a choice of measurement
procedures, including sampling
methods, average reading methods, and
a direct meter reading method. DOE
evaluated these new methods in terms
of test burden and improvement in
results as compared to those methods
proposed in the September 2010 NOPR,
which were based on IEC Standard
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62301 (First Edition), and also to
identify the most consistent and
repeatable method for use in the DOE
clothes washer test procedure.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed to require measurement of
standby mode and off mode power
using section 5, paragraph 5.3 of IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition), clarified
by requiring the product to stabilize for
at least 30 minutes and using an energy
use measurement period of not less than
10 minutes for cycle finished mode,
inactive mode, and off mode. 75 FR
57556, 57562–63 (Sept. 21, 2010). For
delay start mode, the September 2010
NOPR proposed to require the delay
start time to be set to 5 hours, allowing
at least a 5-minute stabilization period
followed by a 60-minute measurement
period. Id. at p. 57563. Further, for any
clothes washer in which the power
varies over a cycle, as described in
section 5, paragraph 5.3.2 of the First
Edition, the September 2010 NOPR
proposed to require the use of the
average power approach in section 5,
paragraph 5.3.2(a). Id.
For today’s supplemental notice, DOE
compared the provisions of each edition
under different scenarios of power
consumption stability to determine the
potential impacts of referencing the
methodology from IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) rather than from the
First Edition. Based on this analysis,
DOE is proposing in today’s SNOPR that
the power measurement be made using
a sampling method described in IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition).
Because, for the reasons discussed in
section III.B.2, DOE is not proposing to
require separate measurement of power
consumption in cycle finished mode
and delay start mode, the analysis
presented in the following sections is
limited to measurements made in
inactive mode and off mode.
a. Stable Power Consumption
According to section 5, paragraph
5.3.1 of IEC Standard 62301 (First
Edition), power consumption is defined
as stable if it varies by less than 5
percent over 5 minutes. In such a case,
a direct reading may be made at the end
of the measurement period. With the
proposed clarifications in the September
2010 NOPR, the total test time for
inactive mode or off mode would be a
minimum of 40 minutes (comprised of
a minimum 30-minute stabilization
period, followed by a minimum 10minute period during which the
stability criterion could be evaluated
and a direct power reading taken).
Alternatively, the tester may select an
average power or accumulated energy
approach, again with a minimum 30-
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minute stabilization period and a
minimum 10-minute measurement
period. The average power approach
would simply require a different reading
to be taken from the instrument (true
average power instead of a direct
reading of instantaneous power), while
the accumulated energy approach
would require the calculation of power
by dividing accumulated energy by the
duration of the measurement period.
In comparison, section 5, paragraph
5.3.2 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second
Edition) identifies a sampling method as
the preferred means for all power
consumption measurements and the
fastest test method when the power is
stable. For any non-cyclic power
consumption, power readings are
initially recorded over a period of at
least 15 minutes after energizing the
product. Data from the first third of the
measurement period are discarded, and
stability is evaluated by a linear
regression through all power readings in
the second two-thirds of the data. If the
slope of the linear regression is less than
10 milliwatts per hour (mW/h) for input
power less than or equal to 1.0 W, or
less than 1 percent of the input power
per hour for input power greater than
1.0 W, the power consumption is
calculated as the average of the power
readings during the second two-thirds of
the measurement period. If the slope of
the linear regression does not meet these
stability criteria, the total period is
continuously extended until the
stability criteria are met for the second
two-thirds of the data. In some cases,
this is a more stringent requirement
than the stability criteria of IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition). The lack
of a definitive test period means that the
test duration could extend past 15
minutes for certain products—up to 3
hours is allowed in the Second
Edition—and could introduce added
test burden as compared to the First
Edition. In addition, performing the
continuous linear regression analysis
required by the Second Edition would
require the use of data-acquisition
software with the capability of
performing real-time statistical analysis,
whereas the First Edition requires only
simple data logging capabilities. DOE
requests comment on the potential test
burden for a laboratory that would be
required to upgrade its data acquisition
system to enable real-time statistical
analysis capabilities.
IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
additionally provides an alternative
measurement method which may be
used when the power consumption is
stable. Section 5, paragraph 5.3.4 of IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
specifies a direct reading method in
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which a minimum 30-minute
stabilization period must be observed,
followed by a first power measurement.
After an additional period of 10
minutes, a second power measurement
is taken. If the average of the two
measurements divided by the time
interval between them meets certain
threshold criteria, then the power
consumption is considered to be the
average of the two power measurements.
Thus, the total test period would still be
a minimum of 40 minutes. DOE agrees
that this method likely improves the
validity of the test results as compared
to the First Edition, since it is a more
stringent measure of the stability of the
power consumption over a longer
period of time than the First Edition
requires. However, if the threshold
criteria are not met at the end of the test,
a different measurement method must
be used. Further, the Second Edition
specifies that the direct reading method
shall not be used for verification
purposes. Both of these qualifications
potentially increase test burden as
compared to the First Edition, possibly
requiring the tester to conduct the more
complex methodology of the methods
available under the Second Edition.
b. Unstable, Non-Cyclic Power
Consumption
Section 5, paragraph 5.3.2 from IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition), which
DOE proposed in the September 2010
NOPR to incorporate by reference with
clarification, specifies that either the
average power method or accumulated
energy approach could be used for
measuring unstable, non-cyclic power
consumption (described in the Second
Edition as non-cyclic and ‘‘varying’’
power consumption). As described
previously, the clarifications proposed
in the September 2010 NOPR would
limit total test duration to 40 minutes
for inactive mode and off mode.
In contrast, paragraph 5.3 of the
Second Edition requires the use of
either a sampling method or average
reading method for measuring unstable,
non-cyclic power consumption in
standby mode or off mode. As noted
previously, DOE is proposing to require
the use of the sampling method, based
on the following analysis.
The sampling method in paragraph
5.3.2 is the same as described
previously, but the measurement period
must be at least 60 minutes, and the
cumulative average of all data points
recorded during the second two-thirds
of the total period must fall within a
band of ± 0.2 percent. The test
procedure does not provide an upper
time limit for testing, possibly resulting
in significantly increased measurement
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time if the cumulative average criteria
cannot be achieved after 60 minutes.
The average reading method in
section 5, paragraph 5.3.3 in IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
describes both an average power method
and accumulated energy method, either
of which may be selected for unstable,
non-cyclic power. For both types of the
average reading method, a 30-minute
stabilization period is specified,
followed by two comparison
measurement periods of not less than 10
minutes each. The average power
values, which are either measured
directly or calculated from accumulated
energy during each period, are
compared to determine whether they
agree to within certain threshold
criteria. If the threshold is not achieved,
the comparison periods are each
extended in approximately equal
increments until the threshold is met. If
agreement is not achieved after reaching
30 minutes for each comparison period,
the sampling method must then be used.
Therefore, the minimum test period is
50 minutes, but may extend up to 90
minutes, at which time an additional
test may be required.
DOE believes that the stability criteria
in either method improves the accuracy
and representativeness of the
measurement as compared to the First
Edition, but would cause the required
test time to increase, with a
corresponding increase in manufacturer
burden due to the additional time and
complexity of the test conduct.
Additionally, DOE believes that
manufacturers could face the risk of
significant additional test burden if the
average reading method is initially
chosen but the power measurements do
not meet the threshold criteria with the
allowable 90-minute maximum test
time, requiring a subsequent test using
the sampling method.
c. Cyclic Power Consumption
As noted previously, DOE proposed
in the September 2010 NOPR to use the
average power approach of section 5,
paragraph 5.3.2(a) in IEC Standard
62301 (First Edition), with a minimum
30-minute stabilization period and 10minute measurement period. The First
Edition also requires that at least one or
more complete cycles be measured.
In the Second Edition, cyclic power
must be measured according to the
sampling method in section 5,
paragraph 5.3.2, but this method
requires a measurement period of at
least four complete cycles (for a total of
at least 40 minutes) divided into two
comparison periods, with stability
criteria evaluated by calculating the
difference in average power measured in
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each comparison period divided by the
time difference of the mid-point of each
comparison period. This ‘‘slope’’ must
be less than 10 mW/h for input powers
less than or equal to 1 W, and less than
1 percent of the input power per hour
for input powers greater than 1 W. If the
appropriate stability criterion is not met,
additional cycles are added to each
comparison period until the criterion is
achieved. Once stability has been
reached, the power consumption is
calculated as the average of all readings
from both comparison periods. DOE
believes that this methodology produces
an improved measurement over the
methodology from the First Edition, but
the test duration could be extended,
again potentially introducing issues of
test burden.
Conclusions on Incorporation of IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
In evaluating IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) and comparing it to
the First Edition, DOE recognizes the
considerable body of comments on and
input to the provisions and
methodology that IEC developed as part
of its latest revision process. DOE
recognizes that, in some cases, test
burden and complexity would be
increased by requiring the use of the
power supply, power measuring
equipment, and test methods specified
in the Second Edition. However, DOE
believes that in most cases for
residential clothes washers this added
burden on manufacturers is outweighed
by the improved accuracy and
representativeness of the resulting
power consumption measurement.
Furthermore, manufacturers supported
DOE’s use of the Second Edition.
Therefore, DOE concludes provisionally
that the application of the provisions of
the Second Edition to all power
measurements in standby mode and off
mode for clothes washers would be an
improvement over the First Edition and
would not be unduly burdensome to
conduct. Therefore, DOE is proposing
incorporation by reference of the
relevant paragraphs of section 4 and
section 5 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second
Edition) in the clothes washer test
procedure.
To this end, DOE is also proposing to
amend the reference in 10 CFR 430.3 to
add a reference to IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition). DOE is not proposing
to replace the reference to the First
Edition in 10 CFR 430.3 because several
test procedures for other covered
products not addressed in today’s
SNOPR incorporate provisions from it.
There are also certain section
numbering differences between the First
Edition and Second Edition of IEC
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Standard 62301 that impact the text of
the measurement provisions proposed
for the clothes washer test procedure in
appendix J2. DOE further notes that the
mode definitions that were proposed in
the September 2010 NOPR would not be
affected by the reference to IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
because the definitions were based on
IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS), which is
identical in substance to the Second
Edition.
Further, DOE observes that although
the Second Edition allows the choice of
multiple test methods for both stable
and unstable non-cyclic power
consumption, the sampling method
provides for a test duration that is
approximately the same or shorter than
the allowable alternative methods and
does not require classification of the
nature of the power consumption (e.g.,
stable or unstable, non-cyclic) in
advance of the test. The average reading
method in the Second Edition allows
the use of either the average power
method or accumulated energy method,
at the discretion of the test laboratory,
which could result in inconsistent test
results among different test laboratories.
Furthermore, for cyclic power
consumption, the Second Edition
requires the use of the sampling
method. For these reasons, DOE
proposes in today’s SNOPR to specify
the use of the sampling method in IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
section 5.3.2 for all measures of standby
mode and off mode power consumption.
2. Calculation of Energy Use in LowPower Modes
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed two possible approaches for
measuring energy consumption in
modes other than active washing mode;
i.e., inactive (standby) mode, off mode,
delay start mode, and cycle finished
mode 6 (hereafter, collectively referred
to as low-power modes).
For the first approach, DOE proposed
allocating 295 hours per year to the
active washing mode, 16 hours to selfclean mode (if applicable), 25 hours per
year to delay start mode (if applicable),
15 hours per year to cycle finished
mode (if applicable), and the remainder
to off and/or inactive mode. 75 FR
57556, 57564–65 (Sept. 21, 2010). Using
this approach, the energy use per cycle
associated with inactive, off, delay start,
and cycle finished modes would be
calculated by (1) Calculating the
product of wattage and allocated hours
for all possible inactive, off, delay start
and cycle finished modes; (2) summing
6 Delay start and cycle finished modes are
considered part of the active mode.
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the results; (3) dividing the sum by
1,000 to convert from Wh to kWh; and
(4) dividing by the proposed 295 use
cycles per year.
For the second ‘‘alternate approach,’’
DOE proposed measuring power
consumption for only off and inactive
modes for the purpose of calculating the
total energy consumed in all low-power
modes. Using this approach, separate
measurements of delay start and cycle
finished mode energy consumption
would not be required; instead, all the
hours not associated with active
washing mode or self-clean mode (8,465
hours total) would be allocated to the
inactive and off modes. DOE noted that
delay start and cycle finished modes
represent a relatively small number of
hours at low power consumption levels.
For clothes washers currently on the
market, these levels are comparable to
those for off/inactive modes. Id.
In evaluating the best approach for
measuring energy use in low-power
modes, DOE considered comments from
interested parties regarding the
allocation of hours to modes other than
active washing mode. A number of these
comments related to the estimates DOE
provided of the number of hours
associated with each low-power mode.
NEEA objected to DOE’s proposed
allocation of the time spent in cycle
finished mode, based on an estimate of
3 minutes per cycle. NEEA stated that
DOE relied on anecdotal data from
Australia to determine its estimates.
NEEA also noted that DOE was aware of
units capable of operating up to 10
hours in cycle finished mode, but had
no field data to support an assumption
about what fraction of the 10 hours were
used, nor any data that would allow an
estimate of the typical cycle finished
mode duration. NEEA recommended
that DOE acquire data to provide a
statistically valid basis for assumptions
about the duration of cycle finished
mode. NEEA further commented that
there is no reason to exclude the
measurement of the energy use of fans
and motors in the cycle finished mode,
or to arbitrarily curtail the time period
for their measurement. (NEEA, No. 12 at
pp. 3, 7; NEEA, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 75–76)
NEEA also commented that recent
field measurements conducted for the
California Public Utility Commission
(CPUC) indicate that inactive mode
energy use can be significant, equivalent
to the energy consumption of an
additional wash load per week (not
including hot water energy
consumption). (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 3)
NEEA stated that DOE’s estimates for
the time spent in the inactive mode call
into question the need for the specified
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accuracy in measuring the power use in
the inactive mode. (NEEA, No. 12 at p.
7)
The California Utilities commented
that DOE should increase the length of
time allocated to cycle finished mode in
the test procedure calculations. The
California Utilities further noted that the
Australian study on which DOE relied
for other estimates in the proposed test
procedure showed that 20 percent of the
total use time not allocated to active
washing or delay start mode would be
associated with the cycle finished mode.
Additionally, the California Utilities
noted that DOE’s estimates were based
on internal testing, although it is not
clear if the proposed cycle finished
mode duration was based on all
machines tested, or only those having a
cycle finished mode, and requested
either a clarification or correction to this
calculation. The California Utilities
stated that it also was not clear whether
DOE’s test sample included machines
providing periodic air flow or tumbling
in the cycle finished mode, or if it only
tested machines with an extended
display operation. The California
Utilities recommended that DOE test
machines with these additional features
to determine their typical cycle finished
mode duration, which for some
machines may be hours after completion
of the wash cycle. (California Utilities,
No. 18 at pp. 2–3)
ALS did not agree that cycle finished
mode energy consumption should be
accounted for separately from the active
washing mode. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 1)
Whirlpool commented that DOE should
not measure or include in the test
procedure cycle finished energy
consumed by air movement fans or by
periodic tumbling, as these are very
limited application features where the
measurement burden would
substantially outweigh the value of the
energy measurement. (Whirlpool, No. 13
at p. 2) Whirlpool commented further
that the significant test burden
associated with measuring cycle
finished mode results in virtually no
consumer benefit, and these values
should be dropped from the test
procedure’s calculations. (Whirlpool,
No. 13 at p. 4)
AHAM also commented in response
to the RFI issued by DOE to implement
Executive Order 13563, ‘‘Improving
Regulation and Regulatory Review,
opposing any test procedure
requirement to measure separately the
energy use of delay start and cycle
finished modes. AHAM stated that the
additional burden that would be
required to measure a de minimis
amount of energy would not be justified.
(76 FR 6123, Feb. 3, 2011; AHAM, 5–6)
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DOE also received multiple comments
from interested parties regarding the
proposed ‘‘alternate approach,’’ which
would allocate all the hours not
associated with active washing mode to
the inactive and off modes.
ALS, AHAM, and BSH support the
alternative calculation proposed in the
September 2010 NOPR. (ALS, No. 10 at
p. 2; AHAM, No. 14 at p. 8; AHAM,
Public Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at pp.
87–88; BSH, No. 17 at p. 3) ALS and
AHAM generally oppose the proposed
method of separately allocating annual
hours to delay start mode, cycle finished
mode, and self-clean mode because they
believe that DOE does not have reliable
consumer use data for these modes. In
addition, as stated above, ALS and
AHAM stated that these modes
represent insignificant energy
consumption to justify measuring them
separately. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 2; AHAM,
No. 14 at p. 7; AHAM, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 55–56, 73, 93)
Whirlpool also commented that the test
procedure should not include delay
start mode, cycle finished mode, or off
mode because these modes represent
insignificant energy consumption.
(Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 4).
NEEA opposed the proposed
alternative calculation method, stating
that it would be inappropriate to ignore
the delay start and cycle finished modes
with almost no data on the actual
duration and energy use for these
modes. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 8) NEEA
believes that the energy use in delay
start mode and cycle finished mode is
not insignificant, and should be
included in the energy use calculations.
According to NEEA, manufacturers
would have no incentive to minimize
energy used in these modes if they were
not included in the calculations. (NEEA,
No. 12 at p. 8) NEEA further commented
that the proposed calculation method
for measuring each mode is sound, but
could be simplified if the calculation
simply involved active mode, with
delay start mode and cycle finished
mode folded in, and inactive mode, as
measured for each model tested. (NEEA,
No. 12 at p. 7) NEEA did, however,
comment that it might support the
alternative approach if the active wash
mode is defined for each machine to
include any cycle finished mode,
including machines with cycle finished
modes with intermittent tumbling that
can last as long as 10 hours. (NEEA,
Public Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at p.
88)
The Appliance Standards Awareness
Project (ASAP), American Council for
an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE),
and NRDC (hereafter referred to as the
‘‘Joint Comment’’) expressed support for
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NEEA’s proposal to fold delay start and
cycle finished modes into a single
energy test cycle that would also
include the active wash cycle. The Joint
Comment stated that this approach
would seem to simplify the test, and it
would ensure that any energy and/or
water consumption that occurs after the
final spin, such as the addition of steam,
would be captured by the test
procedure. (Joint Comment, No. 16 at p.
4)
DOE acknowledges that certain
clothes washers provide optional
tumbling or air circulation features in
cycle finished mode. As noted in the
September 2010 NOPR, the number of
residential clothes washers equipped
with a periodic tumbling or air
circulation feature during cycle finished
mode represents less than 10 percent of
the models produced by manufacturers
comprising over 90 percent of the
market. 75 FR 57556, 57561 (Sept. 21,
2010). In addition, review of product
literature for the clothes washers
equipped with such features shows that
these functions are typically consumerselected options.
To further support the proposal in
today’s SNOPR, DOE performed
additional laboratory testing to quantify
the energy consumption in cycle
finished mode. DOE tested the
residential clothes washer model that it
identified as having the longest-duration
and most energy-intensive cycle
finished feature on the market. This
clothes washer includes a userselectable option that provides periodic
tumbling and air circulation for up to 10
hours following the completion of the
wash cycle. For the duration of this
cycle finished mode, the cycle finished
indicator on the control panel remains
activated, the door remains locked, and
an additional feature indicator light on
the control panel flashes.
DOE measured the energy
consumption of this cycle finished
feature for the maximum possible 10
hour duration, using the warm wash/
cold rinse energy test cycle and the
average test load size as indicated by
Table 5.1 in appendix J1, extended
linearly as discussed in section III.B.7.a.
These test parameters were chosen
because they correspond to the highest
usage factors according to the appendix
J1 test procedure. DOE also measured
the clothes washer’s standby energy
consumption. Figure III.1 shows the
power consumption in W during the
active washing mode followed by the
first 45 minutes of cycle-finished mode.
The shaded portion of the figure
indicates cycle finished mode.
Table III.2 shows the cycle finished
mode energy consumption for the test
clothes washer along with the other
factors that the proposed Integrated
Modified Energy Factor (IMEF) metric
incorporates: (1) Machine electrical
energy use in active washing mode, (2)
hot water energy use in active washing
mode, (3) energy associated with
moisture removal (i.e., drying energy),
and (4) standby (inactive) mode energy
use.
Per-cycle energy consumption
contributors
(kWh/cycle)
Mode
Standby mode
only
Active washing mode—Machine electrical energy ......................................................................................
Active washing mode—Hot water energy ...................................................................................................
Active washing mode—Drying energy ........................................................................................................
Standby mode (23 hours) ............................................................................................................................
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TABLE III.2—EXAMPLE COMPARISON OF TOTAL PER-CYCLE ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITH AND WITHOUT CYCLE FINISHED
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49247
TABLE III.2—EXAMPLE COMPARISON OF TOTAL PER-CYCLE ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITH AND WITHOUT CYCLE FINISHED
MODE—Continued
Per-cycle energy consumption
contributors
(kWh/cycle)
Mode
Standby mode
only
Cycle finished mode (10 hours) ..................................................................................................................
Standby mode (13 hours) ............................................................................................................................
Total per-cycle energy consumption (kWh) .................................................................................................
IMEF (ft3/kWh/cycle) ....................................................................................................................................
total per-cycle energy consumption for
both scenarios.
The cycle finished feature of this
clothes washer consumes 0.08 kWh over
the maximum 10-hour duration. After
accounting for the 10 fewer hours in
inactive mode, the cycle finished feature
with intermittent tumbling and air
circulation would add a net 0.06 kWh
to the total per-cycle energy
consumption of this clothes washer, an
increase of 3.0 percent. If consumers
were to select this feature for all wash
cycles, IMEF would decrease by 3.0
percent.
DOE recognizes that the 3.0 percent
decrease in IMEF represents a worstcase scenario. A 3-percent increase in
annual energy consumption would
occur only if a consumer activated this
feature on 100 percent of laundry cycles
and if the cycle-finished activity
persisted for the full 10 hours after
every cycle. While DOE lacks consumer
usage data of this cycle finished feature,
DOE believes it is reasonable that
consumers would activate this feature
less than 100 percent of the time, and
that, on average, the cycle finished
activity would persist for less than the
full 10 hours. For illustrative purposes,
if a consumer selected the cycle finished
option on 50 percent of all wash cycles,
and, on average, the cycle finished
activity persisted for 50 percent of the
maximum allowable time (i.e., for 5
hours), total annual energy consumption
would increase by only 0.75 percent.
Based on the results of the data
presented here, DOE believes that
including a specific measurement of
energy use of a cycle finished feature
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0.04
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that incorporates intermittent tumbling
and air circulation would not
significantly impact the total annual
energy consumption. Furthermore,
measuring the energy use over the entire
duration of cycle finished mode would
increase the test duration by up to 10
hours, depending on the maximum
duration of cycle finished mode
provided on the clothes washer under
test. DOE believes this would represent
a significant increase in test burden that
would not be warranted by the minimal
additional energy use captured by
measuring cycle finished mode
separately or as part of the active
washing mode.
Therefore, in consideration of the data
and estimates previously presented in
the September 2010 NOPR, the
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Figure III.2 shows the relative
magnitude of each of the contributors to
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Cycle-finished
mode included
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additional energy consumption
estimates presented in this SNOPR, the
uncertainty regarding consumer usage
patterns, and the additional test burden
required, DOE is not proposing to adopt
provisions to measure cycle finished
mode separately or as part of the active
washing mode. In the absence of a
compelling reason to treat cycle finished
mode separately, DOE believes that its
assumption set forth in the September
2010 NOPR that the power consumption
in each low-power mode is similar
remains valid, and that in such a case,
measuring power consumption of each
mode separately would introduce
significant test burden without a
corresponding improvement in a
representative measure of annual energy
use. Therefore, DOE is proposing in
today’s SNOPR to adopt the ‘‘alternate
approach’’ for measuring total energy
consumption, in which all low-power
mode hours are allocated to the inactive
and off modes, and the low-power mode
power consumption is measured only in
the inactive and off modes, depending
on which of these modes is present.
3. Energy Test Cycle Definition
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The energy test cycle is the cycle
currently used in determining the
modified energy factor (MEF) and water
factor (WF) for a clothes washer, and
proposed to be used for determining
integrated modified energy factor
(IMEF) and integrated water
consumption factor (IWF). The energy
test cycle is defined in section 1.7 of the
current clothes washer test procedure
based on (A) The cycle recommended
by the manufacturer for washing cotton
or linen clothes, which includes all
wash/rinse temperature selections and
water levels offered in that cycle; and
(B) other cycles that may include other
temperature or water level options if
they contribute to an accurate
representation of energy consumption.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed to amend part (B) of the
energy test cycle definition to provide
clarity in determining whether to test
temperature options available only on
cycle settings other than that defined in
part (A) of the definition. Specifically,
DOE proposed modifying part (B) as
follows:
‘‘* * * (B) if the cycle described in (A)
does not include all wash/rinse temperature
settings available on the clothes washer and
required for testing as described in this test
procedure, the energy test cycle shall also
include the portions of a cycle setting
offering these wash/rinse temperature
settings with agitation/tumble operation, spin
speed(s), wash times, and rinse times that are
largely comparable to those for the cycle
recommended by the manufacturer for
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washing cotton or linen clothes. Any cycle
under (A) or (B) shall include the default
agitation/tumble operation, soil level, spin
speed(s), wash times, and rinse times
applicable to that cycle, including water
heating time for water heating clothes
washers.’’ 75 FR 57556, 57575–76 (Sept. 21,
2010).
In testing conducted since the
September 2010 NOPR, DOE has
observed that some clothes washers
retain in memory the most recent
options selected for a cycle setting the
next time that cycle is run. To ensure
repeatability of test results, particularly
for cycles under part (B) of the energy
test cycle definition, DOE proposes in
today’s SNOPR to further clarify that the
manufacturer default conditions for
each cycle setting shall be used, except
for the temperature selection, if
necessary. For example, if the extra hot
temperature selection was only
available on the ‘‘whites’’ cycle, the
manufacturer would use the whites
cycle to test that temperature setting.
Because the default temperature setting
for the whites cycle may be warm or
hot, however, the manufacturer would
have to manually adjust the temperature
to get to extra hot. For certification
testing in such cases, the manufacturer
would use the default settings on the
whites cycle for all options except the
temperature setting, which would be
manually adjusted to achieve the
desired temperature.
In addition, DOE proposes to delete
‘‘and required for testing as described in
this test procedure’’ from part (B) as
redundant and unnecessary.
AHAM commented that DOE’s
proposal in the September 2010 NOPR
to amend Part B of the energy test cycle
definition was vague, undefined, and
included a significant amount of
variability. AHAM noted that variability
in a test procedure has substantial
consequences for manufacturers, and
that the test procedure must be clear
and be uniformly understood to avoid
serious consequences in variations in
testing across laboratories or
technicians. (AHAM, No. 14 at p. 15)
DOE believes that the proposed
modification to part (B) provides
additional specificity on the wash cycle
settings (i.e., agitation/tumble operation,
spin speed(s), wash times, and rinse
times) that, if comparable to those for
the cycle recommended by the
manufacturer for washing cotton or
linen clothes, must be considered under
part (B) of the energy test cycle
definition.
4. Load Adjustment Factor
The clothes washer test procedure
relies on use factors to weight different
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consumer behaviors in the overall
energy and water consumption
calculations. The factors are based on
consumer use data and represent the
fraction of all cycles that are run with
certain settings or characteristics. The
Load Adjustment Factor (LAF)
represents the ratio of maximum load
size to average load size. This ratio is
used in the calculation of the energy
required to remove moisture from the
test load (i.e., drying energy). The RMC
value used in this calculation is based
only on tests using the maximum test
load—the LAF is used to scale this
value down to the average load size. In
the September 2010 NOPR, DOE noted
that it lacked information warranting
adjusting this value or changing it from
a fixed value to one that varies as a
function of average load size, and
therefore did not propose to amend the
LAF in the test procedure. 75 FR 57556,
57572 (Sept. 21, 2010).
AHAM and ALS support DOE’s
proposal to retain the existing LAF in
the test procedure. (AHAM, No. 14 at
p. 13; ALS, No. 10 at p. 4) BSH, The
California Utilities, Energy Solutions
(ES), NEEA, Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), and the Joint Comment
stated that it is an inconsistency in the
test procedure to have a single LAF that
does not correlate with the load usage
factors. (BSH, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 149–150;
California Utilities, No. 18 at p. 4; ES,
Public Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at
p. 150; Joint Comment, No. 16 at pp. 5–
6; NEEA, Public Meeting Transcript, No.
20 at p. 149) ASAP commented that an
average load size value that depends on
capacity does not represent consumer
usage. (ASAP, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 151–152) ES
stated that the ratio of average load size
to maximum load size is 70–75 percent
for small clothes washers but is closer
to 50–55 percent for larger clothes
washers. (ES, Public Meeting Transcript,
No. 20 at p. 150) The California Utilities
recommended that RMC be measured by
testing with minimum, average, and
maximum test load sizes, with the
average test load size calculated as 65
percent of the maximum load size. The
California Utilities further commented
that the results from each test load size
should be weighted using the same load
usage factors as those used for the
energy test cycle. (California Utilities,
No. 18 at p. 4) NRDC stated that a single
LAF could be calculated from the three
weighting values assigned to the load
usage factors. (NRDC, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 142–145, 148–
149) NEEA and the Joint Comment
doubted that the relationship between
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tested RMC values and load size is
linear for most clothes washers.
According to the Joint Comment, the
Bern Clothes Washer Study found that
RMC decreases with increasing load size
and that this effect is more significant
for top-loaders than for front-loaders.
Due to this finding, the Joint Comment
believes that measuring RMC at a
maximum load size and assuming that
the same RMC would apply to an
‘‘average’’ load size likely
underestimates actual RMC and
therefore dryer energy consumption for
an ‘‘average’’ load size. Instead, the Joint
Comment suggested that RMC be
measured for minimum, maximum, and
average load sizes and that dryer energy
consumption be calculated for each load
size using the corresponding measured
RMC. A weighted-average dryer energy
consumption could then be calculated
using the load usage factors. The Joint
Comment stated that, although this
approach would slightly increase test
burden, it believes the increased burden
would be insignificant because tests
with the different load sizes are already
required to be run in the current test
procedure. Therefore, the Joint
Comment stated that the only addition
would be an RMC measurement for each
of the different load size test cycles
rather than just for the maximum load
test cycle. (Joint Comment, No. 16 at
pp. 7–8) NEEA also noted that there is
no average test load size for manual fill
models, but three different load sizes for
adaptive fill models. According to
NEEA, a weighted-average value for
LAF is more appropriate, but even better
would be to conduct RMC tests at
various load sizes, and use the load
usage factors to obtain weighted-average
results. (NEEA, No. 12 at pp. 12–13)
DOE notes that both the LAF and load
usage factors are intended to adjust test
results measured at discrete load sizes
to values that are representative of realworld consumer use. The LAF,
however, is also intended to capture the
dependence of RMC on load size
because the RMC test is conducted
using only the maximum load size.
As observed by the California
Utilities, data collected as part of the
Bern Clothes Washer Study suggest that
an RMC test conducted at maximum
load size would produce a different
RMC than a test conducted at the
average load size. Because the LAF must
account for two effects—the percentage
of times that users select different load
sizes and the variation of measured
RMC with load size—it would be
expected to differ somewhat from any of
the load usage factors, which capture
only the consumer load size selection
effect. For the August 1997 Final Rule,
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however, DOE obtained information
that, when averaged with data provided
by interested parties, showed that the
relationship between load size and RMC
was almost non-existent. For this
reason, DOE concluded in the August
1997 Final Rule that it was acceptable
to test RMC using only the maximum
load size. DOE does not believe that
conducting multiple RMC
measurements at different load sizes
would improve the calculation of drying
energy use. Additionally, DOE believes
that the Bern Study is inconclusive with
respect to the LAF because (1) The
relationship between RMC and load size
was not demonstrated for individual
machines, and (2) the test load
composition was not controlled.
In light of the available data
suggesting that load size does not affect
the RMC measurement, the remaining
trend that the LAF is intended to
capture is the pattern of consumer
selection of load size, which is already
incorporated in the test procedure via
the load usage factors. This suggests that
the LAF is duplicative of, yet
inconsistent with, the load usage
factors. Therefore, DOE proposes in
today’s SNOPR that, for consistency
with the rest of the test procedure, the
representative load size calculation in
the equation for drying energy should
incorporate the load usage factors rather
than a separate LAF. In the current
drying energy calculation, the
representative load size is calculated by
multiplying the fixed value of LAF by
the maximum load size. DOE proposes
that this representative load size be
replaced by a weighted-average load
size calculated by multiplying the
minimum, average, and maximum load
usage factors by the minimum, average,
and maximum load sizes, respectively,
and summing the products.
5. Wash Time Setting
The current test procedure specifies
the wash time setting to be used in the
energy test cycle. If only one wash time
is prescribed in the energy test cycle,
that wash setting is to be used;
otherwise, the wash time setting is
required to be the higher of either the
minimum wash time or 70 percent of
the maximum wash time available in
the energy test cycle. DOE has recently
become aware that, for certain clothes
washers equipped with an
electromechanical dial to control wash
time, the dial may yield different results
for the same setting depending on the
direction in which the dial is turned to
reach the desired setting. DOE believes
that consistency in setting the wash
time in such cases may be achieved by
resetting the dial to the minimum wash
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time and then turning it in the direction
of increasing wash time to reach the
desired setting. If the desired setting is
passed, the dial should not be turned in
the direction of decreasing wash time to
reach the setting. Instead, the dial
should be returned to the minimum
wash time and then turned in the
direction of increasing wash time until
the desired setting is reached. DOE,
therefore, proposes to add these
clarifications to the wash time setting
provisions in both appendix J1 and
appendix J2. DOE believes that this
clarification would not affect the energy
and water use measurements, but would
help ensure consistency when
determining compliance with energy
conservation standards. To provide
further consistency, DOE also proposes
the further clarification that the
conditions stated in the case of more
than one wash time setting—that the
wash time setting shall be the higher of
either the minimum, or 70 percent of
the maximum wash time available in
the energy test cycle—shall apply
regardless of the labeling of suggested
dial locations.
6. Annual Energy Cost
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
considered whether to amend the
estimated annual operating cost
calculation in 10 CFR 430.23 to include
the cost of energy consumed in the nonactive washing modes, but did not
propose such amendments for the
following reasons:
• DOE believed that the cost of energy
consumed in self-clean, standby, off,
delay start, and cycle finished modes is
small relative to the total annual energy
cost for clothes washers, and therefore,
would make little difference in the
estimated annual operating cost
calculation.
• The Federal Trade Commission’s
(FTC’s) EnergyGuide Label for clothes
washers uses the estimated annual
operating cost as its primary indicator of
product energy efficiency, compared to
a range of annual operating costs of
similar products. Appendix F1 to
16 CFR part 305. An estimated annual
operating cost incorporating self-clean,
standby, off, delay start, and cycle
finished mode energy use would no
longer be directly comparable to the
minimum and maximum energy costs
prescribed for the EnergyGuide label.
75 FR 57556, 57567 (Sept. 21, 2010).
ALS and AHAM supported DOE’s
proposal to maintain the existing energy
cost calculation. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 3;
AHAM, No. 14 at p. 9) AHAM and
Whirlpool commented, however, that
DOE’s proposal to exclude non-active
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washing modes from the annual energy
cost calculation is inconsistent with the
proposal to include these modes in the
IMEF calculation. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at
p.5; AHAM, No. 14 at p. 9).
NEEA disagreed with DOE’s assertion
that the cost of energy consumed in
non-active washing modes would make
little difference in the estimated annual
operating cost calculation. NEEA noted
that no publicly available data exists on
which to base such an assertion, but that
end-use data from the field suggests that
standby energy could constitute as
much as 5 to 10 percent of total clothes
washer energy use, not including drying
energy use. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 8)
EPCA requires that 180 days after the
amended test procedure is prescribed,
all representations related to the energy
use, efficiency, or cost of energy
consumed for residential clothes
washers must reflect the results of
testing according to the amended test
procedure, which will include
provisions for measuring standby and
off mode energy use. (42 U.S.C.
6293(c)(2)) Additionally, EPCA requires
that any revisions to the labels for
residential clothes washers include
disclosure of the estimated annual
operation cost (determined in
accordance with DOE’s test procedures
prescribed under section 6293 of EPCA),
unless the Secretary determines that
disclosure of annual operating cost is
not technologically feasible, or if the
FTC determines that such disclosure is
not likely to assist consumers in making
purchasing decisions or is not
economically feasible. (42 U.S.C.
6294(c)(1))
For these reasons, DOE agrees that the
annual energy cost calculations in
10 CFR 430.23 for residential clothes
washers should be amended to include
the cost of energy consumed in nonactive washing modes. Therefore, DOE
proposes to amend the clothes washer
test procedure to revise the estimated
annual operating cost calculation to
integrate energy use in standby, off and
self-clean modes. The estimated annual
operating cost would be obtained by
multiplying the 295 average number of
annual use cycles by: (1) When
electrically heated water is used: (total
per-cycle machine electrical energy
consumption + per-cycle hot water
energy consumption + per-cycle selfclean energy consumption + per-cycle
‘‘combined low-power’’ mode energy
consumption) × (the representative
average unit cost in dollars per kWh, as
provided by the Secretary); or (2) when
gas-heated or oil-heated water is used:
[(per-cycle machine electrical energy
consumption + per-cycle self-clean
machine electrical energy consumption
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+ per-cycle combined low-power mode
energy consumption) × (the
representative average unit cost in
dollars per kWh, as provided by the
Secretary)] + [(per-cycle water energy
consumption for gas-heated or oilheated water + per-cycle self-clean
water energy consumption for gasheated or oil-heated water) ×
(representative average unit cost in
dollars per Btu for oil or gas, as
appropriate, as provided by the
Secretary)]. The estimated annual
operating cost would be rounded off to
the nearest dollar per year. To provide
for the appropriate per-cycle electrical
and water heating measures used in the
annual energy cost calculation, DOE
proposes new calculations of per-cycle
self-clean electrical, hot water, and
overall energy consumption in today’s
SNOPR.
7. Additional Proposals
a. Extension of Test Load Size Table
The clothes washer test procedure at
appendix J1 specifies test load size for
the active washing mode energy tests
based on the clothes washer’s container
volume. The table specifying the test
load sizes, Table 5.1, currently covers
clothes washer container volumes up to
only 3.8 ft 3. DOE stated in the
September 2010 NOPR that it was aware
of multiple clothes washers available on
the market that have clothes container
volumes exceeding 3.8 ft,3 and proposed
to revise Table 5.1 in the amended test
procedure in appendix J2 to establish
test load size specifications for clothes
washer container volumes up to 6.0 ft 3.
The proposed extension was based on a
continuation of the linear relationship
between test load size and clothes
washer container volume in the DOE
clothes washer test procedure at
appendix J1. 75 FR 57556, 57570–71
(Sept. 21, 2010).
DOE also received petitions for waiver
from the current clothes washer test
procedure from a number of
manufacturers for clothes washers that
they produce with clothes container
volumes greater than 3.8 ft 3. DOE
granted waivers to these manufacturers,
all of which contained alternate test
procedures based on similar linear
extensions of Table 5.1.
DOE proposes to extend Table 5.1 in
appendices J1 and J2 based on the
extended version of Table 5.1 proposed
in the September 2010 NOPR for
appendix J2, with some minor
adjustments. In the September 2010
NOPR, DOE presented inconsistent
decimal places in the minimum,
average, and maximum load sizes in
Table 5.1. This subsequently affected
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the calculation of some of the average
load size values in the table. In today’s
SNOPR, DOE proposes to amend the
extension to Table 5.1 in appendices J1
and J2 by specifying each load size
value to the hundredths decimal place.
b. Correction to Cold Rinse Definition
After the publication of the September
2010 NOPR, DOE became aware of an
error in the definition of cold rinse in
the test procedure at appendix J1.
Specifically, cold rinse is defined in
section 1.22 of appendix J1 as ‘‘the
coldest rinse temperature available on
the machine (and should be the same
rinse temperature selection tested in 3.7
of this appendix).’’ However, section 3.7
of appendix J1 contains provisions for
testing warm rinse, which instruct that
such tests be conducted with the hottest
rinse temperature available. Thus,
section 3.7 is inapplicable to the
definition of cold rinse in section 1.22.
DOE proposes in today’s SNOPR to
remove reference to section 3.7 in the
definition of cold rinse in both section
1.22 of appendix J1 and proposed
section 1.7 of appendix J2.
c. Deletion of Redundant Test Cloth
Specifications
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed deleting the redundant
sections 2.6.1.1–2.6.1.2.4 from appendix
J2. These sections pertain to test cloth
specifications and preconditioning and
were made obsolete in the 2001 Final
Rule, which added sections 2.6.3
through 2.6.7.2 into appendix J1. 66 FR
3314. In today’s SNOPR, DOE proposes
to remove these redundant sections
from appendix J1 as well. Consistent
with the proposal in the September
2010 NOPR, DOE proposes to use in
section 2.6.4.3 the thread count
specification from deleted section
2.6.1.1(A), of 65 × 57 per inch (warp ×
fill), based on supplier data.
Additionally, DOE proposes to maintain
a shrinkage limit, relocated from section
2.6.1.1(B) to new section 2.6.4.7, but to
increase the current 4 percent limit to 5
percent. DOE also proposes to require
the cloth shrinkage to be measured as
per the American Association of Textile
Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Test
Method 135–2010, ‘‘Dimensional
Changes of Fabrics after Home
Laundering.’’ These revisions are also
supported by supplier data, according to
AHAM. (AHAM, No. 15 at p. 15).
d. Detergent Specifications for Test
Cloth Preconditioning
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed amending the clothes washer
test procedure to specify the use of
AHAM standard test detergent Formula
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3 in test cloth preconditioning, at a
dosing of 27.0 g + 4.0 g/lb. DOE
proposed incorporating this amendment
into the proposed appendix J2 test
procedure.
ALS supported DOE’s proposal to
specify the use of AHAM standard
detergent Formula 3 in test cloth
preconditioning as well as the proposal
to follow the instructions included with
the detergent, because it is makes the
dosing common with the Dryer Test
Load preconditioning procedure. (ALS,
No. 10 at p. 5) NEEA stated that it
foresees no problem with, and some
benefit from, adopting the AHAM
detergent specification. (NEEA, No. 12
at p. 14) Whirlpool stated that the
proposed detergent formulation and
dosage changes are consistent with
AHAM Standard HLD–1–2009, which
Whirlpool supports. (Whirlpool, No. 13
at p. 14) AHAM supported DOE’s
proposal to amend the test procedure to
specify the use of AHAM standard test
detergent Formula 3 in test cloth
preconditioning at a dosing of 27.0g
+4.0g/lb (AHAM, No. 14 at p. 15; Public
Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 194–
195).
In today’s SNOPR, DOE proposes to
amend the appendix J1 and J2 test
procedures to require the use of the
current AHAM standard test detergent
formula for test cloth preconditioning,
at a dosing of 27.0g +4.0g/lb. The
current AHAM standard test detergent is
Formula 3.
e. Cold Wash Temperature Selection
DOE has observed multiple clothes
washer models that offer a ‘‘tap cold’’
wash temperature setting in addition to
a ‘‘cold’’ wash temperature setting. DOE
proposes to clarify how to classify these
temperature selections in appendix J1
and appendix J2.
Section 3.6 of appendix J1 defines the
cold wash selection as ‘‘the coldest
wash temperature selection available.’’
Additionally, section 1.18 of Appendix
J1 defines ‘‘warm wash’’ as ‘‘all wash
temperature selections below the hottest
hot, less than 135 °F, and above the
coldest cold temperature selection.’’ In
some cases with these models, DOE has
observed that the ‘‘cold’’ setting mixes
in hot water to raise the temperature
above the cold water supply
temperature, as defined in section 2.3 of
Appendix J1. In such cases, DOE
proposes that the manufacturer
specified ‘‘cold’’ setting should be
considered a warm wash, as defined in
section 1.18; and that the ‘‘tap cold’’
setting should be considered the cold
wash, as defined in section 3.6. In cases
where the ‘‘cold’’ setting does not add
any hot water for any of the test loads
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required for the energy test cycle, the
‘‘cold’’ setting should be considered the
cold wash; and the ‘‘tap cold’’ setting
would not be required for testing. DOE
requests comment on the
appropriateness of this clarification.
f. Correction to Per-Cycle Self-Clean
Water Consumption Calculation
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
proposed incorporating per-cycle selfclean hot water energy consumption
(section 4.1.8) into the calculation for
IMEF, as well as total per-cycle selfclean water consumption (section
4.2.14) into the calculation for IWF in
appendix J2. The proposed calculations
in section 4.1.8 and section 4.2.14 did
not contain the numeric multipliers
required to apportion the total annual
self-clean water consumption over the
295 representative average number of
clothes washer cycles in a year. In
today’s SNOPR, DOE proposes to adjust
the calculations in section 4.1.8 and
4.2.14 by including a multiplier of
12/295, where 12 represents the average
number of clothes washer self-clean
cycles in a year, and 295 represents the
average number of clothes washer cycles
in a year.
C. Compliance With Other EPCA
Requirements
1. Test Burden
EPCA requires that any test
procedures prescribed or amended
under this section be reasonably
designed to produce test results that
measure energy efficiency, energy use or
estimated annual operating cost of a
covered product during a representative
average use cycle or period of use. Test
procedures must also not be unduly
burdensome to conduct.’’ (42 U.S.C.
6293(b)(3)).
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
noted that the proposed amendments to
the residential clothes washer test
procedure would incorporate a test
standard that is accepted internationally
for measuring power consumption in
standby mode and off mode (IEC
Standard 62301). DOE analyzed the
available versions of IEC Standard
62301 at that time—IEC Standard 62301
(First Edition), IEC Standard 62301
(CDV), and IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS)—
and determined that the proposed
amendments to the residential clothes
washer test procedure would produce
standby mode and off mode average
power consumption measurements that
are representative of an average use
cycle. DOE also determined that the test
methods and equipment that the
amendments would require for
measuring standby mode and off mode
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power in these products would not be
substantially different from the test
methods and equipment required in the
current DOE test. Thus, DOE tentatively
concluded that the proposed test
procedure amendments would not
require manufacturers to make
significant investments in test facilities
and new equipment. In sum, DOE
tentatively concluded in the September
2010 NOPR that the amended test
procedures would produce test results
that measure the standby mode and off
mode power consumption during
representative use, and that the test
procedures would not be unduly
burdensome to conduct. 75 FR 57556,
57578 (Sept. 21, 2010).
DOE also noted in the September
2010 NOPR that the proposed active
mode amendments may require some
manufacturers to incur equipment
purchases on the order of hundreds of
dollars, and would require testing
additional cycles that could increase the
total test time for certain clothes
washers by approximately 25 percent.
DOE tentatively concluded, however,
that including these additional cycles in
the test procedure would provide for a
more representative measurement of
machine energy efficiency and water
use, and that the time commitment
required to test these additional cycles
would not represent a significant
burden on manufacturers since the
current test procedure already requires
multiple energy test cycles. Id.
Today’s supplemental proposed
amendments to the DOE test procedures
are based on an updated version of IEC
Standard 62301, IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition). As discussed in
section III.B.1 of this notice, DOE
believes that the provisions of IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition) that it
proposes to incorporate by reference in
today’s SNOPR provide a means to
measure power consumption with
greater accuracy and repeatability than
the provisions from IEC Standard 62301
(First Edition) that were originally
proposed in the December 2010 NOPR.
For this reason, DOE concludes that
today’s supplemental proposed
amendments would also provide
measurements representative of average
consumer use of the residential clothes
washer under test. DOE further believes
these new provisions in the applicable
sections of IEC Standard 62301 (Second
Edition) improve test results without
undue testing burden. DOE also believes
that the potential for increased test
burden for certain power consumption
measurements is offset by more
reasonable requirements for testing
equipment, while maintaining
acceptable measurement accuracy.
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Thus, DOE tentatively concludes that
the amended test procedures newly
proposed in today’s SNOPR would
produce test results that measure the
standby mode and off mode power
consumption during representative use,
and that the test procedures would not
be unduly burdensome to conduct.
The active mode provisions newly
proposed in today’s SNOPR consist of
clarifications to test conduct and revised
calculations, and would not require any
additional investment, equipment
purchases, or test time beyond those
described in the September 2010 NOPR.
Therefore, DOE’s retains its tentative
conclusion that the proposed active
mode amendments would not impose a
significant burden on manufacturers.
2. Integration of Standby Mode and Off
Mode Energy Consumption Into the
Efficiency Metric
Section 325(gg)(2)(A) of EPCA
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 an integrated test procedure is
technically infeasible. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A))
Today’s SNOPR incorporates the
clothes washer standby and off mode
energy consumption into a ‘‘combined
low-power mode’’ energy consumption,
expressed in kWh, and converted into
an IMEF, as discussed in section III.B.2
of this notice.
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)) Because DOE is
incorporating these changes in a new
appendix J2 to 10 CFR part 430 subpart
B that manufacturers would not be
required to use until the compliance
date of amended energy conservation
standards for residential clothes
washers, 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 effect on, existing
standards.
3. Commercial Clothes Washers
The test procedure for commercial
clothes washers is required to be the
same test procedure established for
residential clothes washers. (42 U.S.C.
6314(a)(8)) Thus, the test procedure set
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forth in appendix J1 of subpart B of 10
CFR part 430 is also currently used to
test commercial clothes washers. (10
CFR part 431.154)
DOE noted in the September 2010
NOPR that the impacts to testing
commercial clothes washers would be
limited to the proposed amendments
associated with active washing mode
because commercial clothes washer
standards are based on MEF and WF.
Among others, these include proposed
changes to the test load size
specification, temperature use factors,
dryer usage factor (DUF), capacity
measurement, and water supply
pressure specification, all of which
could affect the measured energy and
water efficiencies of a commercial
clothes washer. DOE believed that the
most significant impacts could be
associated with the proposed
amendments for capacity measurement
and usage factors, but did not have
information to evaluate any impacts for
commercial clothes washers. 75 FR
57556, 57578 (Sept. 21, 2010).
In response, DOE received several
comments on potential impacts of an
amended clothes washer test procedure
on commercial clothes washers. In
today’s SNOPR, DOE addresses those
comments that pertain to the revised
proposal.
ALS commented that the most
significant impact of the proposed
amended test procedure on commercial
clothes washers is the standby power
measurement, because unlike most
residential clothes washers, commercial
clothes washers are vended and have
lighted displays to invite customers to
use them and provide instructions for
use. According to ALS, the inclusion of
standby power would significantly
impact the ability for existing
commercial clothes washers to meet
more stringent minimum energy
conservation standards without
requiring a ready-to-use vended clothes
washer to power down the display. ALS
stated that a powered-down display
would cause a potential customer to
think the washer is not operational or
ready to use, and thus discourage its
use. (ALS, No. 10 at pp. 5–6).
ALS also commented that the next
most significant impact of the proposed
amended test procedure would be the
clothes container capacity measurement
method, which would reduce the
existing capacity rating. This would
significantly reduce an already smaller
tub used in commercial markets to even
less volume measured, making it more
difficult to achieve the minimum
required energy efficiency standard.
(ALS, No. 10 at p. 6)
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Whirlpool commented that the nature
of use for commercial clothes washers
would preclude the existence of delay
start mode, cycle finished mode, and
steam cycles. Whirlpool stated that the
clothes washer test procedure should
ignore those features if they are not on
the unit under test. Whirlpool also
expressed concern regarding the
capacity measurement and modified
temperature use factors. Whirlpool
stated that the proposed IMEF and IWF
calculations are suitable for commercial
clothes washers. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at
p. 14).
In response to these comments, and as
stated above, the impacts to testing
commercial clothes washers would be
limited to the proposed amendments
associated with active washing mode
because commercial clothes washer
standards are based on MEF and WF.
Because commercial clothes washer
standards do not include standby and
off mode, the addition of procedures to
measure the energy use in standby and
off modes would be inapplicable to and
would not affect the standards for
commercial clothes washers pursuant to
42 U.S.C. 6293(e). For the active mode
provisions of the proposed test
procedure that could affect the
measured energy and water efficiencies
of a commercial clothes washer, DOE
notes that 42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(3) provides
the following: models of covered
products in use before the date on
which an amended energy conservation
standard (developed using the amended
test procedure pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
6293(e)(2)) becomes effective that
comply with the energy conservation
standard applicable to such covered
products on the day before such date are
deemed to comply with the amended
standard. The same is true of revisions
of such models that come into use after
such date and have the same energy
efficiency, energy use or water use
characteristics.
DOE concurs that commercial clothes
washers would not be affected by any
provisions for measuring delay start
mode, cycle finished mode, or steam
cycles. Under the proposal in today’s
SNOPR, the energy use for delay start
and cycle finished modes would be
included in the test results pursuant to
the ‘‘alternate method’’ for measuring
standby mode and off mode energy use,
described in section III.B.2, and any
such energy use is not included in the
MEF and WF metrics used for
commercial clothes washers.
4. Certification Requirements
Sections 6299–6305 and 6316 of
EPCA authorize DOE to enforce
compliance with the energy and water
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conservation standards established for
certain consumer products and
commercial equipment. (42 U.S.C.
6299–6305 (consumer products), 6316
(commercial equipment)) On March 7,
2011, the Department revised,
consolidated, and streamlined its
existing certification, compliance, and
enforcement regulations for certain
consumer products and commercial and
industrial equipment covered under
EPCA, including residential clothes
washers. 76 FR 12422. These regulations
for residential clothes washers are
codified in 10 CFR part 429.20.
The certification requirements for
residential clothes washers consist of a
sampling plan for selection of units for
testing and requirements for
certification reports. Because the
proposed amendments to the test
procedure would not revise the current
energy conservation standards, DOE is
not proposing any amendments to the
certification reporting requirements for
these products. However, because DOE
proposes in today’s SNOPR to introduce
two new metrics (IMEF and IWF), DOE
proposes amended provisions in the
sampling plan in 10 CFR part
429.20(a)(2) that would include IMEF
along with the existing measure of MEF,
and IWF along with the existing
measure of WF.
D. Impact on EnergyGuide
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE
determined that the proposed test
procedure amendments would not affect
the FTC EnergyGuide labeling program
because DOE did not propose to amend
the estimated annual operating cost
calculation in 10 CFR 430.23.
NEEA commented that the energy use
and annual energy cost information on
the Energy Guide label is supposed to
represent a reasonably accurate estimate
of the annual energy use and energy cost
associated with the use of the labeled
product. NEEA stated that it would be
nearly impossible to justify any rules
associated with the accuracy of such
representations if whole categories of
annual energy use and cost are ignored.
NEEA stated that Congress intended to
account for the energy use of every
appliance in its inactive mode and to
make the results known to consumers.
(NEEA, No.12 at p. 8)
NEEA also noted that the ratings of
many models may change as a result of
the revised test procedure. NEEA
commented that the EnergyGuide labels
for individual models tested under
appendix J1 and appendix J2 will exist
in the marketplace together for a short
time, raising the likelihood of consumer
confusion when this happens.
According to NEEA, there has been
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considerable consumer confusion in the
past when new models arrive with
energy use and annual cost numbers
that are lower (or higher) than the
lowest (or highest) numbers in the range
on the EnergyGuide label. (NEEA, No.
12 at pp.15–16).
The Joint Comment stated that the
EnergyGuide label is designed to
communicate to consumers the
estimated average annual operating cost
of a given product. Since the annual
operating cost for a washer that a
consumer will incur includes the cost of
energy consumed in all modes
including self-clean, standby, off, delay
start, and cycle finished modes, the
operating costs of all modes should be
included in the annual operating cost
calculation. (Joint Comment, No. 16 at
p. 2).
In addition, the Joint Comment stated
that the cost of energy consumed in the
additional non-active modes for many
products will likely be significant
compared to the total energy cost, which
DOE estimates could consume as much
as 48 kWh/year. The Joint Commenters
noted that the EnergyGuide label
includes only the cost of the machine
energy and the water heating energy,
and does not include the cost of the
energy required to remove the
remaining moisture from the clothes,
which makes the cost of energy
consumed in non-active-washing modes
more significant. According to the Joint
Comment, the most efficient washers
listed by the FTC with a capacity greater
than 3 cubic feet only use about 110–
130 kWh/year, and, therefore, the
energy consumed in modes other than
the active washing mode could
represent up to about 40 percent of total
annual energy use, which is significant.
(Joint Comment, No. 16 at pp. 2–3).
Whirlpool objected to measuring
additional energy use in non-active
modes but not reporting them on the
EnergyGuide tag, stating that this would
be inconsistent. (Whirlpool, Public
Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 95–
96).
ASAP commented that when the new
standards go into effect, the minimum
and maximum operating costs on the
EnergyGuide label would have to be
revised anyway to take into account the
new standards, and that the additional
annual operating costs could be
incorporated at that point. ASAP stated
that it supports incorporating all energy
use, including energy use in non-active
modes. (ASAP, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at p. 96).
As discussed in section III.B.6, DOE
proposes in today’s SNOPR to amend
the estimated annual operating cost by
incorporating the cost of energy
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consumed in the non-active washing
modes. DOE also proposed in the
September 2010 NOPR to update the
number of annual use cycles. This will
affect the estimated annual operating
cost disclosed on the EnergyGuide label.
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6294, the FTC
may revise the EnergyGuide label for
residential clothes washers when the
amended test procedure becomes
effective.
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory
Review
A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget
has determined that test procedure
rulemakings do not constitute
‘‘significant regulatory actions’’ under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR
51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this
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 (IFRA) for any rule that by law
must be proposed for public comment,
unless the agency certifies that the 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 DOE
rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE
has made its procedures and policies
available on the Office of the General
Counsel’s Web site: https://www.gc.doe.
gov.
DOE reviewed today’s supplemental
proposed rule under the provisions of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the
procedures and policies published on
February 19, 2003. DOE tentatively
concluded that the September 2010
NOPR would not have a significant
impact on a substantial number of small
entities, and today’s SNOPR contains no
revisions to that proposal that would
result a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The factual basis for this certification is
as follows:
The Small Business Administration
(SBA) considers a business entity to be
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small business, if, together with its
affiliates, it employs less than a
threshold number of workers specified
in 13 CFR part 121. These size standards
and codes are established by the North
American Industry Classification
System (NAICS). The threshold number
for NAICS classification code 335224,
which applies to household laundry
equipment manufacturers and includes
clothes washer manufacturers, is 1,000
employees. Searches of the SBA Web
site 7 to identify clothes washer
manufacturers within these NAICS
codes identified, out of approximately
17 manufacturers supplying clothes
washers in the United States, only one
small business. This small business
manufactures laundry appliances,
including clothes washers. The other
manufacturers supplying clothes
washers are large multinational
corporations.
The proposed rule would amend
DOE’s test procedure by incorporating
testing provisions to address active
mode, standby mode, and off mode
energy and water consumption that will
be used to demonstrate compliance with
energy conservation standards. The
proposed test procedure amendments
for measuring standby and off mode
power consumption using the
‘‘alternative method’’ involve measuring
power input when the clothes washer is
in inactive mode or off mode, or both if
both modes are available on the clothes
washer under test, as a proxy for
measuring power consumption in all
low power modes. These tests can be
conducted in the same facilities used for
the current energy testing of these
products, so it is anticipated that
manufacturers would not incur any
additional facilities costs as a result of
the proposed test procedure
amendments. 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 is expected to
be approximately a few thousand
dollars. The duration of each non-active
washing mode test period is expected to
be roughly 30–45 minutes, depending
on stability of the power consumption,
using the alternative approach described
previously. This is comparable to
approximately one-half to two-thirds the
time required to conduct a single energy
test cycle. Each clothes washer tested
requires, on average, approximately 15
test cycles for energy testing, which
equates to about 3 days of testing. Using
7 A searchable database of certified small
businesses is available online at: https://dsbs.sba.
gov/dsbs/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm.
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the alternative approach proposed in
today’s SNOPR, DOE estimates roughly
a 3-percent increase in total test period
duration. This represents a significant
reduction compared to the 11 percent
increase DOE estimated in the
September 2010 NOPR, which was
based on the proposal to measure
inactive, off, delay start, and cycle
finished modes separately. DOE notes
that the provisions from IEC Standard
62301 (Second Edition) proposed to
incorporate by reference in today’s
SNOPR would require longer test
durations in the event that the threshold
stability criteria of the power
measurement are not met. DOE believes
that the likelihood of such a longer test
being required is very small, based on
the observations during testing for the
September 2010 NOPR.
DOE also estimates that it costs a
manufacturer approximately $2300 on
average, including the cost of
consumables, to conduct energy testing
for a particular clothes washer. DOE
further estimates that the cost of
additional testing for non-active
washing modes using the proposed
alternative approach would average $75
per machine, a 3-percent increase over
current test costs. This represents a
significant reduction compared to the 9
percent increase ($200) DOE estimated
in the September 2010 NOPR, which
was based on the proposal to measure
inactive, off, delay start, and cycle
finished modes separately. For the same
reason as discussed above, DOE does
not believe it is likely that these test
costs will be higher due to extended test
times required by IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) in the event that the
threshold stability criteria of the power
measurement are not met.
DOE believes these additional
requirements for equipment and time
and additional cost to conduct the
proposed non-active washing mode test
would not be expected to impose a
significant economic burden on entities
subject to the applicable testing
requirements. Although the small
business has significantly lower sales
than other manufacturers over which to
amortize these additional costs, it
produces only a single platform which
would be subject to the proposed nonactive washing mode tests.
DOE does not believe that the
proposed test procedure amendments
for the active washing mode discussed
in today’s SNOPR would increase test
burden because they comprise revisions
to calculations rather than additional,
longer, or more complex methodology.
For standby mode and off mode, as
described in section III.B.1, certain
provisions in section 5 of IEC Standard
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62301 Second Edition could require
additional testing time compared to the
First Edition. However, DOE expects the
large majority of clothes washers to
require less than one hour of testing
time to perform the standby power test
under the proposed alternative
approach. Therefore, DOE does not
believe these proposed amendments
would have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
For these reasons, DOE tentatively
concludes and certifies that the
September 2010 NOPR, as modified by
today’s SNOPR, 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 has previously
transmitted 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).
DOE seeks comment on the updated
certification set forth above.
C. Review Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995
Manufacturers of residential clothes
washers must certify to DOE that their
products comply with any applicable
energy conservation standards. In
certifying compliance, manufacturers
must test their products according to the
DOE test procedures for clothes
washers, including any amendments
adopted for those test procedures. DOE
has established regulations for the
certification and recordkeeping
requirements for all covered consumer
products and commercial equipment,
including residential clothes washers.
76 FR 12422 (March 7, 2011). The
collection-of-information requirement
for the certification and recordkeeping
is subject to review and approval by
OMB under the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA). This requirement has been
approved by OMB under OMB control
number 1910–1400. Public reporting
burden for the certification is estimated
to average 20 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the
data needed, and completing and
reviewing the collection of information.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of the law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with, a collection of information subject
to the requirements of the PRA, unless
that collection of information displays a
currently valid OMB Control Number.
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D. Review Under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
In this proposed rule, DOE proposes
test procedure amendments that it
expects will be used to develop and
implement future energy conservation
standards for residential clothes
washers. 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 proposed rule would
amend the existing test procedures
without affecting the amount, quality or
distribution of energy usage, and,
therefore, would not result in any
environmental impacts. Thus, this
rulemaking is covered by Categorical
Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR part 1021,
subpart D, which applies to any
rulemaking that interprets or amends an
existing rule without changing the
environmental effect of that rule.
Accordingly, neither an environmental
assessment nor an environmental
impact statement is required.
E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’
64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999) imposes
certain requirements on agencies
formulating and implementing policies
or regulations that preempt State law or
that have Federalism implications. 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
it will follow in the development of
such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE has
examined this proposed rule and has
determined that it 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. EPCA governs and
prescribes Federal preemption of State
regulations as to energy conservation for
the products that are the subject of
today’s proposed rule. States can
petition DOE for exemption from such
preemption to the extent, and based on
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criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C.
6297(d)) No further action is required by
Executive Order 13132.
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: (1) Clearly specifies the
preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly
specifies any effect on existing Federal
law or regulation; (3) provides a clear
legal standard for affected conduct
while promoting simplification and
burden reduction; (4) specifies the
retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately
defines key terms; and (6) addresses
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 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, the 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) requires
each Federal agency to assess the effects
of Federal regulatory actions on State,
local, and Tribal governments and the
private sector. Public Law 104–4, sec.
201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). 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 a written
statement that estimates the resulting
costs, benefits, and other effects on the
national economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b))
The UMRA also requires a Federal
agency to develop an effective process
to permit timely input by elected
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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 small governments. On March 18,
1997, DOE published a statement of
policy on its process for
intergovernmental consultation under
UMRA. 62 FR 12820; also available at
https://www.gc.doe.gov. DOE examined
today’s proposed rule according to
UMRA and its statement of policy and
determined that the rule contains
neither an intergovernmental mandate,
nor a mandate that may result in the
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
that may affect family well-being. This
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 regulation
would not result in any takings that
might require compensation under the
Fifth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution.
J. Review Under 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 proposed rule under the OMB
and DOE guidelines and has concluded
that it is consistent with applicable
policies in those guidelines.
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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 OMB, a
Statement of Energy Effects for any
proposed significant energy action. A
‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as
any action by an agency that
promulgated 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
should the proposal be implemented,
and of reasonable alternatives to the
action and their expected benefits on
energy supply, distribution, and use.
Today’s regulatory action to amend
the test procedure for measuring the
energy efficiency of residential clothes
washers is not a significant regulatory
action under Executive Order 12866.
Moreover, it would not have a
significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy, nor has it
been designated as a significant energy
action by the Administrator of OIRA.
Therefore, it is not a significant energy
action, and, accordingly, DOE has not
prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.
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L. Review Under Section 32 of the
Federal Energy Administration Act of
1974
Under section 301 of the Department
of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95–
91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), 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. (15 U.S.C.
788; FEAA) Section 32 essentially
provides in relevant part that, where a
proposed rule authorizes or requires use
of commercial standards, the notice of
proposed 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 FTC concerning the impact of the
commercial or industry standards on
competition.
The proposed modifications to the
test procedure addressed by this action
incorporate testing methods contained
in the commercial standard, IEC
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Standard 62301, Edition 2.0 2011–01,
‘‘Household electrical appliances—
Measurement of standby power.’’ 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. Submission of Comments
DOE will accept comments, data, and
information regarding this proposed
rule before or after the public meeting,
but no later than the date provided in
the DATES section at the beginning of
this proposed rule. Interested parties
may submit comments using any of the
methods described in the ADDRESSES
section at the beginning of this notice.
Submitting comments via https://
www.regulations.gov. The https://
www.regulations.gov web page will
require you to provide your name and
contact information. Your contact
information will be viewable to DOE
Building Technologies staff only. Your
contact information will not be publicly
viewable except for your first and last
names, organization name (if any), and
submitter representative name (if any).
If your comment is not processed
properly because of technical
difficulties, DOE will use this
information to contact you. If DOE
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, DOE may not be
able to consider your comment.
However, your contact information
will be publicly viewable if you include
it in the comment or in any documents
attached to your comment. Any
information that you do not want to be
publicly viewable should not be
included in your comment, nor in any
document attached to your comment.
Persons viewing comments will see only
first and last names, organization
names, correspondence containing
comments, and any documents
submitted with the comments.
Do not submit to regulations.gov
information for which disclosure is
restricted by statute, such as trade
secrets and commercial or financial
information (hereinafter referred to as
Confidential Business Information
(CBI)). Comments submitted through
regulations.gov cannot be claimed as
CBI. Comments received through the
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Web site will waive any CBI claims for
the information submitted. For
information on submitting CBI, see the
Confidential Business Information
section.
DOE processes submissions made
through regulations.gov before posting.
Normally, comments will be posted
within a few days of being submitted.
However, if large volumes of comments
are being processed simultaneously,
your comment may not be viewable for
up to several weeks. Please keep the
comment tracking number that
regulations.gov provides after you have
successfully uploaded your comment.
Submitting comments via e-mail,
hand delivery, or mail. Comments and
documents submitted via e-mail, hand
delivery, or mail also will be posted to
regulations.gov. If you do not want your
personal contact information to be
publicly viewable, do not include it in
your comment or any accompanying
documents. Instead, provide your
contact information on a cover letter.
Include your first and last names, e-mail
address, telephone number, and
optional mailing address. The cover
letter will not be publicly viewable as
long as it does not include any
comments
Include contact information each time
you submit comments, data, documents,
and other information to DOE. If you
submit via mail or hand delivery, please
provide all items on a CD, if feasible. It
is not necessary to submit printed
copies. No facsimiles (faxes) will be
accepted.
Comments, data, and other
information submitted to DOE
electronically should be provided in
PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or
Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file
format. Provide documents that are not
secured, written in English and are free
of any defects or viruses. Documents
should not contain special characters or
any form of encryption and, if possible,
they should carry the electronic
signature of the author.
Campaign form letters. Please submit
campaign form letters by the originating
organization in batches of between 50 to
500 form letters per PDF or as one form
letter with a list of supporters’ names
compiled into one or more PDFs. This
reduces comment processing and
posting time.
Confidential Business Information.
According 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 via e-mail, postal mail, or
hand delivery two well-marked copies:
one copy of the document marked
confidential including all the
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information believed to be confidential,
and one copy of the document marked
non-confidential with the information
believed to be confidential deleted.
Submit these documents via e-mail or
on a CD, if feasible. DOE will make its
own determination about the
confidential status of the information
and treat it according to its
determination.
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
industry; (3) whether the information is
generally known by or available from
other sources; (4) whether the
information has previously been made
available to others without obligation
concerning its confidentiality; (5) an
explanation of the competitive injury to
the submitting person which 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.
It is DOE’s policy that all comments
may be included in the public docket,
without change and as received,
including any personal information
provided in the comments (except
information deemed to be exempt from
public disclosure).
B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
Although DOE welcomes comments
on any aspect of this proposal, DOE is
particularly interested in receiving
comments and views of interested
parties concerning the following issues:
(1) Incorporation by reference of
certain provisions of IEC 62301 (Second
Edition), and the accompanying impacts
on measurement improvement and test
burden (see section III.B.1);
(2) The acceptability of measuring the
total harmonic content, crest factor, and
maximum current ratio before and after
the actual test measurement if the power
measuring instrument is unable to
perform these measurements during the
actual test measurement;
(3) The potential test burden that
would be required for a laboratory to
upgrade its data acquisition system to
enable real-time statistical analysis
capabilities;
(4) The alternate method for
measuring energy use in low-power
modes by means of measuring power
consumption only in the inactive mode
and off mode (see section III.B.2);
(5) The proposed clarification of the
energy test cycle definition (see section
III.B.3);
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(6) The proposed use of a weightedaverage load size based on the load
usage factors and the minimum,
average, and maximum load sizes rather
than the product of the LAF and
maximum load size in the drying energy
calculation (see section III.B.4); and
(7) The proposed clarification of how
to classify the wash temperature settings
for clothes washers with both a ‘‘cold’’
wash setting and a ‘‘tap cold’’ wash
setting.
(8) DOE’s tentative conclusion and
certification that the September 2010
NOPR, as modified by today’s SNOPR,
would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
VI. Approval of the Office of the
Secretary
The Secretary of Energy has approved
publication of this proposed rule.
List of Subjects
10 CFR Part 429
Energy conservation, Household
appliances, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
10 CFR Part 430
Administrative practice and
procedure, Energy conservation,
Household appliances, Incorporation by
reference, Small businesses.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 26,
2011.
Kathleen Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy, Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, DOE proposes to amend parts
429 and 430 of title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, as set forth below:
PART 429—CERTIFICATION,
COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT
FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
EQUIPMENT
1. The authority citation for part 429
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317.
2. Section 429.20 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a)(2)(i)
introductory text and (a)(2)(ii)
introductory text to read as follows:
§ 429.20
Residential clothes washers.
(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) Any represented value of the water
factor, integrated water factor, the
estimated annual operating cost, the
energy or water consumption, or other
measure of energy or water
consumption of a basic model for which
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consumers would favor lower values
shall be greater than or equal to the
higher of:
*
*
*
*
*
(ii) Any represented value of the
modified energy factor, integrated
modified energy factor, or other measure
of energy or water consumption of a
basic model for which consumers would
favor higher values shall be less than or
equal to the lower of:
*
*
*
*
*
PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION
PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
3. The authority citation for Part 430
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C.
2461 note.
4. Section 430.3 is amended by:
a. Redesignating paragraphs (c)
through (o) as paragraphs(d) through (p);
b. Adding new paragraph (c);
c. Revising newly designated
paragraph (m)(2).
The additions read as follows:
§ 430.3 Materials incorporated by
reference.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) AATCC. American Association of
Textile Chemists and Colorists, P.O. Box
1215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709,
919–549–8141, or go to https://
www.aatcc.org.
(1) AATCC Test Method 79–2010,
Absorbency of Bleached Textiles,, IBR
approved for Appendix J1 and
Appendix J2.
(2) AATCC Test Method 118–2007,
Oil Repellency: Hydrocarbon Resistance
Test,, IBR approved for Appendix J1 and
Appendix J2.
(3) AATCC Test Method 135–2010,
Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after
Home Laundering, IBR approved for
Appendix J1 and Appendix J2.
*
*
*
*
*
(m) * * *
(2) IEC Standard 62301 (‘‘IEC 62301’’),
Household electrical appliances—
Measurement of standby power (Edition
2.0, 2011–01), IBR approved for
Appendix J2.
*
*
*
*
*
5. Section 430.23 is amended by
revising paragraph (j) to read as follows:
§ 430.23 Test procedures for the
measurement of energy and water
consumption.
*
*
*
*
*
(j) Clothes washers. (1) The estimated
annual operating cost for automatic and
semi-automatic clothes washers must be
rounded off to the nearest dollar per
year and is defined as follows:
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(i) Before use of appendix J2 becomes
mandatory,
(A) When electrically heated water is
used,
(N1 x ETE1 × CKWH)
Where,
N1 = the representative average residential
clothes washer use of 392 cycles per year
according to appendix J1,
ETE1 = the total per-cycle energy
consumption when electrically heated
water is used, in kilowatt-hours per
cycle, determined according to section
4.1.7 of appendix J1, and
CKWH = the representative average unit cost,
in dollars per kilowatt-hour, as provided
by the Secretary.
(B) When gas-heated or oil-heated
water is used,
(N1 × ((MET1 × CKWH) + (HETG1 × CBTU)))
Where,
N1 and CKWH are defined in paragraph
(j)(1)(i)(A) of this section,
MET1 = the total weighted per-cycle machine
electrical energy consumption, in
kilowatt-hours per cycle, determined
according to section 4.1.6 of appendix J1,
HETG1 = the per-cycle hot water energy
consumption using gas-heated or oilheated water, in Btu per cycle,
determined according to section 4.1.4 of
appendix J1, and
CBTU = the representative average unit cost,
in dollars per Btu for oil or gas, as
appropriate, as provided by the
Secretary.
(ii) After use of appendix J2 becomes
mandatory (see the note at the beginning
of appendix J2),
(A) When electrically heated water is
used,
(N2 × (ETE2 + ETSC + ETSO) × CKWH)
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Where,
N2 = the representative average residential
clothes washer use of 295 cycles per year
according to appendix J2,
ETE2 = the total per-cycle energy
consumption, in kilowatt-hours per
cycle, determined according to section
4.1.7 of appendix J2,
ETSC = the per-cycle self-clean energy
consumption, in kilowatt-hours per
cycle, determined according to section
4.5 of appendix J2,
ETSO = the per-cycle combined low-power
mode energy consumption, in kilowatthours per cycle, determined according to
section 4.4 of appendix J2, and
CKWH is defined in paragraph (j)(1)(i)(A) of
this section.
(B) When gas-heated or oil-heated
water is used,
(N2 × ((MET2 + MESC + ETSO) × CKWH) +
((HETG2 + HESCG) × CBTU))
Where,
N2 and ETSO are defined in (j)(1)(ii)(A) of this
section,
MET2 = the total weighted per-cycle machine
electrical energy consumption, in
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kilowatt-hours per cycle, determined
according to section 4.1.6 of appendix J2,
MESC = the per-cycle self-clean machine
electrical energy consumption, in
kilowatt-hours per cycle, determined
according to section 4.1.10 of appendix
J2,
CKWH is defined in (j)(1)(i)(A) of this section,
HETG2 = the per-cycle hot water energy
consumption using gas-heated or oilheated water, in Btu per cycle,
determined according to section 4.1.4 of
appendix J2,
HESCG = the per-cycle self-clean hot water
energy consumption using gas-heated or
oil-heated water, in Btu per cycle,
determined according to section 4.1.9 of
appendix J2, and
CBTU is defined in (j)(1)(i)(B) of this section.
(2)(i) The modified energy factor for
automatic and semi-automatic clothes
washers is determined in accordance
with section 4.4 of appendix J1 before
appendix J2 becomes mandatory and
section 4.6 of appendix J2 when
appendix J2 becomes mandatory. The
result shall be rounded off to the nearest
0.01 cubic foot per kilowatt-hour per
cycle.
(ii) The integrated modified energy
factor for automatic and semi-automatic
clothes washers is determined in
accordance with section 4.7 of appendix
J2 when appendix J2 becomes
mandatory. The result shall be rounded
off to the nearest 0.01 cubic foot per
kilowatt-hour per cycle.
(3) Other useful measures of energy
consumption for automatic or semiautomatic clothes washers shall be those
measures of energy consumption which
the Secretary determines are likely to
assist consumers in making purchasing
decisions and which are derived from
the application of appendix J1 before
the date that appendix J2 becomes
mandatory or appendix J2 upon the date
that appendix J2 becomes mandatory. In
addition, the annual water consumption
of a clothes washer can be determined
by the product of:
(i) Before appendix J2 becomes
mandatory, the representative averageuse of 392 cycles per year and the total
weighted per-cycle water consumption
for cold wash in gallons per cycle
determined according to section 4.2.2 of
appendix J1. The water consumption
factor can be determined in accordance
with section 4.2.3 of appendix J1. The
remaining moisture content can be
determined in accordance with section
3.8 of appendix J1.
(ii) After appendix J2 becomes
mandatory, the representative averageuse of 295 cycles per year and the total
weighted per-cycle water consumption
for all wash cycles in gallons per cycle
determined according to section 4.2.13
of appendix J2. The water consumption
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factor can be determined in accordance
with section 4.2.15 of appendix J2. The
integrated water consumption factor can
be determined in accordance with
section 4.2.16 of appendix J2. The
remaining moisture content can be
determined in accordance with section
3.8 of appendix J2.
*
*
*
*
*
Appendix J—[Removed]
6. Appendix J to subpart B of part 430
is removed.
Appendix J1—[Amended]
7. Appendix J1 to subpart B of part
430 is amended by:
a. Revising the introductory text;
b. Revising section 1.22;
c. Removing sections 2.6.1.1 through
2.6.1.2.4;
d. Revising section 2.6.3.1;
e. Revising section 2.10;
f. Revising section 3.6;
g. Revising section 4.1.4, and
h. Revising section 5.
The revisions read as follows:
Appendix J1 to Subpart B of Part 430—
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Automatic and
Semi-automatic Clothes Washers
Appendix J1 is effective until the
compliance date of any amended standards
for residential clothes washers. After this
date, all residential clothes washers shall be
tested using the provisions of Appendix J2 of
this appendix.
*
*
*
*
*
1.22 Cold rinse means the coldest rinse
temperature available on the machine.
*
*
*
*
*
2.6.3.1 Perform 5 complete normal washrinse-spin cycles, the first two with AHAM
Standard detergent Formula 3 and the last
three without detergent. Place the test cloth
in a clothes washer set at the maximum water
level. Wash the load for ten minutes in soft
water (17 ppm hardness or less) using 27.0
grams + 4.0 grams per lb of cloth load of
AHAM Standard detergent Formula 3. The
wash temperature is to be controlled to 135
°F ± 5 °F (57.2 °C ± 2.8 °C) and the rinse
temperature is to be controlled to 60 °F ± 5
°F (15.6 °C ± 2.8 °C). Repeat the cycle with
detergent and then repeat the cycle three
additional times without detergent, bone
drying the load between cycles (total of five
wash and rinse cycles).
*
*
*
*
*
2.10 Wash time setting. If one wash time
is prescribed in the energy test cycle, that
shall be the wash time setting; otherwise, the
wash time setting shall be the higher of either
the minimum or 70 percent of the maximum
wash time available in the energy test cycle,
regardless of the labeling of suggested dial
locations. If the clothes washer is equipped
with an electromechanical dial controlling
wash time, reset the dial to the minimum
wash time and then turn it in the direction
of increasing wash time to reach the
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appropriate setting. If the appropriate setting
is passed, return the dial to the minimum
wash time and then turn in the direction of
increasing wash time until the setting is
reached.
*
*
*
*
*
3.6 ‘‘Cold Wash’’ (Minimum Wash
Temperature Selection). Water and electrical
energy consumption shall be measured for
each water fill level or test load size as
specified in sections 3.6.1 through 3.6.3 of
this Appendix for the coldest wash
temperature selection available. For a clothes
washer that offers two or more wash
temperature settings labeled as cold, such as
‘‘Cold’’ and ‘‘Tap Cold’’, the setting with the
minimum wash temperature shall be
considered the cold wash. If any of the other
cold wash temperature settings add hot water
to raise the wash temperature above the cold
water supply temperature, as defined in
section 2.3 of this Appendix, those setting(s)
shall be considered warm wash setting(s), as
defined in section 1.18 of this Appendix. If
none of the cold wash temperature settings
add hot water for any of the water fill levels
or test load sizes required for the energy test
cycle, the wash temperature setting labeled
as ‘‘Cold’’ shall be considered the cold wash,
and the other wash temperature setting(s)
labeled as cold shall not be required for
testing.
*
*
*
*
*
4. Calculation of Derived Results From Test
Measurements.
*
*
*
*
4.1.4 Total per-cycle hot water energy
consumption using gas-heated or oil-heated
water. Calculate for the energy test cycle the
per-cycle hot water consumption, HETG,
using gas-heated or oil-heated water,
expressed in Btu per cycle (or megajoules per
cycle) and defined as:
HETG = HET × 1/e × 3412 Btu/kWh or
HETG = HET × 1/e × 3.6 MJ/kWh
where:
e = Nominal gas or oil water heater
efficiency = 0.75.
HET=As defined in 4.1.3.
*
*
*
*
*
5. Test Loads
*
TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES
Container volume
Minimum load
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3
≥<
0–0.8 .............................................
0.80–0.90 ......................................
0.90–1.00 ......................................
1.00–1.10 ......................................
1.10–1.20 ......................................
1.20–1.30 ......................................
1.30–1.40 ......................................
1.40–1.50 ......................................
1.50–1.60 ......................................
1.60–1.70 ......................................
1.70–1.80 ......................................
1.80–1.90 ......................................
1.90–2.00 ......................................
2.00–2.10 ......................................
2.10–2.20 ......................................
2.20–2.30 ......................................
2.30–2.40 ......................................
2.40–2.50 ......................................
2.50–2.60 ......................................
2.60–2.70 ......................................
2.70–2.80 ......................................
2.80–2.90 ......................................
2.90–3.00 ......................................
3.00–3.10 ......................................
3.10–3.20 ......................................
3.20–3.30 ......................................
3.30–3.40 ......................................
3.40–3.50 ......................................
3.50–3.60 ......................................
3.60–3.70 ......................................
3.70–3.80 ......................................
3.80–3.90 ......................................
3.90–4.00 ......................................
4.00–4.10 ......................................
4.10–4.20 ......................................
4.20–4.30 ......................................
4.30–4.40 ......................................
4.40–4.50 ......................................
4.50–4.60 ......................................
4.60–4.70 ......................................
4.70–4.80 ......................................
4.80–4.90 ......................................
4.90–5.00 ......................................
5.00–5.10 ......................................
5.10–5.20 ......................................
5.20–5.30 ......................................
5.30–5.40 ......................................
5.40–5.50 ......................................
5.50–5.60 ......................................
0–22.7 ...........................................
22.7–25.5 ......................................
25.5–28.3 ......................................
28.3–31.1 ......................................
31.1–34.0 ......................................
34.0–36.8 ......................................
36.8–39.6 ......................................
39.6–42.5 ......................................
42.5–45.3 ......................................
45.3–48.1 ......................................
48.1–51.0 ......................................
51.0–53.8 ......................................
53.8–56.6 ......................................
56.6–59.5 ......................................
59.5–62.3 ......................................
62.3–65.1 ......................................
65.1–68.0 ......................................
68.0–70.8 ......................................
70.8–73.6 ......................................
73.6–76.5 ......................................
76.5–79.3 ......................................
79.3–82.1 ......................................
82.1–85.0 ......................................
85.0–87.8 ......................................
87.8–90.6 ......................................
90.6–93.4 ......................................
93.4–96.3 ......................................
96.3–99.1 ......................................
99.1–101.9 ....................................
101.9–104.8 ..................................
104.8–107.6 ..................................
107.6–110.4 ..................................
110.4–113.3 ..................................
113.3–116.1 ..................................
116.1–118.9 ..................................
118.9–121.8 ..................................
121.8–124.6 ..................................
124.6–127.4 ..................................
127.4–130.3 ..................................
130.3–133.1 ..................................
133.1–135.9 ..................................
135.9–138.8 ..................................
138.8–141.6 ..................................
141.6–144.4 ..................................
144.4–147.2 ..................................
147.2–150.1 ..................................
150.1–152.9 ..................................
152.9–155.7 ..................................
155.7–158.6 ..................................
lb
kg
lb
3.00
3.50
3.90
4.30
4.70
5.10
5.50
5.90
6.40
6.80
7.20
7.60
8.00
8.40
8.80
9.20
9.60
10.00
10.50
10.90
11.30
11.70
12.10
12.50
12.90
13.30
13.70
14.10
14.60
15.00
15.40
15.80
16.20
16.60
17.00
17.40
17.80
18.20
18.70
19.10
19.50
19.90
20.30
20.70
21.10
21.50
21.90
22.30
22.80
1.36
1.59
1.77
1.95
2.13
2.31
2.49
2.68
2.90
3.08
3.27
3.45
3.63
3.81
3.99
4.17
4.35
4.54
4.76
4.94
5.13
5.31
5.49
5.67
5.85
6.03
6.21
6.40
6.62
6.80
6.99
7.16
7.34
7.53
7.72
7.90
8.09
8.27
8.46
8.65
8.83
9.02
9.20
9.39
9.58
9.76
9.95
10.13
10.32
3.00
3.25
3.45
3.65
3.85
4.05
4.25
4.45
4.70
4.90
5.10
5.30
5.50
5.70
5.90
6.10
6.30
6.50
6.75
6.95
7.15
7.35
7.55
7.75
7.95
8.15
8.35
8.55
8.80
9.00
9.20
9.40
9.60
9.80
10.00
10.20
10.40
10.60
10.85
11.05
11.25
11.45
11.65
11.85
12.05
12.25
12.45
12.65
12.90
Liter
≥<
Average load
Lb
Cu. ft.
Maximum load
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3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
Sfmt 4702
kg
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
E:\FR\FM\09AUP3.SGM
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Kg
1.36
1.47
1.56
1.66
1.75
1.84
1.93
2.02
2.13
2.22
2.31
2.4
2.49
2.59
2.68
2.77
2.86
2.95
3.06
3.15
3.24
3.33
3.42
3.52
3.61
3.7
3.79
3.88
3.99
4.08
4.17
4.26
4.35
4.45
4.54
4.63
4.72
4.82
4.91
5.00
5.10
5.19
5.28
5.38
5.47
5.56
5.65
5.75
5.84
49260
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES—Continued
Container volume
Minimum load
Cu. ft.
5.60–5.70
5.70–5.80
5.80–5.90
5.90–6.00
Lb
≥<
Average load
lb
kg
lb
23.20
23.60
24.00
24.40
10.51
10.69
10.88
11.06
13.10
13.30
13.50
13.70
Liter
≥<
Maximum load
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
158.6–161.4
161.4–164.2
164.2–167.1
167.1–169.9
..................................
..................................
..................................
..................................
kg
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
Kg
5.93
6.03
6.12
6.21
Notes: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights.
(2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are ±0.10 lbs (0.05 kg).
8. Add a new Appendix J2 to subpart B of
part 430 to read as follows:
Appendix J2 to Subpart B of Part 430—
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Automatic and
Semi-Automatic Clothes Washers
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3
Appendix J1 is effective until the
compliance date of any amended
standards for residential clothes
washers. After this date, all residential
clothes washers shall be tested using the
provisions of Appendix J2.
1. Definitions and Symbols
1.1 Active mode means a mode in
which the clothes washer is connected
to a mains power source, has been
activated, and is performing one or more
of the main functions of washing,
soaking, tumbling, agitating, rinsing,
and/or removing water from the
clothing, or is involved in functions
necessary for these main functions, such
as admitting water into the washer or
pumping water out of the washer.
Active mode also includes delay start,
cycle finished, and self-clean modes.
1.2 Active washing mode means a
mode in which the clothes washer is
performing any of the operations
included in a complete cycle intended
for washing a clothing load, including
the main functions of washing, soaking,
tumbling, agitating, rinsing, and/or
removing water from the clothing.
1.3 Adaptive control system means a
clothes washer control system, other
than an adaptive water fill control
system, which is capable of
automatically adjusting washer
operation or washing conditions based
on characteristics of the clothes load
placed in the clothes container, without
allowing or requiring consumer
intervention or actions. The automatic
adjustments may, for example, include
automatic selection, modification, or
control of any of the following: Wash
water temperature, agitation or tumble
cycle time, number of rinse cycles, and
spin speed. The characteristics of the
clothes load, which could trigger such
adjustments, could, for example, consist
of or be indicated by the presence of
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either soil, soap, suds, or any other
additive laundering substitute or
complementary product.
Note: Appendix J2 does not provide a
means for determining the energy
consumption of a clothes washer with an
adaptive control system. A waiver must be
obtained pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27 to
establish an acceptable test procedure for
each such clothes washer.
1.4 Adaptive water fill control
system means a clothes washer water fill
control system which is capable of
automatically adjusting the water fill
level based on the size or weight of the
clothes load placed in the clothes
container, without allowing or requiring
consumer intervention or actions.
1.5 Bone-dry means a condition of a
load of test cloth 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.
1.6 Clothes container means the
compartment within the clothes washer
that holds the clothes during the
operation of the machine.
1.7 Cold rinse means the coldest
rinse temperature available on the
machine.
1.8 Combined low-power mode
means the aggregate of available modes
other than active washing mode and
self-clean mode, including inactive
mode, off mode, delay start mode, and
cycle finished mode.
1.9 Compact means a clothes washer
which has a clothes container capacity
of less than 1.6 ft3 (45 L).
1.10 Cycle finished mode means an
active mode which provides continuous
status display following operation in
active washing mode.
1.11 Deep rinse cycle means a rinse
cycle in which the clothes container is
filled with water to a selected level and
the clothes load is rinsed by agitating it
or tumbling it through the water.
1.12 Delay start mode means an
active mode in which activation of
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active washing mode is facilitated by a
timer.
1.13 Energy test cycle for a basic
model means (A) The cycle
recommended by the manufacturer for
washing cotton or linen clothes, and
includes all wash/rinse temperature
selections and water levels offered in
that cycle, and (B) if the cycle described
in (A) does not include all wash/rinse
temperature settings available on the
clothes washer, the energy test cycle
shall also include the portions of a cycle
setting offering these wash/rinse
temperature settings with agitation/
tumble operation, spin speed(s), wash
times, and rinse times that are largely
comparable to those for the cycle
recommended by the manufacturer for
washing cotton or linen clothes. Any
cycle under (A) or (B) shall include the
manufacturer’s default agitation/tumble
operation, soil level, spin speed(s), wash
times, and rinse times applicable to that
cycle, including water heating time for
water heating clothes washers.
1.14 IEC 62301 means the test
standard published by the International
Electrotechnical Commission, entitled
‘‘Household electrical appliances—
Measurement of standby power,’’
Publication 62301 Edition 2.0 2011–01
(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3).
1.15 Inactive mode means a standby
mode that facilitates the activation of
active mode by remote switch
(including remote control), internal
sensor, or timer, or that provides
continuous status display.
1.16 Integrated modified energy
factor means the quotient of the cubic
foot (or liter) capacity of the clothes
container divided by the total clothes
washer energy consumption per cycle,
with such energy consumption
expressed as the sum of:
(a) The machine electrical energy
consumption;
(b) The hot water energy
consumption;
(c) The energy required for removal of
the remaining moisture in the wash
load;
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules
(d) The combined low-power mode
energy consumption; and
(e) The self-clean energy
consumption, as applicable.
1.17 Integrated water consumption
factor means the quotient of the total
clothes washer water consumption per
cycle in gallons, with such water
consumption expressed as the sum of
the total weighted per-cycle water
consumption and the per-cycle selfclean water consumption, divided by
the cubic foot (or liter) capacity of the
clothes washer.
1.18 Load use factor means the
percentage of the total number of wash
loads that a user would wash a
particular size (weight) load.
1.19 Manual control system means a
clothes washer control system which
requires that the consumer make the
choices that determine washer operation
or washing conditions, such as, for
example, wash/rinse temperature
selections, and wash time before starting
the cycle.
1.20 Manual water fill control
system means a clothes washer water fill
control system which requires the
consumer to determine or select the
water fill level.
1.21 Modified energy factor means
the quotient of the cubic foot (or liter)
capacity of the clothes container
divided by the total clothes washer
energy consumption per cycle, with
such energy consumption expressed as
the sum of the machine electrical energy
consumption, the hot water energy
consumption, and the energy required
for removal of the remaining moisture in
the wash load.
1.22 Non-water-heating clothes
washer means a clothes washer which
does not have an internal water heating
device to generate hot water.
1.23 Off mode means a mode in
which the clothes washer is connected
to a mains power source and is not
providing any active or standby mode
function, and where the mode may
persist for an indefinite time. An
indicator that only shows the user that
the product is in the off position is
included within the classification of an
off mode.
1.24 Self-clean mode means an
active clothes washer operating mode
that is:
(a) Dedicated to cleaning,
deodorizing, or sanitizing the clothes
washer by eliminating sources of odor,
bacteria, mold, and mildew;
(b) Recommended to be run
intermittently by the manufacturer; and
(c) Separate from clothes washing
cycles.
1.25 Spray rinse cycle means a rinse
cycle in which water is sprayed onto the
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clothes for a period of time without
maintaining any specific water level in
the clothes container.
1.26 Standard means a clothes
washer which has a clothes container
capacity of 1.6 ft3 (45 L) or greater.
1.27 Standby mode means any
modes in which the clothes washer is
connected to a mains power source and
offers one or more of the following user
oriented or protective functions that
may persist for an indefinite time:
(a) To facilitate the activation of other
modes (including activation or
deactivation of active mode) by remote
switch (including remote control),
internal sensor, or timer;
(b) Continuous functions, including
information or status displays
(including clocks) or sensor-based
functions. A timer is a continuous clock
function (which may or may not be
associated with a display) that provides
regular scheduled tasks (e.g., switching)
and that operates on a continuous basis.
1.28 Steam cycle means a wash
cycle in which steam is injected into the
clothes container.
1.29 Symbol usage. The following
identity relationships are provided to
help clarify the symbology used
throughout this procedure.
E—Electrical Energy Consumption;
H—Hot Water Consumption;
C—Cold Water Consumption;
R—Hot Water Consumed by Warm
Rinse;
TUF—Temperature Use Factor;
HE—Hot Water Energy Consumption;
F—Load Usage Factor;
Q—Total Water Consumption;
ME—Machine Electrical Energy
Consumption;
RMC—Remaining Moisture Content;
WI—Initial Weight of Dry Test Load;
WC—Weight of Test Load After
Extraction;
P—Power;
S—Annual Hours;
s—Steam Wash;
m—Extra Hot Wash (maximum wash
temp. > 135 °F (57.2 °C));
h—Hot Wash (maximum wash temp.
≤ 135 °F (57.2 °C));
w—Warm Wash;
c—Cold Wash (minimum wash temp.);
r—Warm Rinse (hottest rinse temp.);
sc—Self Clean;
x or max—Maximum Test Load;
a or avg—Average Test Load;
n or min—Minimum Test Load;
ia—Inactive Mode;
o—Off Mode;
oi—Combined Off and Inactive Modes;
LP—Combined Low-Power Mode.
The following examples are provided
to show how the above symbols can be
used to define variables:
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Emx = ‘‘Electrical Energy Consumption’’
for an ‘‘Extra Hot Wash’’ and
‘‘Maximum Test Load’’.
Ra = ‘‘Hot Water Consumed by Warm
Rinse’’ for the ‘‘Average Test Load’’.
TUFm = ‘‘Temperature Use Factor’’ for
an ‘‘Extra Hot Wash’’.
HEmin = ‘‘Hot Water Energy
Consumption’’ for the ‘‘Minimum
Test Load’’.
Qsc = ‘‘Total Water Consumption’’ for
‘‘Self Clean’’.
Pia = ‘‘Power’’ in ‘‘Inactive Mode’’.
So = ‘‘Annual Hours’’ in ‘‘Off Mode’’.
1.30 Temperature use factor means,
for a particular wash/rinse temperature
setting, the percentage of the total
number of wash loads that an average
user would wash with that setting.
1.31 Thermostatically controlled
water valves means clothes washer
controls that have the ability to sense
and adjust the hot and cold supply
water.
1.32 Uniformly distributed warm
wash temperature selection(s) means (A)
Multiple warm wash selections for
which the warm wash water
temperatures have a linear relationship
with all discrete warm wash selections
when the water temperatures are plotted
against equally spaced consecutive
warm wash selections between the
hottest warm wash and the coldest
warm wash. If the warm wash has
infinite selections, the warm wash water
temperature has a linear relationship
with the distance on the selection
device (e.g. dial angle or slide
movement) between the hottest warm
wash and the coldest warm wash. The
criteria for a linear relationship as
specified above is that the difference
between the actual water temperature at
any warm wash selection and the point
where that temperature is depicted on
the temperature/selection line formed
by connecting the warmest and the
coldest warm selections is less than ± 5
percent. In all cases, the mean water
temperature of the warmest and the
coldest warm selections must coincide
with the mean of the ‘‘hot wash’’
(maximum wash temperature ≤ 135 °F
(57.2 °C)) and ‘‘cold wash’’ (minimum
wash temperature) water temperatures
within ± 3.8 °F (± 2.1 °C); or (B) on a
clothes washer with only one warm
wash temperature selection, a warm
wash temperature selection with a water
temperature that coincides with the
mean of the ‘‘hot wash’’ (maximum
wash temperature ≤ 135 °F (57.2 °C))
and ‘‘cold wash’’ (minimum wash
temperature) water temperatures within
± 3.8 °F (± 2.1 °C).
1.33 Warm rinse means the hottest
rinse temperature available on the
machine.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules
1.34 Warm wash means all wash
temperature selections that are below
the maximum wash temperature ≤ 135
°F (57.2 °C) and above the minimum
wash temperature.
1.35 Water consumption factor
means the quotient of the total weighted
per-cycle water consumption divided by
the cubic foot (or liter) capacity of the
clothes washer.
1.36 Water-heating clothes washer
means a clothes washer where some or
all of the hot water for clothes washing
is generated by a water heating device
internal to the clothes washer.
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2. Testing Conditions
2.1 Installation. Install the clothes
washer in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions. For
combined low-power mode testing, the
product shall be installed in accordance
with Section 5, Paragraph 5.2 of IEC
62301 (incorporated by reference; see
§ 430.3), disregarding the provisions
regarding batteries and the
determination, classification, and
testing of relevant modes.
2.2 Electrical energy supply.
2.2.1 Supply voltage and frequency.
Maintain the electrical supply at the
clothes washer terminal block within 2
percent of 120, 120/240, or 120/208Y
volts as applicable to the particular
terminal block wiring system and
within 2 percent of the nameplate
frequency as specified by the
manufacturer. If the clothes washer has
a dual voltage conversion capability,
conduct test at the highest voltage
specified by the manufacturer.
2.2.2 Supply voltage waveform. For
the combined low-power mode testing,
maintain the electrical supply voltage
waveform indicated in Section 4,
Paragraph 4.3.2 of IEC 62301
(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3).
If the power measuring instrument used
for testing is unable to measure and
record the total harmonic content
during the test measurement period, it
is acceptable to measure and record the
total harmonic content immediately
before and after the test measurement
period.
2.3 Supply Water.
2.3.1 Clothes washers in which
electrical energy consumption or water
energy consumption are affected by the
inlet water temperature. (For example,
water heating clothes washers or clothes
washers with thermostatically
controlled water valves.). The
temperature of the hot water supply at
the water inlets shall not exceed 135 °F
(57.2 °C) and the cold water supply at
the water inlets shall not exceed 60 °F
(15.6 °C). A water meter shall be
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installed in both the hot and cold water
lines to measure water consumption.
2.3.2 Clothes washers in which
electrical energy consumption and
water energy consumption are not
affected by the inlet water temperature.
The temperature of the hot water supply
shall be maintained at 135 °F ± 5 °F
(57.2 °C ± 2.8 °C) and the cold water
supply shall be maintained at 60 °F ± 5
°F (15.6 °C ± 2.8 °C). A water meter shall
be installed in both the hot and cold
water lines to measure water
consumption.
2.4 Water pressure. The static water
pressure at the hot and cold water inlet
connection of the clothes washer shall
be maintained at 35 pounds per square
inch gauge (psig) ±2.5 psig (241.3 kPa ±
17.2 kPa) when the water is flowing.
The static water pressure for a single
water inlet connection shall be
maintained at 35 psig ± 2.5 psig (241.3
kPa ± 17.2 kPa) when the water is
flowing. A water pressure gauge shall be
installed in both the hot and cold water
lines to measure water pressure.
2.5 Instrumentation. Perform all test
measurements using the following
instruments as appropriate:
2.5.1 Weighing scales.
2.5.1.1 Weighing scale for test cloth.
The scale shall have a resolution of no
larger than 0.2 oz (5.7 g) and a
maximum error no greater than 0.3
percent of the measured value.
2.5.1.2 Weighing scale for clothes
container capacity measurement. The
scale should have a resolution no larger
than 0.50 lbs (0.23 kg) and a maximum
error no greater than 0.5 percent of the
measured value.
2.5.2 Watt-hour meter. The watthour meter shall have a resolution no
larger than 1 Wh (3.6 kJ) and a
maximum error no greater than 2
percent of the measured value for any
demand greater than 50 Wh (180.0 kJ).
2.5.3 Watt meter. The watt meter
used to measure combined low-power
mode power consumption shall comply
with the requirements specified in
Section 4, Paragraph 4.4 of IEC 62301
(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).
If the power measuring instrument used
for testing is unable to measure and
record the crest factor, power factor, or
maximum current ratio during the test
measurement period, it is acceptable to
measure the crest factor, power factor,
and maximum current ratio
immediately before and after the test
measurement period.
2.5.4 Temperature measuring
device. The device shall have an error
no greater than ± 1 °F (± 0.6 °C) over the
range being measured.
2.5.5 Water meter. The water meter
shall have a resolution no larger than
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0.1 gallons (0.4 liters) and a maximum
error no greater than 2 percent for the
water flow rates being measured.
2.5.6 Water pressure gauge. The
water pressure gauge shall have a
resolution of 1 pound per square inch
gauge (psig) (6.9 kPa) and shall have an
error no greater than
5 percent of any measured value.
2.6 Test cloths.
2.6.1 Energy Test Cloth. The energy
test cloth shall be made from energy test
cloth material, as specified in section
2.6.4 of this Appendix, that is 24 ± 1⁄2
inches by 36 ± 1⁄2 inches (61.0 ± 1.3 cm
by 91.4 ± 1.3 cm) and has been hemmed
to 22 ± 1⁄2 inches by 34 ± 1⁄2 inches (55.9
± 1.3 cm by 86.4 ± 1.3 cm) before
washing. The energy test cloth shall be
clean and shall not be used for more
than 60 test runs (after preconditioning
as specified in 2.6.3 of this appendix).
All energy test cloth must be
permanently marked identifying the lot
number of the material. Mixed lots of
material shall not be used for testing the
clothes washers.
2.6.2 Energy Stuffer Cloth. The
energy stuffer cloth shall be made from
energy test cloth material, as specified
in section 2.6.4 of this Appendix, and
shall consist of pieces of material that
are 12 ± 1⁄4 inches by 12 ± 1⁄4 inches
(30.5 ± 0.6 cm by 30.5 ± 0.6 cm) and
have been hemmed to 10 ± 1⁄4 inches by
10 ± 1⁄4 inches (25.4 ± 0.6 cm by 25.4
± 0.6 cm) before washing. The energy
stuffer cloth shall be clean and shall not
be used for more than 60 test runs (after
preconditioning as specified in section
2.6.3 of this Appendix). All energy
stuffer cloth must be permanently
marked identifying the lot number of
the material. Mixed lots of material shall
not be used for testing the clothes
washers.
2.6.3 Preconditioning of Test Cloths.
The new test cloths, including energy
test cloths and energy stuffer cloths,
shall be pre-conditioned in a clothes
washer in the following manner:
2.6.3.1 Perform 5 complete normal
wash-rinse-spin cycles, the first two
with current AHAM Standard detergent
Formula 3 and the last three without
detergent. Place the test cloth in a
clothes washer set at the maximum
water level. Wash the load for ten
minutes in soft water (17 ppm hardness
or less) using 27.0 grams + 4.0 grams per
lb of cloth load of AHAM Standard
detergent Formula 3. The wash
temperature is to be controlled to 135 °F
± 5 °F (57.2 °C ± 2.8 °C) and the rinse
temperature is to be controlled to 60 °F
± 5 °F (15.6 °C ± 2.8 °C). Repeat the
cycle with detergent and then repeat the
cycle three additional times without
detergent, bone drying the load between
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cycles (total of five wash and rinse
cycles).
2.6.4 Energy test cloth material. The
energy test cloths and energy stuffer
cloths shall be made from fabric meeting
the following specifications. The
material should come from a roll of
material with a width of approximately
63 inches and approximately 500 yards
per roll. However, other sizes may be
used if they fall within the
specifications.
2.6.4.1 Nominal fabric type. Pure
finished bleached cloth made with a
momie or granite weave, which is
nominally 50 percent cotton and 50
percent polyester.
2.6.4.2 The fabric weight
specification shall be 5.60 ± 0.25 ounces
per square yard (190.0 ± 8.4 g/m2).
2.6.4.3 The thread count shall be 65
x 57 per inch (warp × fill), ±2 percent.
2.6.4.4 The warp yarn and filling
yarn shall each have fiber content of 50
percent ± 4 percent cotton, with the
balance being polyester, and be open
end spun, 15/1 ± 5 percent cotton count
blended yarn.
2.6.4.5 Water repellent finishes,
such as fluoropolymer stain resistant
finishes shall not be applied to the test
cloth. The absence of such finishes shall
be verified by:
2.6.4.5.1 American Association of
Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
Test Method 118–2007, Oil Repellency:
Hydrocarbon Resistance Test
(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3),
of each new lot of test cloth (when
purchased from the mill) to confirm the
absence of ScotchguardTM or other
water repellent finish (required scores of
‘‘D’’ across the board).
2.6.4.5.2 American Association of
Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
Test Method 79–2010, Absorbency of
Bleached Textiles (incorporated by
reference; see § 430.3), of each new lot
of test cloth (when purchased from the
mill) to confirm the absence of
ScotchguardTM or other water repellent
finish (time to absorb one drop should
be on the order of 1 second).
2.6.4.6 The moisture absorption and
retention shall be evaluated for each
new lot of test cloth by the Standard
Extractor Remaining Moisture Content
(RMC) Test specified in section 2.6.5 of
this Appendix.
2.6.4.6.1 Repeat the Standard
Extractor RMC Test in section 2.6.5 of
this Appendix three times.
2.6.4.6.2 An RMC correction curve
shall be calculated as specified in
section 2.6.6 of this Appendix.
2.6.4.7 The maximum shrinkage
after preconditioning shall not be more
than 5 percent on the length and width.
Measure per AATCC Test Method 135–
2010, Dimensional Changes of Fabrics
After Home Laundering (incorporated
by reference; see § 430.3).
2.6.5 Standard Extractor RMC Test
Procedure. The following procedure is
used to evaluate the moisture absorption
and retention characteristics of a lot of
test cloth by measuring the RMC in a
standard extractor at a specified set of
conditions. Table 2.6.5 of this Appendix
is the matrix of test conditions. When
this matrix is repeated 3 times, a total
of 60 extractor RMC test runs are
required. For the purpose of the
extractor RMC test, the test cloths may
be used for up to 60 test runs (after
preconditioning as specified in section
2.6.3 of this Appendix).
TABLE 2.6.5—MATRIX OF EXTRACTOR RMC TEST CONDITIONS
Warm soak
15 min. spin
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100
200
350
500
650
Cold soak
4 min. spin
15 min. spin
4 min. spin
...................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
2.6.5.1 The standard extractor RMC
tests shall be run in a North Star
Engineered Products Inc. (formerly
Bock) Model 215 extractor (having a
basket diameter of 19.5 inches, length of
12 inches, and volume of 2.1 ft3), with
a variable speed drive (North Star
Engineered Products, P.O. Box 5127,
Toledo, OH 43611) or an equivalent
extractor with same basket design (i.e.,
diameter, length, volume, and hole
configuration) and variable speed drive.
2.6.5.2 Test Load. Test cloths shall
be preconditioned in accordance with
section 2.6.3 of this Appendix. The load
size shall be 8.4 lbs, consistent with
section 3.8.1 of this Appendix.
2.6.5.3 Procedure.
2.6.5.3.1 Record the ‘‘bone-dry’’
weight of the test load (WI).
2.6.5.3.2 Prepare the test load for
soak by grouping four test cloths into
loose bundles. Bundles are created by
hanging four cloths vertically from one
corner and loosely wrapping the test
cloth onto itself to form the bundle.
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Bundles are then placed into the water
for soak. Eight to nine bundles will be
formed depending on the test load. The
ninth bundle may not equal four cloths
but can incorporate energy stuffer cloths
to help offset the size difference.
2.6.5.3.3 Soak the test load for 20
minutes in 10 gallons of soft (<17 ppm)
water. The entire test load shall be
submerged. The water temperature shall
be 100 °F ± 5°F (38 °C ± 3 °C)
2.6.5.3.4 Remove the test load and
allow each of the test cloth bundles to
drain over the water bath for a
maximum of 5 seconds.
2.6.5.3.5 Manually place the test
cloth bundles in the basket of the
extractor, distributing them evenly by
eye. The draining and loading process
should take less than 1 minute. Spin the
load at a fixed speed corresponding to
the intended centripetal acceleration
level (measured in units of the
acceleration of gravity, g) ± 1g for the
intended time period ± 5 seconds.
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2.6.5.3.6 Record the weight of the
test load immediately after the
completion of the extractor spin cycle
(WC).
2.6.5.3.7 Calculate the RMC as (WC–
WI)/WI.
2.6.5.3.8 It is not necessary to drain
the soak tub if the water bath is
corrected for water level and
temperature before the next extraction.
2.6.5.3.9 It is not necessary to dry
the test load in between extraction runs.
However, the bone dry weight shall be
checked after every 12 extraction runs to
make sure the bone dry weight is within
tolerance (8.4 ± 0.1 lb).
2.6.5.3.10 The RMC of the test load
shall be measured at five g levels: 100
g, 200 g,
350 g, 500 g, and 650 g, using two
different spin times at each g level: 4
minutes and 15 minutes.
2.6.5.4 Repeat section 2.6.5.3 of this
Appendix using soft (<17 ppm) water at
60 °F ± 5 °F.
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2.6.6 Calculation of RMC Correction
Curve.
2.6.6.1 Average the values of 3 test
runs and fill in Table 2.6.5 of this
Appendix. Perform a linear least-
(RMCcloth): RMCstandard ¥ A × RMCcloth +
B
squares fit to relate the standard RMC
(RMCstandard) values (shown in Table
2.6.6.1 of this Appendix) to the values
measured in section 2.6.5 of this
Appendix:
where A and B are coefficients of the
linear least-squares fit.
TABLE 2.6.6.1—STANDARD RMC VALUES
[RMC Standard]
RMC percentage
‘‘g Force’’
Warm soak
15 min. spin
100
200
350
500
650
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...................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
2.6.6.2 Perform an analysis of
variance test using two factors, spin
speed and lot, to check the interaction
of speed and lot. Use the values from
Table 2.6.5 and Table 2.6.6.1 of this
Appendix in the calculation. The ‘‘P’’
value in the variance analysis shall be
greater than or equal to 0.1. If the ‘‘P’’
value is less than 0.1, the test cloth is
unacceptable. ‘‘P’’ is a theoretically
based probability of interaction based
on an analysis of variance.
2.6.7 Application of the RMC
correction curve.
Cold soak
4 min. spin
45.9
35.7
29.6
24.2
23.0
2.6.7.1 Using the coefficients A and
B calculated in section 2.6.6.1 of this
Appendix:
RMCcorr = A × RMC + B
2.6.7.2 Substitute RMCcorr values in
calculations in section 3.8 of this
Appendix.
2.7 Test Load Sizes. Maximum,
minimum, and, when required, average
test load sizes shall be determined using
Table 5.1 of this Appendix and the
clothes container capacity as measured
in sections 3.1.1 through 3.1.5 of this
Appendix. Test loads shall consist of
15 min. spin
49.9
40.4
33.1
28.7
26.4
4 min. spin
49.7
37.9
30.7
25.5
24.1
52.8
43.1
35.8
30.0
28.0
energy test cloths, except that
adjustments to the test loads to achieve
proper weight can be made by the use
of energy stuffer cloths with no more
than 5 stuffer cloths per load.
2.8 Use of Test Loads. Table 2.8 of
this Appendix defines the test load sizes
and corresponding water fill settings
which are to be used when measuring
water and energy consumptions.
Adaptive water fill control system and
manual water fill control system are
defined in section 1 of this Appendix:
TABLE 2.8—TEST LOAD SIZES AND WATER FILL SETTINGS REQUIRED
Manual water fill control system
Adaptive water fill control system
Water fill setting
Test load size
Water fill setting
Max ................................................
Min .................................................
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Test load size
Max ...............................................
Min ................................................
Max ...............................................
Avg ................................................
Min ................................................
As determined by the Clothes
Washer.
2.8.1 The test load sizes to be used
to measure RMC are specified in section
3.8.1 of this Appendix.
2.8.2 Test loads for energy and water
consumption measurements shall be
bone dry prior to the first cycle of the
test, and dried to a maximum of 104
percent of bone dry weight for
subsequent testing.
2.8.3 Load the energy test cloths by
grasping them in the center, shaking
them to hang loosely and then put them
into the clothes container prior to
activating the clothes washer.
2.9 Pre-Conditioning.
2.9.1 Non-water-heating clothes
washer. If the clothes washer has not
been filled with water in the preceding
96 hours, pre-condition it by running it
through a cold rinse cycle and then
draining it to ensure that the hose,
pump, and sump are filled with water.
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2.9.2 Water-heating clothes washer.
If the clothes washer has not been filled
with water in the preceding 96 hours, or
if it has not been in the test room at the
specified ambient conditions for 8
hours, pre-condition it by running it
through a cold rinse cycle and then
draining it to ensure that the hose,
pump, and sump are filled with water.
2.10 Wash time setting. If one wash
time is prescribed in the energy test
cycle, that shall be the wash time
setting; otherwise, the wash time setting
shall be the higher of either the
minimum or 70 percent of the
maximum wash time available in the
energy test cycle, regardless of the
labeling of suggested dial locations. If
the clothes washer is equipped with an
electromechanical dial controlling wash
time, reset the dial to the minimum
wash time and then turn it in the
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direction of increasing wash time to
reach the appropriate setting. If the
appropriate setting is passed, return the
dial to the minimum wash time and
then turn in the direction of increasing
wash time until the setting is reached.
2.11 Test room temperature.
2.11.1 Non-water-heating clothes
washer. For combined low-power mode
testing, maintain room ambient air
temperature conditions as specified in
Section 4, Paragraph 4.2 of IEC 62301
(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3).
2.11.2 Water-heating clothes washer.
Maintain the test room ambient air
temperature at 75°F ± 5°F (23.9°C ±
2.8°C). For combined low-power mode
testing, maintain room ambient air
temperature conditions as specified in
Section 4, Paragraph 4.2 of IEC 62301
(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3).
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2.12 Bone dryer temperature. The
dryer used for bone drying must heat
the test cloth and energy stuffer cloths
above 210 °F (99 °C).
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3. Test Measurements
3.1 Clothes container capacity.
Measure the entire volume which a dry
clothes load could occupy within the
clothes container during washer
operation according to the following
procedures:
3.1.1 Place the clothes washer in
such a position that the uppermost edge
of the clothes container opening is
leveled horizontally, so that the
container will hold the maximum
amount of water.
3.1.2 Line the inside of the clothes
container with 2 mil (0.051 mm) plastic
sheet. All clothes washer components
which occupy space within the clothes
container and which are recommended
for use with the energy test cycle shall
be in place and shall be lined with 2 mil
(0.051 mm) plastic sheet to prevent
water from entering any void space.
3.1.3 Record the total weight of the
machine before adding water.
3.1.4 Fill the clothes container
manually with either 60 °F ± 5 °F (15.6
°C ± 2.8 °C) or 100 °F ± 10 °F (37.8 °C
± 5.5 °C) water, with the door open. For
a top-loading, vertical-axis clothes
washer, fill the clothes container to the
uppermost edge of the rotating portion,
including any balance ring. For a frontloading, horizontal-axis clothes washer,
fill the clothes container to the
uppermost edge that is in contact with
the door seal. For all clothes washers,
any volume which cannot be occupied
by the clothing load during operation
must be excluded from the
measurement. Measure and record the
weight of water, W, in pounds.
3.1.5 The clothes container capacity
is calculated as follows:
C = W/d
Where:
C = Capacity in cubic feet (liters).
W = Mass of water in pounds
(kilograms).
d = Density of water (62.0 lbs/ft3 for 100
°F (993 kg/m3 for 37.8 °C) or 62.3
lbs/ft3 for 60 °F (998 kg/m3 for 15.6
°C)).
3.2 Procedure for measuring water
and energy consumption values on all
automatic and semi-automatic washers.
All energy consumption tests shall be
performed under the energy test
cycle(s), unless otherwise specified.
Table 3.2 of this Appendix defines the
sections below which govern tests of
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particular clothes washers, based on the
number of wash/rinse temperature
selections available on the model, and
also, in some instances, method of water
heating. The procedures prescribed are
applicable regardless of a clothes
washer’s washing capacity, loading port
location, primary axis of rotation of the
clothes container, and type of control
system.
3.2.1 Inlet water temperature and
the wash/rinse temperature settings.
3.2.1.1 For automatic clothes
washers set the wash/rinse temperature
selection control to obtain the wash
water temperature selection control to
obtain the wash water temperature
desired (extra hot, hot, warm, or cold)
and cold rinse, and open both the hot
and cold water faucets.
3.2.1.2 For semi-automatic washers:
(1) For hot water temperature, open
the hot water faucet completely and
close the cold water faucet;
(2) For warm inlet water temperature,
open both hot and cold water faucets
completely;
(3) For cold water temperature, close
the hot water faucet and open the cold
water faucet completely.
3.2.1.3 Determination of warm wash
water temperature(s) to decide whether
a clothes washer has uniformly
distributed warm wash temperature
selections. The wash water temperature,
Tw, of each warm water wash selection
shall be calculated or measured.
(1) For non-water heating clothes
washers, calculate Tw as follows:
Tw(°F) = ((Hw × 135 °F) + (Cw × 60 °F))/
(Hw+Cw)
or
Tw(°C) = ((Hw × 57.2 °C) + (Cw × 15.6
°C))/(Hw + Cw)
Where:
Hw = Hot water consumption of a warm
wash.
Cw = Cold water consumption of a
warm wash.
(2) For water-heating clothes washers,
measure and record the temperature of
each warm wash selection after fill.
3.2.2 Total water consumption
during the energy test cycle shall be
measured, including hot and cold water
consumption during wash, deep rinse,
and spray rinse.
3.2.3 Clothes washers with adaptive
water fill/manual water fill control
systems
3.2.3.1 Clothes washers with
adaptive water fill control system and
alternate manual water fill control
systems. If a clothes washer with an
adaptive water fill control system allows
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consumer selection of manual controls
as an alternative, then both manual and
adaptive modes shall be tested and, for
each mode, the energy consumption
(HET, MET, and DE) and water
consumption (QT), values shall be
calculated as set forth in section 4 of
this Appendix. Then the average of the
two values (one from each mode,
adaptive and manual) for each variable
shall be used in section 4 of this
Appendix for the clothes washer.
3.2.3.2 Clothes washers with
adaptive water fill control system.
3.2.3.2.1 Not user adjustable. The
maximum, minimum, and average water
levels as defined in the following
sections shall be interpreted to mean
that amount of water fill which is
selected by the control system when the
respective test loads are used, as defined
in Table 2.8 of this Appendix. The load
usage factors which shall be used when
calculating energy consumption values
are defined in Table 4.1.3 of this
Appendix.
3.2.3.2.2 User adjustable. Four tests
shall be conducted on clothes washers
with user adjustable adaptive water fill
controls which affect the relative wash
water levels. The first test shall be
conducted with the maximum test load
and with the adaptive water fill control
system set in the setting that will give
the most energy intensive result. The
second test shall be conducted with the
minimum test load and with the
adaptive water fill control system set in
the setting that will give the least energy
intensive result. The third test shall be
conducted with the average test load
and with the adaptive water fill control
system set in the setting that will give
the most energy intensive result for the
given test load. The fourth test shall be
conducted with the average test load
and with the adaptive water fill control
system set in the setting that will give
the least energy intensive result for the
given test load. The energy and water
consumption for the average test load
and water level shall be the average of
the third and fourth tests.
3.2.3.3 Clothes washers with manual
water fill control system. In accordance
with Table 2.8 of this Appendix, the
water fill selector shall be set to the
maximum water level available on the
clothes washer for the maximum test
load size and set to the minimum water
level for the minimum test load size.
The load usage factors which shall be
used when calculating energy
consumption values are defined in
Table 4.1.3 of this Appendix.
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TABLE 3.2—TEST SECTION REFERENCE
≤135 °F (57.2 °C)
Max. Wash Temp. Available
>135 °F (57.2 °C) **
Number of Wash Temp. Selections
1
2
>2
3
Test Sections Required to be Followed ..................................................
....................
....................
....................
3.6
....................
3.8
....................
....................
3.4
....................
3.6
....................
3.8
....................
....................
3.4
3.5
3.6
*3.7
3.8
....................
3.3
....................
3.5
3.6
*3.7
3.8
†3.9
* Only
** Only
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† Only
>3
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
*3.7
3.8
†3.9
applicable to machines with warm rinse.
applicable to water heating clothes washers on which the maximum wash temperature available exceeds 135 °F (57.2 °C).
applicable to machines equipped with a steam cycle.
3.3 ‘‘Extra Hot Wash’’ (Max Wash
Temp > 135 °F (57.2 °C)) for water
heating clothes washers only. Water and
electrical energy consumption shall be
measured for each water fill level and/
or test load size as specified in sections
3.3.1 through 3.3.3 of this Appendix for
the hottest wash setting available.
3.3.1 Maximum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hmx), cold
water consumption (Cmx), and electrical
energy consumption (Emx) shall be
measured for an extra hot wash/cold
rinse energy test cycle, with the controls
set for the maximum water fill level.
The maximum test load size is to be
used and shall be determined per Table
5.1 of this Appendix.
3.3.2 Minimum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hmn), cold
water consumption (Cmn), and electrical
energy consumption (Emn) shall be
measured for an extra hot wash/cold
rinse energy test cycle, with the controls
set for the minimum water fill level. The
minimum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.3.3 Average test load and water
fill. For clothes washers with an
adaptive water fill control system,
measure the values for hot water
consumption (Hma), cold water
consumption (Cma), and electrical
energy consumption (Ema) for an extra
hot wash/cold rinse energy test cycle,
with an average test load size as
determined per Table 5.1 of this
Appendix.
3.4 ‘‘Hot Wash’’ (Max Wash Temp ≤
135 °F (57.2 °C)). Water and electrical
energy consumption shall be measured
for each water fill level or test load size
as specified in sections 3.4.1 through
3.4.3 of this Appendix for a 135 °F (57.2
°C) wash, if available, or for the hottest
selection less than 135 °F (57.2 °C).
3.4.1 Maximum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hhx), cold
water consumption (Chx), and electrical
energy consumption (Ehx) shall be
measured for a hot wash/cold rinse
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energy test cycle, with the controls set
for the maximum water fill level. The
maximum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.4.2 Minimum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hhn), cold
water consumption (Chn), and electrical
energy consumption (Ehn) shall be
measured for a hot wash/cold rinse
energy test cycle, with the controls set
for the minimum water fill level. The
minimum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.4.3 Average test load and water
fill. For clothes washers with an
adaptive water fill control system,
measure the values for hot water
consumption (Hha), cold water
consumption (Cha), and electrical
energy consumption (Eha) for a hot
wash/cold rinse energy test cycle, with
an average test load size as determined
per Table 5.1 of this Appendix.
3.5 ‘‘Warm Wash.’’ Water and
electrical energy consumption shall be
determined for each water fill level and/
or test load size as specified in sections
3.5.1 through 3.5.2.3 of this Appendix
for the applicable warm water wash
temperature(s) with a cold rinse.
3.5.1 Clothes washers with
uniformly distributed warm wash
temperature selection(s). The reportable
values to be used for the warm water
wash setting shall be the arithmetic
average of the measurements for the hot
and cold wash selections. This is a
calculation only, no testing is required.
3.5.2 Clothes washers that lack
uniformly distributed warm wash
temperature selections. For a clothes
washer with fewer than four discrete
warm wash selections, test all warm
wash temperature selections. For a
clothes washer that offers four or more
warm wash selections, test at all
discrete selections, or test at 25 percent,
50 percent, and 75 percent positions of
the temperature selection device
between the hottest hot (≤ 135 °F (57.2
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°C)) wash and the coldest cold wash. If
a selection is not available at the 25, 50
or 75 percent position, in place of each
such unavailable selection use the next
warmer setting. Each reportable value to
be used for the warm water wash setting
shall be the arithmetic average of all
tests conducted pursuant to this section.
3.5.2.1 Maximum test load and
water fill. Hot water consumption
(Hwx), cold water consumption (Cwx),
and electrical energy consumption (Ewx)
shall be measured with the controls set
for the maximum water fill level. The
maximum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.5.2.2 Minimum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hwn), cold
water consumption (Cwn), and electrical
energy consumption (Ewn) shall be
measured with the controls set for the
minimum water fill level. The minimum
test load size is to be used and shall be
determined per Table 5.1 of this
Appendix.
3.5.2.3 Average test load and water
fill. For clothes washers with an
adaptive water fill control system,
measure the values for hot water
consumption (Hwa), cold water
consumption (Cwa), and electrical
energy consumption (Ewa) with an
average test load size as determined per
Table 5.1 of this Appendix.
3.6 ‘‘Cold Wash’’ (Minimum Wash
Temperature Selection). Water and
electrical energy consumption shall be
measured for each water fill level or test
load size as specified in sections 3.6.1
through 3.6.3 of this Appendix for the
coldest wash temperature selection
available. For a clothes washer that
offers two or more wash temperature
settings labeled as cold, such as ‘‘Cold’’
and ‘‘Tap Cold’’, the setting with the
minimum wash temperature shall be
considered the cold wash. If any of the
other cold wash temperature settings
add hot water to raise the wash
temperature above the cold water
supply temperature, as defined in
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section 2.3 of this Appendix, those
setting(s) shall be considered warm
wash setting(s), as defined in section
1.34 of this Appendix. If none of the
cold wash temperature settings add hot
water for any of the water fill levels or
test load sizes required for the energy
test cycle, the wash temperature setting
labeled as ‘‘Cold’’ shall be considered
the cold wash, and the other wash
temperature setting(s) labeled as cold
shall not be required for testing.
3.6.1 Maximum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hcx), cold
water consumption (Ccx), and electrical
energy consumption (Ecx) shall be
measured for a cold wash/cold rinse
energy test cycle, with the controls set
for the maximum water fill level. The
maximum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.6.2 Minimum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hcn), cold
water consumption (Ccn), and electrical
energy consumption (Ecn) shall be
measured for a cold wash/cold rinse
energy test cycle, with the controls set
for the minimum water fill level. The
minimum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.6.3 Average test load and water
fill. For clothes washers with an
adaptive water fill control system,
measure the values for hot water
consumption (Hca), cold water
consumption (Cca), and electrical energy
consumption (Eca) for a cold wash/cold
rinse energy test cycle, with an average
test load size as determined per Table
5.1 of this Appendix.
3.7 ‘‘Warm Wash/Warm Rinse.’’
Water and electrical energy
consumption shall be determined for
each water fill level and/or test load size
as specified in sections 3.7.2.1 through
3.7.2.3 of this Appendix for the
applicable warm wash temperature
selection as described in section 3.7.1 or
3.7.2 of this Appendix and the hottest
available rinse temperature selection.
3.7.1 Clothes washers with
uniformly distributed warm wash
temperature selection(s). Test the warm
wash/warm rinse cycle at the wash
temperature selection with the
temperature selection device at the 50
percent position between the hottest hot
(≤ 135 °F (57.2 °C)) wash and the coldest
cold wash.
3.7.2 Clothes washers that lack
uniformly distributed warm wash
temperature selections. For a clothes
washer with fewer than four discrete
warm wash selections, test all warm
wash temperature selections. For a
clothes washer that offers four or more
warm wash selections, test at all
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discrete selections, or test at 25 percent,
50 percent, and 75 percent positions of
the temperature selection device
between the hottest hot (≤ 135 °F (57.2
°C)) wash and the coldest cold wash. If
a selection is not available at the 25, 50,
or 75 percent position, in place of each
such unavailable selection use the next
warmer setting. Each reportable value to
be used for the warm water wash setting
shall be the arithmetic average of all
tests conducted pursuant to this section.
3.7.2.1 Maximum test load and
water fill. Hot water consumption
(Hwwx), cold water consumption
(Cwwx), and electrical energy
consumption (Ewwx) shall be measured
with the controls set for the maximum
water fill level. The maximum test load
size is to be used and shall be
determined per Table 5.1 of this
Appendix.
3.7.2.2 Minimum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hwwn),
cold water consumption (Cwwn), and
electrical energy consumption (Ewwn)
shall be measured with the controls set
for the minimum water fill level. The
minimum test load size is to be used
and shall be determined per Table 5.1
of this Appendix.
3.7.2.3 Average test load and water
fill. For clothes washers with an
adaptive water fill control system,
measure the values for hot water
consumption (Hwwa), cold water
consumption (Cwwa), and electrical
energy consumption (Ewwa) with an
average test load size as determined per
Table 5.1 of this Appendix.
3.8 Remaining Moisture Content:
3.8.1 The wash temperature will be
the same as the rinse temperature for all
testing. Use the maximum test load as
defined in Table 5.1 and section 3.1 of
this Appendix for testing.
3.8.2 For clothes washers with cold
rinse only:
3.8.2.1 Record the actual ‘‘bone dry’’
weight of the test load (WImax), then
place the test load in the clothes washer.
3.8.2.2 Set water level selector to
maximum fill.
3.8.2.3 Run the energy test cycle.
3.8.2.4 Record the weight of the test
load immediately after completion of
the energy test cycle (WCmax).
3.8.2.5 Calculate the remaining
moisture content of the maximum test
load, RMCmax, expressed as a percentage
and defined as:
RMCmax = ((WCmax ¥ WImax)/WImax) ×
100%
3.8.3 For clothes washers with cold
and warm rinse options:
3.8.3.1 Complete sections 3.8.2.1
through 3.8.2.4 of this Appendix for
cold rinse. Calculate the remaining
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moisture content of the maximum test
load for cold rinse, RMCCOLD, expressed
as a percentage and defined as:
RMCCOLD = ((WCmax¥ WImax)/WImax) ×
100%
3.8.3.2 Complete sections 3.8.2.1
through 3.8.2.4 of this Appendix for
warm rinse. Calculate the remaining
moisture content of the maximum test
load for warm rinse, RMCWARM,
expressed as a percentage and defined
as:
RMCWARM = ((WCmax ¥ WImax)/WImax) ×
100%
3.8.3.3 Calculate the remaining
moisture content of the maximum test
load, RMCmax, expressed as a percentage
and defined as:
RMCmax = RMCCOLD × (1 ¥ TUFr) +
RMCWARM × (TUFr)
where:
TUFr is the temperature use factor for
warm rinse as defined in Table 4.1.1 of
this Appendix.
3.8.4 Clothes washers that have
options such as multiple selections of
spin speeds or spin times that result in
different RMC values and that are
available in the energy test cycle, shall
be tested at the maximum and minimum
extremes of the available options,
excluding any ‘‘no spin’’ (zero spin
speed) settings, in accordance with
requirements in section 3.8.2 or 3.8.3 of
this Appendix. The calculated
RMCmax,max extraction and
RMCmax,min extraction at the maximum and
minimum settings, respectively, shall be
combined as follows and the final RMC
to be used in section 4.3 of this
Appendix shall be:
RMC = 0.75 × RMCmax,max extraction + 0.25
× RMCmax,min extraction
3.9 ‘‘Steam Wash’’ for clothes
washers equipped with a steam cycle.
Water and electrical energy
consumption shall be measured for each
water fill level and/or test load size as
specified in sections 3.9.1 through 3.9.3
of this Appendix for the hottest wash
setting available with steam.
3.9.1 Maximum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hsx), cold
water consumption (Csx), and electrical
energy consumption (Esx) shall be
measured for a steam energy test cycle,
with the controls set for the maximum
water fill level. The maximum test load
size is to be used and shall be
determined per Table 5.1 of this
Appendix.
3.9.2 Minimum test load and water
fill. Hot water consumption (Hsn), cold
water consumption (Csn), and electrical
energy consumption (Esn) shall be
measured for a steam energy test cycle,
with the controls set for the minimum
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water fill level. The minimum test load
size is to be used and shall be
determined per Table 5.1 of this
Appendix.
3.9.3 Average test load and water
fill. For clothes washers with an
adaptive water fill control system,
measure the values for hot water
consumption (Hsa), cold water
consumption (Csa), and electrical energy
consumption (Esa) for a steam energy
test cycle using an average test load size
as determined per Table 5.1 of this
Appendix.
3.10 Self-clean. Set the controls to
obtain the self-clean cycle. Hot water
consumption (Hsc), cold water
consumption (Csc), and electric energy
consumption (Esc) shall be measured for
the self-clean cycle. Do not use a test
load.
3.11 Combined low-power mode
power. Connect the clothes washer to a
watt meter as specified in section 2.5.3
of this Appendix. Establish the testing
conditions set forth in sections 2.1, 2.2
and 2.11 of this Appendix. For clothes
washers that take some time to enter a
stable state from a higher power state as
discussed in Section 5, Paragraph 5.1,
note 1 of IEC 62301 (incorporated by
reference; see § 430.3), allow sufficient
time for the clothes washer to reach the
lower power state before proceeding
with the test measurement. Follow the
test procedure for the sampling method
specified in Section 5, Paragraph 5.3.2
of IEC 62301 for testing in each possible
mode as described in sections 3.11.1
and 3.11.2 of this Appendix.
3.11.1 If a clothes washer has an
inactive mode as defined in section 1.15
of this Appendix, measure and record
the average inactive mode power of the
clothes washer, Pia, in watts.
cycle), at maximum, average, and
minimum water fill, respectively,
for the extra hot wash cycle with
the appropriate test loads as defined
in section 2.8 of this Appendix.
4. Calculation of Derived Results From
Hhx, Hha, and Hhn, are reported hot
Test Measurements
water consumption values, in
4.1 Hot water and machine electrical
gallons per-cycle (or liters per
energy consumption of clothes washers.
cycle), at maximum, average, and
4.1.1 Per-cycle temperatureminimum water fill, respectively,
weighted hot water consumption for
for the hot wash cycle with the
maximum, average, and minimum
appropriate test loads as defined in
water fill levels using each appropriate
section 2.8 of this Appendix.
load size as defined in section 2.8 and
Hwx, Hwa, and Hwn, are reported hot
Table 5.1 of this Appendix. Calculate for
water consumption values, in
the cycle under test the per-cycle
gallons per-cycle (or liters per
temperature weighted hot water
cycle), at maximum, average, and
consumption for the maximum water
minimum water fill, respectively,
fill level, Vhx, the average water fill
for the warm wash cycle with the
level, Vha, and the minimum water fill
appropriate test loads as defined in
level, Vhn, expressed in gallons per
section 2.8 of this Appendix.
cycle (or liters per cycle) and defined as: Hwwx, Hwwa, and Hwwn, are reported
(a) Vhx = [Hsx × TUFs] + [Hmx ×
hot water consumption values, in
TUFm] + [Hhx × TUFh] + [Hwx
gallons per-cycle (or liters per
× TUFw] + [Hwwx × TUFww] + [Hcx ×
cycle), at maximum, average, and
TUFc]
minimum water fill, respectively,
(b) Vha = [Hsa × TUFs] + [Hma
for the warm wash/warm rinse
× TUFm] + [Hha × TUFh] + [Hwa
cycle with the appropriate test
× TUFw] + [Hwwa × TUFww] + [Hca ×
loads as defined in section 2.8 of
TUFc]
this Appendix.
(c) Vhn = [Hsn × TUFs] + [Hmn × TUFm]
Hcx, Hca, and Hcn, are reported hot
+ [Hhn × TUFh] + [Hwn
water consumption values, in
× TUFw] + [Hwwn × TUFww] + [Hcn
gallons per-cycle (or liters per
× TUFc]
cycle), at maximum, average, and
Where:
minimum water fill, respectively,
for the cold wash cycle with the
Hsx, Hsa, and Hsn, are reported hot water
appropriate test loads as defined in
consumption values, in gallons per
section 2.8 of this Appendix.
cycle (or liters per cycle), at
TUFs, TUFm, TUFh, TUFw, TUFww, and
maximum, average, and minimum
TUFc are temperature use factors for
water fill, respectively, for the
steam wash, extra hot wash, hot
steam cycle with the appropriate
wash, warm wash, warm wash/
test loads as defined in section 2.8
warm rinse, and cold wash
of this Appendix.
temperature selections,
Hmx, Hma, and Hmn, are reported hot
respectively, and are as defined in
water consumption values, in
Table 4.1.1 of this Appendix.
gallons per-cycle (or liters per
3.11.2 If a clothes washer has an off
mode as defined in section 1.23 of this
Appendix, measure and record its
average off mode power, Po, in watts.
TABLE 4.1.1—TEMPERATURE USE FACTORS
≤ 135
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No. Wash Temp Selections .....................
TUFs (steam) ............................................
TUFm (extra hot) ......................................
TUFh (hot) ................................................
TUFww (warm/warm) ................................
TUFw (warm) ............................................
TUFc (cold) ...............................................
≤ 135 °F
≤ 135 °F
>135 °F
>135 °F
(57.2 °C)
Max wash temp available
(57.2 °C)
(57.2 °C)
(57.2 °C)
(57.2 °C)
Single
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
1.00
2 Temps
NA
NA
0.63
NA
NA
0.37
>2 Temps
NA
NA
0.14
*0.27
0.22
0.37
3 Temps
NA
0.14
NA
*0.27
0.22
0.37
>3 Temps
NA
0.05
0.09
*0.27
0.22
0.37
Steam
Steam
3 Temps
0.02
0.12
NA
*0.27
0.22
0.37
>3 Temps
0.02
0.03
0.09
*0.27
0.22
0.37
* Only applicable to machines offering a warm/warm cycle. For machines with no warm/warm cycle, this value should be zero and TUFw
(warm) should be 0.49.
4.1.2 Total per-cycle hot water
energy consumption for all maximum,
average, and minimum water fill levels
tested. Calculate the total per-cycle hot
water energy consumption for the
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maximum water fill level, HEmax, the
minimum water fill level, HEmin, and the
average water fill level, HEavg, expressed
in kilowatt-hours per cycle and defined
as:
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(a) HEmax = [Vhx × T × K] = Total energy
when a maximum load is tested.
(b) HEavg = [Vha × T × K] = Total energy
when an average load is tested.
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(c) HEmin = [Vhn × T × K] = Total energy
when a minimum load is tested.
Where:
T = Temperature rise = 75 °F (41.7 °C).
K = Water specific heat in kilowatt-hours
per gallon degree F = 0.00240
(0.00114 kWh/L-°C).
Vhx, Vha, and Vhn are as defined in
section 4.1.1 of this Appendix.
4.1.3 Total weighted per-cycle hot
water energy consumption. Calculate
the total weighted per-cycle hot water
energy consumption, HET, expressed in
kilowatt-hours per cycle and defined as:
HET = [HEmax × Fmax] + [HEavg × Favg] +
HEmin × Fmin]
Where:
HEmax, HEavg, and HEmin are as defined
in section 4.1.2 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, and Fmin are the load usage
factors for the maximum, average,
and minimum test loads based on
the size and type of the control
system on the washer being tested.
The values are as shown in Table
4.1.3 of this Appendix.
TABLE 4.1.3—LOAD USAGE FACTORS
Water fill control
system
Manual
Fmax = ...............
Favg = ................
Fmin = ................
1 0.72
....................
1 0.28
1 Reference
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2 Reference
Adaptive
2 0.12
2 0.74
2 0.14
3.2.3.3.
3.2.3.2.
4.1.4 Total per-cycle hot water
energy consumption using gas-heated or
oil-heated water. Calculate for the
energy test cycle the per-cycle hot water
consumption, HETG, using gas-heated or
oil-heated water, expressed in Btu per
cycle (or megajoules per cycle) and
defined as:
HETG = HET × 1/e × 3412 Btu/kWh or
HETG = HET × 1/e × 3.6 MJ/kWh
Where:
e = Nominal gas or oil water heater
efficiency = 0.75.
HET = As defined in section 4.1.3 of this
Appendix.
4.1.5 Per-cycle machine electrical
energy consumption for all maximum,
average, and minimum test load sizes.
Calculate the total per-cycle machine
electrical energy consumption for the
maximum water fill level, MEmax, the
average water fill level, MEavg, and the
minimum water fill level, MEmin,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per cycle
and defined as:
(a) MEmax = [Esx × TUFs] + [Emx ×
TUFm] + [Ehx × TUFh] + [Ewx ×
TUFw] + [Ewwx × TUFww] + [Ecx×
TUFc]
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(b) MEavg = [Esa × TUFs] + [Ema
× TUFm] + [Eha × TUFh] + [Ewa ×
TUFw] + [Ewwa × TUFww] + [Eca ×
TUFc]
(c) MEmin = [Esn × TUFs] + [Emn ×
TUFm] + [Ehn × TUFh] + [Ewn ×
TUFw] + [Ewwn × TUFww] + [Ecn ×
TUFc]
Where:
Esx, Esa, and Esn, are reported electrical
energy consumption values, in
kilowatt-hours per cycle, at
maximum, average, and minimum
test loads, respectively, for the
steam cycle.
Emx, Ema, and Emn, are reported
electrical energy consumption
values, in kilowatt-hours per cycle,
at maximum, average, and
minimum test loads, respectively,
for the extra hot wash cycle.
Ehx, Eha, and Ehn, are reported electrical
energy consumption values, in
kilowatt-hours per cycle, at
maximum, average, and minimum
test loads, respectively, for the hot
wash cycle.
Ewx, Ewa, and Ewn, are reported
electrical energy consumption
values, in kilowatt-hours per cycle,
at maximum, average, and
minimum test loads, respectively,
for the warm wash cycle.
Ewwx, Ewwa, and Ewwn, are reported
electrical energy consumption
values, in kilowatt-hours per cycle,
at maximum, average, and
minimum test loads, respectively,
for the warm wash/warm rinse
cycle.
Ecx, Eca, and Ecn, are reported electrical
energy consumption values, in
kilowatt-hours per cycle, at
maximum, average, and minimum
test loads, respectively, for the cold
wash cycle.
TUFs, TUFm, TUFh, TUFw, TUFww, and
TUFc are as defined in Table 4.1.1
of this Appendix.
4.1.6 Total weighted per-cycle
machine electrical energy
consumption. Calculate the total
per-cycle load size weighted energy
consumption, MET, expressed in
kilowatt-hours per cycle and
defined as:
MET = [MEmax × Fmax] + [MEavg ×
Favg] + [MEmin × Fmin]
Where:
MEmax, MEavg, and MEmin are as defined
in section 4.1.5 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, and Fmin are as defined in
Table 4.1.3 of this Appendix.
4.1.7 Total per-cycle energy
consumption when electrically heated
water is used. Calculate for the energy
test cycle the total per-cycle energy
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consumption, ETE, using electrically
heated water, expressed in kilowatthours per cycle and defined as:
ETE = HET + MET
Where:
MET = As defined in section 4.1.6 of this
Appendix.
HET = As defined in section 4.1.3 of this
Appendix.
4.1.8 Per-cycle self-clean hot water
energy consumption when electrically
heated water is used. Calculate the percycle self-clean hot water energy
consumption, HEsc, expressed in
kilowatt-hours per cycle, and defined
as:
HEsc = [Hsc × T × K] × 12/295
Where:
Hsc = reported hot water consumption
value, in gallons per-cycle, for the
self-clean cycle as defined in
section 3.10 of this Appendix.
T = Temperature rise = 75 °F (41.7 °C).
K = Water specific heat in kilowatt-hours
per gallon degree F = 0.00240
(0.00114 kWh/L-°C).
12 = Representative average number of
clothes washer self-clean cycles in
a year.
295 = Representative average number of
clothes washer cycles in a year.
4.1.9 Per-cycle self-clean hot water
energy consumption using gas-heated or
oil-heated water. Calculate the per-cycle
self-clean hot water energy
consumption, HESCG, using gas-heated
or oil-heated water, expressed in Btu per
cycle (or megajoules per cycle) and
defined as:
HESCG = [HESC × 1/e × 3412 Btu/kWh] ×
12/295 or HESCG = [HET × 1/e × 3.6
MJ/kWh] × 12/295
Where:
e = Nominal gas or oil water heater
efficiency = 0.75.
HEsc = As defined in section 4.1.8 of this
Appendix.
12 = Representative average number of
clothes washer self-clean cycles in
a year.
295 = Representative average number of
clothes washer cycles in a year.
4.1.10 Per-cycle self-clean machine
electrical energy consumption. Calculate
the per-cycle self-clean machine
electrical energy consumption, MEsc,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per cycle,
and defined as:
MEsc = Esc × 12/295
Where:
Esc = Reported electrical energy
consumption value, in gallons percycle, for the self-clean cycle as
defined in section 3.10 of this
Appendix.
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jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3
12 = Representative average number of
clothes washer self-clean cycles in
a year.
295 = Representative average number of
clothes washer cycles in a year.
4.2 Water consumption of clothes
washers.
4.2.1 Per-cycle water consumption
for steam wash. Calculate the
maximum, average, and minimum total
water consumption, expressed in
gallons per cycle (or liters per cycle), for
the steam cycle and defined as:
Qsmax = [Hsx + Csx]
Qsavg = [Hsa + Csa]
Qsmin = [Hsn + Csn]
Where:
Hsx, Csx, Hsa, Csa, Hsn, and Csn are
defined in section 3.9 of this
Appendix.
4.2.2 Per-cycle water consumption
for extra hot wash. Calculate the
maximum, average, and minimum total
water consumption, expressed in
gallons per cycle (or liters per cycle), for
the extra hot wash cycle and defined as:
Qmmax = [Hmx + Cmx]
Qmavg = [Hma + Cma]
Qmmin = [Hmn + Cmn]
Where:
Hmx, Cmx, Hma, Cma, Hmn, and Cmn are
defined in section 3.3 of this
Appendix.
4.2.3 Per-cycle water consumption
for hot wash. Calculate the maximum,
average, and minimum total water
consumption, expressed in gallons per
cycle (or liters per cycle), for the hot
wash cycle and defined as:
Qhmax = [Hhx + Chx]
Qhavg = [Hha + Cha]
Qhmin = [Hhn + Chn]
Where:
Hhx, Chx, Hha, Cha, Hhn, and Chn are
defined in section 3.4 of this
Appendix.
4.2.4 Per-cycle water consumption
for warm wash with cold rinse.
Calculate the maximum, average, and
minimum total water consumption,
expressed in gallons per cycle (or liters
per cycle), for the warm wash/cold rinse
cycle and defined as:
Qwmax = [Hwx + Cwx]
Qwavg = [Hwa + Cwa]
Qwmin = [Hwn + Cwn]
Where:
Hwx, Cwx, Hwa, Cwa, Hwn, and Cwn are
defined in section 3.5 of this
Appendix.
4.2.5 Per-cycle water consumption
for warm wash with warm rinse.
Calculate the maximum, average, and
minimum total water consumption,
expressed in gallons per cycle (or liters
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per cycle), for the warm wash/warm
rinse cycle and defined as:
Qwwmax = [Hwwx + Cwwx]
Qwwavg = [Hwwa + Cwwa]
Qwwmin = [Hwwn + Cwwn]
Where:
Hwwx, Cwwx, Hwwa, Cwwa, Hwwn, and
Cwwn are defined in section 3.7 of
this Appendix.
4.2.6 Per-cycle water consumption
for cold wash. Calculate the maximum,
average, and minimum total water
consumption, expressed in gallons per
cycle (or liters per cycle), for the cold
wash cycle and defined as:
Qcmax = [Hcx + Ccx]
Qcavg = [Hca + Cca]
Qcmin = [Hcn + Ccn]
Where:
Hcx, Ccx, Hca, Cca, Hcn, and Ccn are
defined in section 3.6 of this
Appendix.
4.2.7 Total weighted per-cycle water
consumption for steam wash. Calculate
the total weighted per cycle
consumption, QsT, expressed in gallons
per cycle (or liters per cycle) and
defined as:
QsT = [Qsmax × Fmax] + [Qsavg × Favg] +
[Qsmin × Fmin]
Where:
Qsmax, Qsavg, Qsmin are defined in section
4.2.1 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, Fmin are defined in Table 4.1.3
of this Appendix.
4.2.8 Total weighted per-cycle water
consumption for extra hot wash.
Calculate the total weighted per cycle
consumption, QmT, expressed in gallons
per cycle (or liters per cycle) and
defined as:
QmT = [Qmmax × Fmax] + [Qmavg × Favg] +
[Qmmin × Fmin]
Where:
Qmmax, Qmavg, Qmmin are defined in
section 4.2.2 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, Fmin are defined in Table 4.1.3
of this Appendix.
4.2.9 Total weighted per-cycle water
consumption for hot wash. Calculate the
total weighted per cycle consumption,
QhT, expressed in gallons per cycle (or
liters per cycle) and defined as:
QhT = [Qhmax × Fmax] + [Qhavg × Favg] +
[Qhmin × Fmin]
Where:
Qhmax, Qhavg, Qhmin are defined in
section 4.2.3 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, Fmin are defined in Table 4.1.3
of this Appendix.
4.2.10 Total weighted per-cycle
water consumption for warm wash with
cold rinse. Calculate the total weighted
per cycle consumption, QwT, expressed
in gallons per cycle (or liters per cycle)
and defined as:
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QwT = [Qwmax × Fmax] + [Qwavg × Favg] +
[Qwmin × Fmin]
Where:
Qwmax, Qwavg, Qwmin are defined in
section 4.2.4 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, Fmin are defined in Table 4.1.3
of this Appendix.
4.2.11 Total weighted per-cycle
water consumption for warm wash with
warm rinse. Calculate the total weighted
per cycle consumption, QwT, expressed
in gallons per cycle (or liters per cycle)
and defined as:
QwwT = [Qwwmax × Fmax] + [Qwwavg ×
Favg] + [Qwwmin × Fmin]
Where:
Qwwmax, Qwwavg, Qwwmin are defined
in section 4.2.5 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, Fmin are defined in Table 4.1.3
of this Appendix.
4.2.12 Total weighted per-cycle
water consumption for cold wash.
Calculate the total weighted per cycle
consumption, QcT, expressed in gallons
per cycle (or liters per cycle) and
defined as:
QcT = [Qcmax × Fmax] + [Qcavg × Favg] +
[Qcmin × Fmin]
Where:
Qcmax, Qcavg, Qcmin are defined in
section 4.2.6 of this Appendix.
Fmax, Favg, Fmin are defined in Table 4.1.3
of this Appendix.
4.2.13 Total weighted per-cycle
water consumption for all wash cycles.
Calculate the total weighted per cycle
consumption, QT, expressed in gallons
per cycle (or liters per cycle) and
defined as:
QT = [QsT × TUFs] + [QmT × TUFm] + [QhT
× TUFh] + [QwT × TUFw] + [QwwT ×
TUFww] + [QcT × TUFc]
Where:
QsT, QmT, QhT, QwT, QwwT, and QcT
are defined in sections 4.2.7
through 4.2.12 of this Appendix.
TUFs, TUFm, TUFh, TUFw, TUFww, and
TUFc are defined in Table 4.1.1 of
this Appendix.
4.2.14 Per-cycle self-clean water
consumption. Calculate the total percycle self-clean water consumption, Qsc,
in gallons per cycle (or liters per cycle)
and defined as:
Qsc = [Hsc + Csc] ×12/295
Where:
Hsc = As defined in section 3.10 of this
Appendix.
Csc = As defined in 3.10 of this
Appendix.
12 = Representative average number of
clothes washer self-clean cycles in
a year.
295 = Representative average number of
clothes washer cycles in a year.
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4.2.15 Water consumption factor.
Calculate the water consumption factor,
WCF, expressed in gallons per cycle per
cubic feet (or liter per cycle per liter),
as:
WCF = QcT/C
Where:
QcT = As defined in section 4.2.12 of this
Appendix.
C = As defined in section 3.1.5 of this
Appendix.
4.2.16 Integrated water consumption
factor. Calculate the integrated water
consumption factor, IWF, expressed in
gallons per cycle per cubic feet (or liter
per cycle per liter), as:
IWF = [QT + Qsc]/C
Where:
QT = As defined in section 4.2.13 of this
Appendix.
Qsc = As defined in section 4.2.14 of this
Appendix.
C = As defined in section 3.1.5 of this
Appendix.
4.3 Per-cycle energy consumption
for removal of moisture from test load.
Calculate the per-cycle energy required
to remove the moisture of the test load,
DE, expressed in kilowatt-hours per
cycle and defined as:
DE = [(Fmax × Maximum test load
weight) + (Favg × Average test load
weight) + (Fmin × Minimum test load
weight)] × (RMC–
4%) × (DEF) × (DUF)
Where:
Fmax, Favg, and Fmin are as defined in
Table 4.1.3 of this Appendix.
Maximum, average, and minimum test
load weights are as defined in Table
5.1 of this Appendix.
RMC = As defined in section 3.8.2.5,
3.8.3.3, or 3.8.4 of this Appendix.
DEF = Nominal energy required for a
clothes dryer to remove moisture
from clothes = 0.5 kWh/lb (1.1 kWh/
kg).
DUF = Dryer usage factor, percentage of
washer loads dried in a clothes
dryer = 0.91.
4.4 Per-cycle combined low-power
mode energy consumption. Calculate
the clothes washer combined low-power
mode energy consumption per cycle,
ETLP, expressed in kilowatt-hours per
cycle and defined as:
ETLP = [(Pia × Sia) + (Po × So)] × Kp/295
Where:
Pia = Washer inactive mode power, in
watts, as defined in section 3.11.1
of this Appendix for clothes
washers capable of operating in
inactive mode; otherwise, Pia = 0.
Po = Washer off mode power, in watts,
as defined in section 3.11.2 of this
Appendix for clothes washers
capable of operating in off mode;
otherwise, Po = 0.
Sia = Annual hours in inactive mode as
defined as Soi if no off mode is
possible, [Soi/2] if both inactive
mode and off mode are possible,
and 0 if no inactive mode is
possible.
So = Annual hours in off mode as
defined as Soi if no inactive mode
is possible, [Soi/2] if both inactive
mode and off mode are possible,
and 0 if no off mode is possible.
Soi = Combined annual hours for off and
inactive mode = 8,465.
Kp = Conversion factor of watt-hours to
kilowatt-hours = 0.001.
295 = Representative average number of
clothes washer cycles in a year.
4.5 Per-cycle self-clean energy
consumption. Calculate the clothes
washer self-clean energy per cycle, ETSC,
expressed in kilowatt-hours per cycle
and defined as:
ETSC = HEsc + MEsc
Where:
HEsc = As defined in section 4.1.8 of this
Appendix.
MEsc = As defined in section 4.1.10 of
this Appendix.
4.6 Modified energy factor. Calculate
the modified energy factor, MEF,
expressed in cubic feet per kilowatthour per cycle (or liters per kilowatthour per cycle) and defined as:
MEF = C/(ETE + DE)
Where:
C = As defined in section 3.1.5 of this
Appendix.
ETE = As defined in section 4.1.7 of this
Appendix.
DE = As defined in section 4.3 of this
Appendix.
4.7 Integrated modified energy
factor. Calculate the integrated modified
energy factor, IMEF, expressed in cubic
feet per kilowatt-hour per cycle (or liters
per kilowatt-hour per cycle) and defined
as:
IMEF = C/(ETE + DE + ETLP + ETSC)
Where:
C = As defined in section 3.1.5 of this
Appendix.
ETE = As defined in section 4.1.7 of this
Appendix.
DE = As defined in section 4.3 of this
Appendix.
ETLP = As defined in section 4.4 of this
Appendix.
ETSC = As defined in section 4.5 of this
Appendix.
5. Test Loads
TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES
Container volume
Minimum load
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3
≥<
0–0.8 .............................................
0.80–0.90 ......................................
0.90–1.00 ......................................
1.00–1.10 ......................................
1.10–1.20 ......................................
1.20–1.30 ......................................
1.30–1.40 ......................................
1.40–1.50 ......................................
1.50–1.60 ......................................
1.60–1.70 ......................................
1.70–1.80 ......................................
1.80–1.90 ......................................
1.90–2.00 ......................................
2.00–2.10 ......................................
2.10–2.20 ......................................
2.20–2.30 ......................................
2.30–2.40 ......................................
2.40–2.50 ......................................
0–22.7 ...........................................
22.7–25.5 ......................................
25.5–28.3 ......................................
28.3–31.1 ......................................
31.1–34.0 ......................................
34.0–36.8 ......................................
36.8–39.6 ......................................
39.6–42.5 ......................................
42.5–45.3 ......................................
45.3–48.1 ......................................
48.1–51.0 ......................................
51.0–53.8 ......................................
53.8–56.6 ......................................
56.6–59.5 ......................................
59.5–62.3 ......................................
62.3–65.1 ......................................
65.1–68.0 ......................................
68.0–70.8 ......................................
Lb
lb
Liter
≥<
Average load
lb
Cu. ft.
Maximum load
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Jkt 223001
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4701
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
Sfmt 4702
kg
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
kg
3.00
3.50
3.90
4.30
4.70
5.10
5.50
5.90
6.40
6.80
7.20
7.60
8.00
8.40
8.80
9.20
9.60
10.00
E:\FR\FM\09AUP3.SGM
09AUP3
1.36
1.59
1.77
1.95
2.13
2.31
2.49
2.68
2.90
3.08
3.27
3.45
3.63
3.81
3.99
4.17
4.35
4.54
3.00
3.25
3.45
3.65
3.85
4.05
4.25
4.45
4.70
4.90
5.10
5.30
5.50
5.70
5.90
6.10
6.30
6.50
Kg
1.36
1.47
1.56
1.66
1.75
1.84
1.93
2.02
2.13
2.22
2.31
2.4
2.49
2.59
2.68
2.77
2.86
2.95
49272
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES—Continued
Container volume
Minimum load
Cu. ft.
2.50–2.60
2.60–2.70
2.70–2.80
2.80–2.90
2.90–3.00
3.00–3.10
3.10–3.20
3.20–3.30
3.30–3.40
3.40–3.50
3.50–3.60
3.60–3.70
3.70–3.80
3.80–3.90
3.90–4.00
4.00–4.10
4.10–4.20
4.20–4.30
4.30–4.40
4.40–4.50
4.50–4.60
4.60–4.70
4.70–4.80
4.80–4.90
4.90–5.00
5.00–5.10
5.10–5.20
5.20–5.30
5.30–5.40
5.40–5.50
5.50–5.60
5.60–5.70
5.70–5.80
5.80–5.90
5.90–6.00
lb
≥<
Average load
Lb
kg
lb
10.50
10.90
11.30
11.70
12.10
12.50
12.90
13.30
13.70
14.10
14.60
15.00
15.40
15.80
16.20
16.60
17.00
17.40
17.80
18.20
18.70
19.10
19.50
19.90
20.30
20.70
21.10
21.50
21.90
22.30
22.80
23.20
23.60
24.00
24.40
4.76
4.94
5.13
5.31
5.49
5.67
5.85
6.03
6.21
6.40
6.62
6.80
6.99
7.16
7.34
7.53
7.72
7.90
8.09
8.27
8.46
8.65
8.83
9.02
9.20
9.39
9.58
9.76
9.95
10.13
10.32
10.51
10.69
10.88
11.06
6.75
6.95
7.15
7.35
7.55
7.75
7.95
8.15
8.35
8.55
8.80
9.00
9.20
9.40
9.60
9.80
10.00
10.20
10.40
10.60
10.85
11.05
11.25
11.45
11.65
11.85
12.05
12.25
12.45
12.65
12.90
13.10
13.30
13.50
13.70
Liter
≥<
Maximum load
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
70.8–73.6 ......................................
73.6–76.5 ......................................
76.5–79.3 ......................................
79.3–82.1 ......................................
82.1–85.0 ......................................
85.0–87.8 ......................................
87.8–90.6 ......................................
90.6–93.4 ......................................
93.4–96.3 ......................................
96.3–99.1 ......................................
99.1–101.9 ....................................
101.9–104.8 ..................................
104.8–107.6 ..................................
107.6–110.4 ..................................
110.4–113.3 ..................................
113.3–116.1 ..................................
116.1–118.9 ..................................
118.9–121.8 ..................................
121.8–124.6 ..................................
124.6–127.4 ..................................
127.4–130.3 ..................................
130.3–133.1 ..................................
133.1–135.9 ..................................
135.9–138.8 ..................................
138.8–141.6 ..................................
141.6–144.4 ..................................
144.4–147.2 ..................................
147.2–150.1 ..................................
150.1–152.9 ..................................
152.9–155.7 ..................................
155.7–158.6 ..................................
158.6–161.4 ..................................
161.4–164.2 ..................................
164.2–167.1 ..................................
167.1–169.9 ..................................
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
kg
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
Kg
3.06
3.15
3.24
3.33
3.42
3.52
3.61
3.7
3.79
3.88
3.99
4.08
4.17
4.26
4.35
4.45
4.54
4.63
4.72
4.82
4.91
5.00
5.10
5.19
5.28
5.38
5.47
5.56
5.65
5.75
5.84
5.93
6.03
6.12
6.21
Notes: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights.
(2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are ±0.10 lbs (0.05 kg).
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3
6. Waivers and Field Testing
6.1 Waivers and Field Testing for
Nonconventional Clothes Washers.
Manufacturers of nonconventional
clothes washers, such as clothes
washers with adaptive control systems,
must submit a petition for waiver
pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27 to establish
an acceptable test procedure for that
clothes washer if the washer cannot be
tested pursuant to the DOE test
procedure or the DOE test procedure
yields results that are so
unrepresentative of the clothes washer’s
true energy consumption characteristics
as to provide materially inaccurate
comparative data. In such cases, field
testing may be appropriate for
establishing an acceptable test
procedure. The following are guidelines
for field testing which may be used by
manufacturers in support of petitions
for waiver. These guidelines are not
mandatory and the Department may
determine that they do not apply to a
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particular model. Depending upon a
manufacturer’s approach for conducting
field testing, additional data may be
required. Manufacturers are encouraged
to communicate with the Department
prior to the commencement of field tests
which may be used to support a petition
for waiver. Section 6.3 of this Appendix
provides an example of field testing for
a clothes washer with an adaptive water
fill control system. Other features, such
as the use of various spin speed
selections, could be the subject of field
tests.
6.2 Nonconventional Wash System
Energy Consumption Test. (1) The field
test may consist of a minimum of 10 of
the nonconventional clothes washers
(‘‘test clothes washers’’) and 10 clothes
washers already being distributed in
commerce (‘‘base clothes washers’’). The
tests should include a minimum of 50
energy test cycles per clothes washer.
The test clothes washers and base
clothes washers should be identical in
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construction except for the controls or
systems being tested. Equal numbers of
both the test clothes washer and the
base clothes washer should be tested
simultaneously in comparable settings
to minimize seasonal or consumer
laundering conditions or variations. The
clothes washers should be monitored in
such a way as to accurately record the
total energy consumption per cycle. At
a minimum, the following should be
measured and recorded throughout the
test period for each clothes washer: Hot
water usage in gallons (or liters),
electrical energy usage in kilowatthours, and the cycles of usage.
(2) The field test results would be
used to determine the best method to
correlate the rating of the test clothes
washer to the rating of the base clothes
washer. If the base clothes washer is
rated at A kWh per year, but field tests
at B kWh per year, and the test clothes
washer field tests at D kWh per year, the
test unit would be rated as follows:
E:\FR\FM\09AUP3.SGM
09AUP3
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules
A × (D/B) = G kWh per year
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3
6.3 Adaptive water fill control
system field test. (1) Section 3.2.3.1 of
this Appendix defines the test method
for measuring energy consumption for
clothes washers which incorporate
control systems having both adaptive
and alternate cycle selections. Energy
consumption calculated by the method
defined in section 3.2.3.1 of this
Appendix assumes the adaptive cycle
will be used 50 percent of the time. This
section can be used to develop field test
data in support of a petition for waiver
when it is believed that the adaptive
cycle will be used more than 50 percent
of the time. The field test sample size
should be a minimum of 10 test clothes
washers. The test clothes washers
should be representative of the design,
construction, and control system that
will be placed in commerce. The
duration of field testing in the user’s
house should be a minimum of 50
energy test cycles, for each unit. No
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:40 Aug 08, 2011
Jkt 223001
special instructions as to cycle selection
or product usage should be given to the
field test participants, other than
inclusion of the product literature pack
which would be shipped with all units,
and instructions regarding filling out
data collection forms, use of data
collection equipment, or basic
procedural methods. Prior to the test
clothes washers being installed in the
field test locations, baseline data should
be developed for all field test units by
conducting laboratory tests as defined
by section 1 through section 5 of this
Appendix to determine the energy
consumption, water consumption, and
remaining moisture content values. The
following data should be measured and
recorded for each wash load during the
test period: Wash cycle selected, the
mode of the clothes washer (adaptive or
manual), clothes load dry weight
(measured after the clothes washer and
clothes dryer cycles are completed) in
pounds, and type of articles in the
clothes load (e.g., cottons, linens,
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 9990
49273
permanent press). The wash loads used
in calculating the in-home percentage
split between adaptive and manual
cycle usage should be only those wash
loads which conform to the definition of
the energy test cycle.
Calculate:
T = The total number of energy test cycles
run during the field test.
Ta = The total number of adaptive control
energy test cycles.
Tm = The total number of manual control
energy test cycles.
The percentage weighting factors:
Pa = (Ta/T) × 100 (the percentage weighting
for adaptive control selection)
Pm = (Tm/T) × 100 (the percentage weighting
for manual control selection)
(2) Energy consumption (HET, MET, and
DE) and water consumption (QT), values
calculated in section 4 of this Appendix for
the manual and adaptive modes, should be
combined using Pa and Pm as the weighting
factors.
[FR Doc. 2011–19440 Filed 8–8–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
E:\FR\FM\09AUP3.SGM
09AUP3
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 49238-49273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19440]
[[Page 49237]]
Vol. 76
Tuesday,
No. 153
August 9, 2011
Part IV
Department of Energy
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10 CFR Parts 429 and 430
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential Clothes
Washers; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2011 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 49238]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 429 and 430
[Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-TP-0021]
RIN 1904-AC08
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Residential
Clothes Washers
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR),
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test
procedure for residential clothes washers established under the Energy
Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). DOE proposes to incorporate
provisions of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standard 62301, ``Household electrical appliances--Measurement of
standby power'' (Second Edition). DOE also proposes to update the
provisions for measuring active mode energy and water consumption.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this
SNOPR no later than September 8, 2011 See section V, ``Public
Participation,'' for details.
ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the SNOPR for Test
Procedures for residential clothes washers, and provide docket number
EERE-2010-BT-TP-0021 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) number
1904-AC08. 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: RES-CW-2010-TP-0021@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket
number and/or RIN 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. If possible, please submit all items on a
CD. It is not necessary to include printed copies.
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. If possible,
please submit all items on a CD. It is not necessary to include printed
copies.
Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this
proposed rule may be submitted to Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy through the methods listed above and by e-mail to
Christine_J._Kymn@omb.eop.gov.
For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see section V of this document
(Public Participation).
Docket: The docket is available for review at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2010-BT-TP-0021, including
Federal Register notices, framework documents, public meeting attendee
lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting documents/
materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the
regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the index
may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt from
public disclosure. The regulations.gov web page contains instructions
on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the
docket. See section V for information on how to submit comments through
regulations.gov.
For further information on how to submit a comment or review other
public comments and the docket, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202)
586-2945 or by e-mail: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stephen L. 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.
Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-7796. E-mail:
Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
A. Standby Mode and Off Mode
B. Current Usage Patterns and Capabilities
C. Additional Proposals
III. Discussion
A. Use of Proposed Test Procedure
B. Newly Proposed Standby Mode, Off Mode, and Active Mode Test
Procedure Provisions
1. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 Edition 2.0 for
Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode Power Consumption
2. Calculation of Energy Use in Low-Power Modes
3. Energy Test Cycle Definition
4. Load Adjustment Factor
5. Wash Time Setting
6. Annual Energy Cost
7. Additional Proposals
C. Compliance With Other EPCA Requirements
1. Test Burden
2. Integration of Standby Mode and Off Mode Energy Consumption
Into the Efficiency Metric
3. Commercial Clothes Washers
4. Certification Requirements
D. Impact on EnergyGuide
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
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 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. Submission of Comments
B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Authority and Background
Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C.
6291, et seq.; ``EPCA'' or, ``the Act'') sets forth a variety of
provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. (All references to
EPCA refer to the statute as amended through the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Public Law 110-140 (Dec. 19,
2007)). Part B of title III (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309), which was
subsequently redesignated for editorial reasons as Part A on
codification in the U.S. Code, establishes the ``Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.'' These include
residential clothes washers, the subject of today's notice. (42 U.S.C.
6292(a)(7))
Under EPCA, this program consists essentially of four parts: (1)
Testing, (2) labeling, (3) Federal energy conservation standards, and
(4) certification and enforcement procedures. The testing requirements
consist of test procedures that manufacturers of covered products must
use (1) As the basis for certifying to DOE that their products comply
with the applicable energy conservation
[[Page 49239]]
standards adopted under EPCA, and (2) for making representations about
the efficiency of those products. Similarly, DOE must use these test
requirements to determine whether the products comply with any relevant
standards promulgated under EPCA.
General Test Procedure Rulemaking Process
Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures
DOE must follow when prescribing or amending test procedures for
covered products. EPCA provides in relevant part that any test
procedures prescribed or amended under this section must be reasonably
designed to produce test results that measure energy efficiency, energy
use or estimated annual operating cost of a covered product during a
representative average use cycle or period of use. Test procedures must
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 on them. (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 Test Procedure at Appendix J1
The DOE test procedure for clothes washers currently being
manufactured is found at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1. DOE
adopted appendix J1 in a 1997 final rule (hereinafter referred to as
the August 1997 Final Rule) to correct for changes in consumer habits
that resulted in an overstatement of average annual energy consumption
when using the methods specified in appendix J. 62 FR 45508 (Aug. 27,
1997). DOE added appendix J1, rather than amending appendix J, to
accommodate continued use of appendix J until DOE amended the
residential clothes washer conservation standards to reference the new
appendix J1.\1\ On January 12, 2001, DOE published a final rule
(hereinafter referred to as the January 2001 Final Rule), to amend the
energy conservation standards for residential clothes washers. The
January 2001 Final Rule references the efficiency metrics as defined in
appendix J1. 66 FR 3314. Use of the amended J1 test procedure was
required to demonstrate compliance with these amended energy
conservation standards as of January 1, 2004. Since 1997, DOE has
amended the test procedure in appendix J1 three times, twice
substantively to address test cloth correlation procedures, and once to
correct the introductory note. 63 FR 16669 (Apr. 6, 1998); 66 FR 3314,
3330 (Jan. 12, 2001); 68 FR 62198, 62204 (Oct. 31, 2003).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Because appendix J applies only to clothes washers
manufactured before January 1, 2004, appendix J is now obsolete. 10
CFR 430 appendix J1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The test procedure at appendix J1 includes provisions for
determining the modified energy factor (MEF) for clothes washers, which
is a function of the total energy used for each cubic foot (ft\3\) of
clothes washer capacity. The test procedure measures the total energy
consumption of the clothes washer and provides for calculation of the
remaining moisture content (RMC) of the clothes at the completion of
the machine's full cycle. The test procedure at appendix J1 does not
address energy use in the standby or off modes.
DOE Test Procedure Updates: Authority and Regulatory Background
EPCA requires DOE to review its test procedures at least once every
seven years to determine whether amendments are warranted. (42 U.S.C.
6293(b)(1)) This rulemaking satisfies EPCA's periodic review
requirement.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007),
Public Law No. 110-140 also amended EPCA to require DOE to amend its
test procedures to integrate measures of standby mode and off mode
energy consumption into the overall energy efficiency, energy
consumption, or other energy descriptor for each covered product unless
the current test procedure already fully accounts for and incorporates
standby and off mode energy consumption or such integration is
technically infeasible. If an integrated test procedure is technically
infeasible, DOE must prescribe a separate standby mode and off mode
energy use test procedure for the covered product, if technically
feasible. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) Any such amendment must consider
the most current versions of IEC Standard 62301 and IEC Standard 62087,
``Methods of measurement for the power consumption of audio, video, and
related equipment.'' \2\
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\2\ IEC standards are available online at https://www.iec.ch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In evaluating amendments to its test procedure for clothes washers,
DOE considered input from the public received in its separate
rulemaking proceeding to consider amendments to the energy conservation
standards applicable to residential clothes washers.\3\ On August 28,
2009, DOE published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the
availability of a framework document in its rulemaking to consider
amended energy conservation standards for residential clothes washers
(hereafter the August 2009 framework document). 74 FR 44306. In the
August 2009 framework document, DOE requested comments on revising the
clothes washer test procedure. DOE also held a public meeting on
September 21, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as the September 2009
public meeting) to discuss the issues presented in the framework
document, including issues related to the test procedure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ EISA 2007 also amended EPCA, in relevant part, to revise the
energy conservation standards for residential clothes washers. The
revised standards established a maximum water consumption factor
(WF) of 9.5, effective January 1, 2011. EISA 2007 further required
that DOE publish a final rule no later than December 31, 2011
determining whether to amend the standards in effect for clothes
washers manufactured on or after January 1, 2015. (42 U.S.C.
6295(g)(9)) DOE is also required to consider standby and off mode
standards for residential clothes washers. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE received comments in response to the August 2009 framework
document stating that it should consider changes to the active mode
test procedure for clothes washers. As a result, in addition to
proposing amendments to its test procedure to include measures for
standby and off mode power consumption, DOE proposed to address issues
regarding the active mode provisions of the test procedure. As
discussed in more detail below, the proposals were set forth in a
notice of proposed rulemaking issued on September 21, 2010 (75 FR
57556) (hereinafter referred to as the September 2010 NOPR) and are
being refined in this SNOPR.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE proposed a number of revisions and
additions to the test procedure at appendix J1, including: (1)
Incorporating standby and off mode power consumption into a combined
energy metric; (2) addressing technologies not covered by the appendix
J1 test procedure, such as steam wash cycles and self-clean cycles; (3)
revising the number of annual wash cycles; (4) updating use factors;
(5) revising the procedures and specifications for test cloth; (6)
redefining the appropriate water fill
[[Page 49240]]
level for the capacity measurement method; (7) establishing a new
measure of water consumption; and (8) revising the definition of the
energy test cycle. DOE requested comment on the proposals in the
September 2010 NOPR and held a public meeting on October 28, 2010
(hereinafter referred to as the October 2010 public meeting) to discuss
the issues presented.
The principal test procedure issues on which interested parties
commented included: (1) The referenced version of IEC Standard 62301;
(2) mode definitions; (3) inclusion of steam and self-clean cycles; (4)
measurement of delay start and cycle finished mode; (5) calculation of
annual energy use; (6) test cloth specifications; (7) usage patterns,
in particular annual use cycles, wash temperatures, and load sizes,
including a potential bias in favor of large-capacity clothes washers;
and (8) test burden.
II. Summary of the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The following paragraphs summarize the changes and additions to the
September 2010 NOPR that DOE proposes in today's SNOPR. In the
regulatory text set forth at the end of this SNOPR, DOE sets forth the
proposed regulatory text from the September 2010 NOPR, as amended by
today's proposals. DOE's supporting analysis and discussion for the
portions of the proposed regulatory text not affected by this SNOPR may
be found in the September 2010 NOPR. 75 FR 57556 (Sept. 21, 2010).
A. Standby Mode and Off Mode
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE proposed amendments to its clothes
washer test procedure including incorporating by reference specific
provisions from IEC Standard 62301, First Edition 2005-06 (``IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition)'' or ``First Edition'') regarding test
conditions and test procedures for measuring standby mode and off mode
power consumption. 75 FR 57556, 57560 (Sept. 21, 2010). DOE also
proposed to incorporate the definitions of ``active mode,'' ``standby
mode,'' and ``off mode'' that were based on the definitions for those
terms provided in the most current draft at that time of an updated
version of IEC Standard 62301 (the Committee Draft for Vote, or ``CDV''
version). Id. at 57560-62. Further, DOE proposed to include additional
language that would clarify the application of clauses from IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition) for measuring standby mode and off mode
power consumption.\4\ Id. at 57562-63.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 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). DOE has
considered IEC Standard 62087, which addresses the methods of
measuring the power consumption of audio, video, and related
equipment, and determined that it is not relevant to this proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In response to the September 2010 NOPR, commenters suggested that
the draft updated version of IEC Standard 62301 would improve the mode
definitions and testing methodology. The IEC published IEC Standard
62301, Edition 2.0 2011-01 (``IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition)'' or
``Second Edition'') on January 27, 2011. DOE has reviewed this updated
test procedure and believes that it improves some measurements of
standby mode and off mode energy use. Accordingly, DOE proposes in
today's SNOPR to incorporate certain provisions of the IEC Standard
62301 (Second Edition), along with clarifying language, into the new
clothes washer test procedure. DOE also proposes to incorporate into
the new test procedure definitions of ``active mode,'' ``standby
mode,'' and ``off mode'' based on the definitions provided in IEC
Standard 62301 Second Edition. In addition, DOE proposes to incorporate
measures of energy consumption associated with delay start and cycle
finished modes. Although these modes would be considered part of active
mode, the proposed measurements and calculations for standby and off
mode power consumption would include the energy use in such modes in a
simplified approach to account for energy use associated with all low-
power modes by means of a single power measurement.
Finally, DOE proposes in today's SNOPR to revise the calculations
for per-cycle energy use and annual energy cost to incorporate non-
active washing mode energy consumption. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3); 42
U.S.C. 6291(4), (7).
B. Current Usage Patterns and Capabilities
The proposed test procedure would update certain values from the
existing test procedure to reflect current usage patterns and
capabilities. DOE received multiple comments on this issue in response
to the August 2009 framework document, and reviewed current consumer
data from surveys conducted in 2004 and 2005 to propose updates in the
September 2010 NOPR. Based on this information and comments received in
response to the September 2010 NOPR, DOE is proposing additional
amendments to the load adjustment factor in today's SNOPR. DOE is also
proposing in this SNOPR to update the test load sizes specified in
appendix J1 to reflect the same test load sizes previously proposed for
appendix J2, allowing for testing of large-capacity clothes washers to
demonstrate compliance with existing energy conservation standards.
C. Additional Proposals
The revised clothes washer test procedure amendments DOE is
proposing in today's SNOPR would update the procedure to clarify the
existing methods for determining the energy test cycle, setting the
wash time for certain clothes washers, using the most current AHAM
Standard detergent, and clarifying the definition of ``cold wash'' for
clothes washers that offer both ``cold wash'' and ``tap cold wash''
settings. DOE is also proposing the following amendments in today's
SNOPR: Correcting the definition of cold rinse in appendix J1; deleting
the redundant sections 2.6.1.1-2.6.1.2.4 in appendix J1; and correcting
the calculations proposed in the September 2010 NOPR for per-cycle
self-clean water consumption.
III. Discussion
A. Use of Proposed Test Procedure
The amended test procedures in 10 CFR part 430 subpart B appendix
J1 and appendix J2 would become effective 30 days after the date of
publication in the Federal Register of the final rule in this test
procedure rulemaking. DOE would clarify in the published amended test
procedures, however, that manufacturers would be required to use
amended appendix J1 until the compliance date of any final rule
establishing amended energy conservation standards that addresses
standby and off mode power consumption for these products. 42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(C). At such time, manufacturers would begin using the test
procedures in appendix J2.
B. Newly Proposed Standby Mode, Off Mode, and Active Mode Test
Procedure Provisions
1. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 Edition 2.0 for
Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode Power Consumption
As noted in the September 2010 NOPR, DOE considered, pursuant to
EPCA, 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
[[Page 49241]]
Standard 62301 provides for measuring standby power in electrical
appliances, including clothes washers, and therefore, is applicable to
the provisions included in the new clothes washer test procedure. 75 FR
57556, 57560 (Sept. 21, 2010). DOE also noted that IEC Standard 62087,
which applies to audio, video, and related equipment, is inapplicable
to this rulemaking, and did not propose to include any of its
provisions in the new test procedure. The Northwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance (NEEA) agreed with DOE's determination that IEC Standard 62301
is an appropriate reference standard and that IEC Standard 62087 is not
relevant to this rulemaking. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 2).
DOE proposed in the September 2010 NOPR to incorporate by reference
into this test procedure all applicable provisions from Sections 4 and
5 of IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition). Specifically, DOE proposed to
incorporate, from section 4, (``General conditions for measurements''),
paragraph 4.2, ``Test room;'' paragraph 4.4, ``Supply voltage
waveform;'' paragraph 4.5, ``Power measurement accuracy;'' and from
section 5, (``Measurements''), paragraph 5.1, ``General,'' Note 1; and
paragraph 5.3, ``Procedure.'' 75 FR 57556, 57560 (Sept. 21, 2010).
These clauses provide test conditions and test procedures for measuring
average standby mode and average off mode power consumption. With
respect to test conditions, section 4 of IEC Standard 62301 (First
Edition) provides specifications for the test room conditions, supply
voltage waveform, and power measurement meter tolerances to ensure
repeatable and precise measurements of standby mode and off mode power
consumption. With respect to test procedures, section 5 of IEC Standard
62301 (First Edition) provides methods for measuring power consumption
when the power measurement is stable and when it is unstable.
DOE also proposed in the September 2010 NOPR to adopt certain
provisions from the IEC Standard 62301 Committee Draft for Vote (CDV)
version (an earlier draft version of the IEC 62301 revision), as well
as the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) version (the draft
version developed just prior to the issuance of the Second Edition).
Specifically, DOE proposed to adopt the 30-minute stabilization and 10-
minute measurement periods as described in the CDV version and the mode
definitions for active, standby and off mode as described in the FDIS
version.
DOE noted in the September 2010 NOPR and at the October 2010 public
meeting that the IEC was developing an updated version of IEC Standard
62301 (the Second Edition), and interested parties commented on the
appropriate version to use for the measurement of standby mode and off
mode energy use. Comments made at the public meeting were predicated
upon IEC Standard 62301 Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) being
the most current (draft) version of the updated standard. Alliance
Laundry Systems (ALS); NEEA; Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool); the
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM); BSH Home Appliances
Corporation (BSH); and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E),
Southern California Gas Company (SCG), San Diego Gas and Electric
(SDG&E), and Southern California Edison (SCE) (collectively, the
``California Utilities'') commented that DOE should reference the most
current available draft of the Second Edition at the time, IEC Standard
62301 (FDIS). (ALS, No. 10 at p. 1; NEEA, No. 12 at p. 2; Whirlpool,
No. 13 at pp. 1-2; AHAM, No. 14 at pp. 2-3; AHAM, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 21-22; BSH, No. 17 at p. 3; California
Utilities, No. 18 at p. 1) Whirlpool commented that the use of IEC
Standard 62301 (FDIS) would support international harmonization and
reduce manufacturer test burden. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at pp. 1-2) AHAM
stated that combining mode definitions based on IEC Standard 62301
(FDIS) with the test methods from IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition)
could be confusing to manufacturers, and ignores the intent of IEC
Standard 62301 (FDIS). AHAM and Whirlpool further commented that DOE
should not choose to reference only certain sections of IEC Standard
62301, and that the document is meant to be used in its entirety.
(AHAM, No. 14 at p. 3; Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3) BSH agreed with DOE's
proposal to use IEC Standard 62301 as the basis for the standby and
lower power mode definitions, and noted that the most recent version of
the standard (i.e., IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS)) should be considered.
(BSH, No. 17 at p. 2)
AHAM also submitted a comment supporting the incorporation by
reference of the Second Edition in response to a Request for
Information (RFI) issued by DOE to implement Executive Order 13563,
``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review. (76 FR 6123, Feb. 3,
2011; AHAM, 4) \5\ DOE considered this comment in today's SNOPR and, as
stated below, is proposing to incorporate by reference relevant
portions of the Second Edition.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ All comments on the RFI are available at https://www.gc.energy.gov/1705.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) was issued on January 27, 2011
and is now the most current version of IEC Standard 62301. DOE has
reviewed the FDIS and Second Edition versions of IEC Standard 62301,
and notes that the provisions of the Second Edition are identical in
substance to those of the FDIS version. Therefore, DOE interprets
comments on IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS) to be equally applicable to IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition).
DOE notes that IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) is an
internationally accepted test procedure for measuring standby power in
residential appliances, and that this version provides clarification to
certain sections as compared to the First Edition, as discussed in the
following paragraphs.
Section 4, paragraph 4.4 of the Second Edition revises the power
measurement accuracy provisions of the First Edition. A more
comprehensive specification of required accuracy is provided in the
Second Edition that depends upon the characteristics of the power being
measured. Testers using the Second Edition are required to measure the
crest factor and power factor of the input power, and calculate a
maximum current ratio (MCR). The Second Edition then specifies
calculations to determine permitted uncertainty in MCR. DOE notes,
however, that the allowable uncertainty is the same or less stringent
than the allowable uncertainty specified in the First Edition,
depending on the value of MCR and the power level being measured (see
Table III.1 for example), so that sufficient accuracy of measurements
is achieved under a full range of possible measured power levels
without placing undue demands on the instrumentation. These power
measurement accuracy requirements were based upon detailed technical
submissions to the IEC in the development of IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS),
which showed that commonly used power measurement instruments were
unable to meet the original requirements for certain types of loads.
Therefore, the test burden associated with the additional measurements
and calculations is offset by the more reasonable requirements for
testing equipment, while maintaining acceptable measurement accuracy.
For these reasons, DOE proposes in today's supplemental notice to
incorporate by
[[Page 49242]]
reference the power equipment specifications in section 4, paragraph
4.4 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition).
Table III.1--Comparison of Allowable Uncertainty in Measured Power
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowable uncertainty (W)
--------------------------------------------------------
Measured power (W) IEC 62301 (second edition)
IEC 62301 (first -------------------------------------
edition) MCR = 5 MCR = 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.0.................................................... 0.1 0.1 0.14
2.0.................................................... 0.04 0.04 0.056
1.0.................................................... 0.02 0.02 0.028
0.5.................................................... 0.01 0.02 0.02
0.2.................................................... 0.01 0.02 0.02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) adds certain
clarifications to the installation and setup procedures in section 5,
paragraph 5.2 of the First Edition. The First Edition required that the
product be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions, except if those instructions conflict with the standby
testing, and that if no instructions are given, the factory or default
settings shall be used. IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) added
provisions regarding products equipped with battery recharging
circuits, as well as instructions for testing each relevant
configuration option identified in the product's instructions for use.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE proposed that the clothes washer be
installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, but did not
propose additional provisions to require the use of default settings
for testing standby energy consumption because it did not have
information regarding the likelihood that consumers will alter the
default display settings. DOE requested comment on the suitability of
using the manufacturer's default settings in testing standby energy
consumption. 75 FR 57556, 57563 (Sept. 21, 2010). AHAM, ALS, NEEA, and
Whirlpool commented that standby energy consumption should be measured
at the manufacturer default settings. ALS and AHAM further stated that
if no factory default setting is indicated, the clothes washer should
be tested with the settings as shipped from the manufacturer. AHAM
stated that this approach would yield repeatable, reproducible results
among test laboratories. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 1; AHAM, No. 14 at pp. 5-6;
NEEA, No. 12 at p. 6; Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3)
DOE agrees with commenters that testing a clothes washer for
standby mode energy use (and, by extension, the combined low-power mode
energy use) at the default setting, or as shipped, if a default setting
is not indicated, would ensure consistency of results test-to-test and
among test laboratories. Therefore, DOE is proposing in today's SNOPR
to incorporate by reference, with qualification as discussed below, the
installation instructions in section 5, paragraph 5.2 of IEC Standard
62301 (Second Edition). DOE is not aware of any clothes washers with a
battery recharging circuit.
Section 5, paragraph 5.2 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
also states that, where instructions for use provide configuration
options, each relevant option should be separately tested. DOE believes
that this requirement to separately test each configuration option
could substantially increase test burden and potentially conflicts with
the requirement within the same section to set up the product in
accordance with the instructions for use or, if no such instructions
are available, to use the factory or default settings. Therefore, DOE
tentatively concludes that the portions of the installation
instructions in section 5, paragraph 5.2 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second
Edition) pertaining to batteries and the determination, classification,
and testing of relevant modes are not appropriate for the clothes
washer test procedure. Accordingly, DOE is proposing qualifying
language in the test procedure amendments in today's SNOPR to disregard
those portions of the installation instructions.
The Second Edition also contains provisions for the power supply
(section 4.3) and power-measuring instruments (section 4.4). Paragraph
4.3.2 requires that the value of the harmonic content of the voltage
supply be recorded during the test and reported. As described
previously, Paragraph 4.4.1 requires the instrument to measure the
crest factor and maximum current ratio. Paragraph 4.4.3 requires the
instrument to be capable of measuring the average power or integrated
total energy consumption over any operated-selected time interval. DOE
is aware of commercially available power measurement instruments that
can perform each of these required measurements individually. However,
DOE is aware that certain industry-standard instruments, such as the
Yokogawa WT210/WT230 digital power meter and possibly others, are
unable to measure harmonic content or crest factor while measuring
average power or total integrated energy consumption. DOE is concerned
that laboratories currently using power-measuring instruments without
this capability would be required to purchase, at potentially
significant expense, additional power-measuring instruments that are
able to perform all these measurements simultaneously. Therefore, DOE
proposes that it would be acceptable to measure the total harmonic
content, crest factor, and maximum current ratio before and after the
actual test measurement if the power measuring instrument is unable to
perform these measurements during the actual test measurement. DOE
requests comment on whether this represents an acceptable
interpretation of the power measurement requirements of the Second
Edition.
The other changes in the Second Edition that relate to the
measurement of standby mode and off mode power consumption involve the
measurement techniques and specification of the stability criteria
required to measure that power. The Second Edition contains more
detailed techniques to evaluate the stability of the power consumption
and to measure the power consumption for loads with different stability
characteristics. The user is given a choice of measurement procedures,
including sampling methods, average reading methods, and a direct meter
reading method. DOE evaluated these new methods in terms of test burden
and improvement in results as compared to those methods proposed in the
September 2010 NOPR, which were based on IEC Standard
[[Page 49243]]
62301 (First Edition), and also to identify the most consistent and
repeatable method for use in the DOE clothes washer test procedure.
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE proposed to require measurement of
standby mode and off mode power using section 5, paragraph 5.3 of IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition), clarified by requiring the product to
stabilize for at least 30 minutes and using an energy use measurement
period of not less than 10 minutes for cycle finished mode, inactive
mode, and off mode. 75 FR 57556, 57562-63 (Sept. 21, 2010). For delay
start mode, the September 2010 NOPR proposed to require the delay start
time to be set to 5 hours, allowing at least a 5-minute stabilization
period followed by a 60-minute measurement period. Id. at p. 57563.
Further, for any clothes washer in which the power varies over a cycle,
as described in section 5, paragraph 5.3.2 of the First Edition, the
September 2010 NOPR proposed to require the use of the average power
approach in section 5, paragraph 5.3.2(a). Id.
For today's supplemental notice, DOE compared the provisions of
each edition under different scenarios of power consumption stability
to determine the potential impacts of referencing the methodology from
IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) rather than from the First Edition.
Based on this analysis, DOE is proposing in today's SNOPR that the
power measurement be made using a sampling method described in IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition). Because, for the reasons discussed in
section III.B.2, DOE is not proposing to require separate measurement
of power consumption in cycle finished mode and delay start mode, the
analysis presented in the following sections is limited to measurements
made in inactive mode and off mode.
a. Stable Power Consumption
According to section 5, paragraph 5.3.1 of IEC Standard 62301
(First Edition), power consumption is defined as stable if it varies by
less than 5 percent over 5 minutes. In such a case, a direct reading
may be made at the end of the measurement period. With the proposed
clarifications in the September 2010 NOPR, the total test time for
inactive mode or off mode would be a minimum of 40 minutes (comprised
of a minimum 30-minute stabilization period, followed by a minimum 10-
minute period during which the stability criterion could be evaluated
and a direct power reading taken). Alternatively, the tester may select
an average power or accumulated energy approach, again with a minimum
30-minute stabilization period and a minimum 10-minute measurement
period. The average power approach would simply require a different
reading to be taken from the instrument (true average power instead of
a direct reading of instantaneous power), while the accumulated energy
approach would require the calculation of power by dividing accumulated
energy by the duration of the measurement period.
In comparison, section 5, paragraph 5.3.2 of IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) identifies a sampling method as the preferred means
for all power consumption measurements and the fastest test method when
the power is stable. For any non-cyclic power consumption, power
readings are initially recorded over a period of at least 15 minutes
after energizing the product. Data from the first third of the
measurement period are discarded, and stability is evaluated by a
linear regression through all power readings in the second two-thirds
of the data. If the slope of the linear regression is less than 10
milliwatts per hour (mW/h) for input power less than or equal to 1.0 W,
or less than 1 percent of the input power per hour for input power
greater than 1.0 W, the power consumption is calculated as the average
of the power readings during the second two-thirds of the measurement
period. If the slope of the linear regression does not meet these
stability criteria, the total period is continuously extended until the
stability criteria are met for the second two-thirds of the data. In
some cases, this is a more stringent requirement than the stability
criteria of IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition). The lack of a
definitive test period means that the test duration could extend past
15 minutes for certain products--up to 3 hours is allowed in the Second
Edition--and could introduce added test burden as compared to the First
Edition. In addition, performing the continuous linear regression
analysis required by the Second Edition would require the use of data-
acquisition software with the capability of performing real-time
statistical analysis, whereas the First Edition requires only simple
data logging capabilities. DOE requests comment on the potential test
burden for a laboratory that would be required to upgrade its data
acquisition system to enable real-time statistical analysis
capabilities.
IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) additionally provides an
alternative measurement method which may be used when the power
consumption is stable. Section 5, paragraph 5.3.4 of IEC Standard 62301
(Second Edition) specifies a direct reading method in which a minimum
30-minute stabilization period must be observed, followed by a first
power measurement. After an additional period of 10 minutes, a second
power measurement is taken. If the average of the two measurements
divided by the time interval between them meets certain threshold
criteria, then the power consumption is considered to be the average of
the two power measurements. Thus, the total test period would still be
a minimum of 40 minutes. DOE agrees that this method likely improves
the validity of the test results as compared to the First Edition,
since it is a more stringent measure of the stability of the power
consumption over a longer period of time than the First Edition
requires. However, if the threshold criteria are not met at the end of
the test, a different measurement method must be used. Further, the
Second Edition specifies that the direct reading method shall not be
used for verification purposes. Both of these qualifications
potentially increase test burden as compared to the First Edition,
possibly requiring the tester to conduct the more complex methodology
of the methods available under the Second Edition.
b. Unstable, Non-Cyclic Power Consumption
Section 5, paragraph 5.3.2 from IEC Standard 62301 (First Edition),
which DOE proposed in the September 2010 NOPR to incorporate by
reference with clarification, specifies that either the average power
method or accumulated energy approach could be used for measuring
unstable, non-cyclic power consumption (described in the Second Edition
as non-cyclic and ``varying'' power consumption). As described
previously, the clarifications proposed in the September 2010 NOPR
would limit total test duration to 40 minutes for inactive mode and off
mode.
In contrast, paragraph 5.3 of the Second Edition requires the use
of either a sampling method or average reading method for measuring
unstable, non-cyclic power consumption in standby mode or off mode. As
noted previously, DOE is proposing to require the use of the sampling
method, based on the following analysis.
The sampling method in paragraph 5.3.2 is the same as described
previously, but the measurement period must be at least 60 minutes, and
the cumulative average of all data points recorded during the second
two-thirds of the total period must fall within a band of
0.2 percent. The test procedure does not provide an upper time limit
for testing, possibly resulting in significantly increased measurement
[[Page 49244]]
time if the cumulative average criteria cannot be achieved after 60
minutes.
The average reading method in section 5, paragraph 5.3.3 in IEC
Standard 62301 (Second Edition) describes both an average power method
and accumulated energy method, either of which may be selected for
unstable, non-cyclic power. For both types of the average reading
method, a 30-minute stabilization period is specified, followed by two
comparison measurement periods of not less than 10 minutes each. The
average power values, which are either measured directly or calculated
from accumulated energy during each period, are compared to determine
whether they agree to within certain threshold criteria. If the
threshold is not achieved, the comparison periods are each extended in
approximately equal increments until the threshold is met. If agreement
is not achieved after reaching 30 minutes for each comparison period,
the sampling method must then be used. Therefore, the minimum test
period is 50 minutes, but may extend up to 90 minutes, at which time an
additional test may be required.
DOE believes that the stability criteria in either method improves
the accuracy and representativeness of the measurement as compared to
the First Edition, but would cause the required test time to increase,
with a corresponding increase in manufacturer burden due to the
additional time and complexity of the test conduct. Additionally, DOE
believes that manufacturers could face the risk of significant
additional test burden if the average reading method is initially
chosen but the power measurements do not meet the threshold criteria
with the allowable 90-minute maximum test time, requiring a subsequent
test using the sampling method.
c. Cyclic Power Consumption
As noted previously, DOE proposed in the September 2010 NOPR to use
the average power approach of section 5, paragraph 5.3.2(a) in IEC
Standard 62301 (First Edition), with a minimum 30-minute stabilization
period and 10-minute measurement period. The First Edition also
requires that at least one or more complete cycles be measured.
In the Second Edition, cyclic power must be measured according to
the sampling method in section 5, paragraph 5.3.2, but this method
requires a measurement period of at least four complete cycles (for a
total of at least 40 minutes) divided into two comparison periods, with
stability criteria evaluated by calculating the difference in average
power measured in each comparison period divided by the time difference
of the mid-point of each comparison period. This ``slope'' must be less
than 10 mW/h for input powers less than or equal to 1 W, and less than
1 percent of the input power per hour for input powers greater than 1
W. If the appropriate stability criterion is not met, additional cycles
are added to each comparison period until the criterion is achieved.
Once stability has been reached, the power consumption is calculated as
the average of all readings from both comparison periods. DOE believes
that this methodology produces an improved measurement over the
methodology from the First Edition, but the test duration could be
extended, again potentially introducing issues of test burden.
Conclusions on Incorporation of IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition)
In evaluating IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) and comparing it
to the First Edition, DOE recognizes the considerable body of comments
on and input to the provisions and methodology that IEC developed as
part of its latest revision process. DOE recognizes that, in some
cases, test burden and complexity would be increased by requiring the
use of the power supply, power measuring equipment, and test methods
specified in the Second Edition. However, DOE believes that in most
cases for residential clothes washers this added burden on
manufacturers is outweighed by the improved accuracy and
representativeness of the resulting power consumption measurement.
Furthermore, manufacturers supported DOE's use of the Second Edition.
Therefore, DOE concludes provisionally that the application of the
provisions of the Second Edition to all power measurements in standby
mode and off mode for clothes washers would be an improvement over the
First Edition and would not be unduly burdensome to conduct. Therefore,
DOE is proposing incorporation by reference of the relevant paragraphs
of section 4 and section 5 of IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) in
the clothes washer test procedure.
To this end, DOE is also proposing to amend the reference in 10 CFR
430.3 to add a reference to IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition). DOE is
not proposing to replace the reference to the First Edition in 10 CFR
430.3 because several test procedures for other covered products not
addressed in today's SNOPR incorporate provisions from it. There are
also certain section numbering differences between the First Edition
and Second Edition of IEC Standard 62301 that impact the text of the
measurement provisions proposed for the clothes washer test procedure
in appendix J2. DOE further notes that the mode definitions that were
proposed in the September 2010 NOPR would not be affected by the
reference to IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition) because the
definitions were based on IEC Standard 62301 (FDIS), which is identical
in substance to the Second Edition.
Further, DOE observes that although the Second Edition allows the
choice of multiple test methods for both stable and unstable non-cyclic
power consumption, the sampling method provides for a test duration
that is approximately the same or shorter than the allowable
alternative methods and does not require classification of the nature
of the power consumption (e.g., stable or unstable, non-cyclic) in
advance of the test. The average reading method in the Second Edition
allows the use of either the average power method or accumulated energy
method, at the discretion of the test laboratory, which could result in
inconsistent test results among different test laboratories.
Furthermore, for cyclic power consumption, the Second Edition requires
the use of the sampling method. For these reasons, DOE proposes in
today's SNOPR to specify the use of the sampling method in IEC Standard
62301 (Second Edition) section 5.3.2 for all measures of standby mode
and off mode power consumption.
2. Calculation of Energy Use in Low-Power Modes
In the September 2010 NOPR, DOE proposed two possible approaches
for measuring energy consumption in modes other than active washing
mode; i.e., inactive (standby) mode, off mode, delay start mode, and
cycle finished mode \6\ (hereafter, collectively referred to as low-
power modes).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Delay start and cycle finished modes are considered part of
the active mode.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first approach, DOE proposed allocating 295 hours per year
to the active washing mode, 16 hours to self-clean mode (if
applicable), 25 hours per year to delay start mode (if applicable), 15
hours per year to cycle finished mode (if applicable), and the
remainder to off and/or inactive mode. 75 FR 57556, 57564-65 (Sept. 21,
2010). Using this approach, the energy use per cycle associated with
inactive, off, delay start, and cycle finished modes would be
calculated by (1) Calculating the product of wattage and allocated
hours for all possible inactive, off, delay start and cycle finished
modes; (2) summing
[[Page 49245]]
the results; (3) dividing the sum by 1,000 to convert from Wh to kWh;
and (4) dividing by the proposed 295 use cycles per year.
For the second ``alternate approach,'' DOE proposed measuring power
consumption for only off and inactive modes for the purpose of
calculating the total energy consumed in all low-power modes. Using
this approach, separate measurements of delay start and cycle finished
mode energy consumption would not be required; instead, all the hours
not associated with active washing mode or self-clean mode (8,465 hours
total) would be allocated to the inactive and off modes. DOE noted that
delay start and cycle finished modes represent a relatively small
number of hours at low power consumption levels. For clothes washers
currently on the market, these levels are comparable to those for off/
inactive modes. Id.
In evaluating the best approach for measuring energy use in low-
power modes, DOE considered comments from interested parties regarding
the allocation of hours to modes other than active washing mode. A
number of these comments related to the estimates DOE provided of the
number of hours associated with each low-power mode.
NEEA objected to DOE's proposed allocation of the time spent in
cycle finished mode, based on an estimate of 3 minutes per cycle. NEEA
stated that DOE relied on anecdotal data from Australia to determine
its estimates. NEEA also noted that DOE was aware of units capable of
operating up to 10 hours in cycle finished mode, but had no field data
to support an assumption about what fraction of the 10 hours were used,
nor any data that would allow an estimate of the typical cycle finished
mode duration. NEEA recommended that DOE acquire data to provide a
statistically valid basis for assumptions about the duration of cycle
finished mode. NEEA further commented that there is no reason to
exclude the measurement of the energy use of fans and motors in the
cycle finished mode, or to arbitrarily curtail the time period for
their measurement. (NEEA, No. 12 at pp. 3, 7; NEEA, Public Meeting
Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 75-76)
NEEA also commented that recent field measurements conducted for
the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) indicate that inactive
mode energy use can be significant, equivalent to the energy
consumption of an additional wash load per week (not including hot
water energy consumption). (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 3) NEEA stated that
DOE's estimates for the time spent in the inactive mode call into
question the need for the specified accuracy in measuring the power use
in the inactive mode. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 7)
The California Utilities commented that DOE should increase the
length of time allocated to cycle finished mode in the test procedure
calculations. The California Utilities further noted that the
Australian study on which DOE relied for other estimates in the
proposed test procedure showed that 20 percent of the total use time
not allocated to active washing or delay start mode would be associated
with the cycle finished mode. Additionally, the California Utilities
noted that DOE's estimates were based on internal testing, although it
is not clear if the proposed cycle finished mode duration was based on
all machines tested, or only those having a cycle finished mode, and
requested either a clarification or correction to this calculation. The
California Utilities stated that it also was not clear whether DOE's
test sample included machines providing periodic air flow or tumbling
in the cycle finished mode, or if it only tested machines with an
extended display operation. The California Utilities recommended that
DOE test machines with these additional features to determine their
typical cycle finished mode duration, which for some machines may be
hours after completion of the wash cycle. (California Utilities, No. 18
at pp. 2-3)
ALS did not agree that cycle finished mode energy consumption
should be accounted for separately from the active washing mode. (ALS,
No. 10 at p. 1) Whirlpool commented that DOE should not measure or
include in the test procedure cycle finished energy consumed by air
movement fans or by periodic tumbling, as these are very limited
application features where the measurement burden would substantially
outweigh the value of the energy measurement. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at p.
2) Whirlpool commented further that the significant test burden
associated with measuring cycle finished mode results in virtually no
consumer benefit, and these values should be dropped from the test
procedure's calculations. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 4)
AHAM also commented in response to the RFI issued by DOE to
implement Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory
Review, opposing any test procedure requirement to measure separately
the energy use of delay start and cycle finished modes. AHAM stated
that the additional burden that would be required to measure a de
minimis amount of energy would not be justified. (76 FR 6123, Feb. 3,
2011; AHAM, 5-6)
DOE also received multiple comments from interested parties
regarding the proposed ``alternate approach,'' which would allocate all
the hours not associated with active washing mode to the inactive and
off modes.
ALS, AHAM, and BSH support the alternative calculation proposed in
the September 2010 NOPR. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 2; AHAM, No. 14 at p. 8;
AHAM, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at pp. 87-88; BSH, No. 17 at p.
3) ALS and AHAM generally oppose the proposed method of separately
allocating annual hours to delay start mode, cycle finished mode, and
self-clean mode because they believe that DOE does not have reliable
consumer use data for these modes. In addition, as stated above, ALS
and AHAM stated that these modes represent insignificant energy
consumption to justify measuring them separately. (ALS, No. 10 at p. 2;
AHAM, No. 14 at p. 7; AHAM, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at pp.
55-56, 73, 93) Whirlpool also commented that the test procedure should
not include delay start mode, cycle finished mode, or off mode because
these modes represent insignificant energy consumption. (Whirlpool, No.
13 at p. 4).
NEEA opposed the proposed alternative calculation method, stating
that it would be inappropriate to ignore the delay start and cycle
finished modes with almost no data on the actual duration and energy
use for these modes. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 8) NEEA believes that the
energy use in delay start mode and cycle finished mode is not
insignificant, and should be included in the energy use calculations.
According to NEEA, manufacturers would have no incentive to minimize
energy used in these modes if they were not included in the
calculations. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 8) NEEA further commented that the
proposed calculation method for measuring each mode is sound, but could
be simplified if the calculation simply involved active mode, with
delay start mode and cycle finished mode folded in, and inactive mode,
as measured for each model tested. (NEEA, No. 12 at p. 7) NEEA did,
however, comment that it might support the alternative approach if the
active wash mode is defined for each machine to include any cycle
finished mode, including machines with cycle finished modes with
intermittent tumbling that can last as long as 10 hours. (NEEA, Public
Meeting Transcript, No. 20 at p. 88)
The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and NRDC (hereafter referred
to as the ``Joint Comment'') expressed support for
[[Page 49246]]
NEEA's proposal to fold delay start and cycle finished modes into a
single energy test cycle that would also include the active wash cycle.
The Joint Comment stated that this approach would seem to simplify the
test, and it would ensure that any energy and/or water consumption that
occurs after the final spin, such as the addition of steam, would be
captured by the test procedure. (Joint Comment, No. 16 at p. 4)
DOE acknowledges that certain clothes washers provide optional
tumbling or air circulation features in cycle finished mode. As noted
in the September 2010 NOPR, the number of residential clothes washers
equipped with a periodic tumbling or air circulation feature during
cycle finished mode represents less than 10 percent of the models
produced by manufacturers comprising over 90 percent of the market. 75
FR 57556, 57561 (Sept. 21, 2010). In addition, review of product
literature for the clothes washers equipped with such features shows
that these functions are typically consumer-selected options.
To further support the proposal in today's SNOPR, DOE performed
additional laboratory testing to quantify the energy consumption in
cycle finished mode. DOE tested the residential clothes washer model
that it identified as having the longest-duration and most energy-
intensive cycle finished feature on the market. This clothes washer
includes a user-selectable option that provides periodic tumbling and
air circulation for up to 10 hours following the completion of the wash
cycle. For the duration of this cycle finished mode, the cycle finished
indicator on the control panel remains activated, the door remains
locked, and an additional feature indicator light on the control panel
flashes.
DOE measured the energy consumption of this cycle finished feature
for the maximum possible 10 hour duration, using the warm wash/cold
rinse energy test cycle and the average test load size as indicated by
Table 5.1 in appendix J1, extended linearly as discussed in section
III.B.7.a. These test parameters were chosen because they correspond to
the highest usage factors according to the appendix J1 test procedure.
DOE also measured the clothes washer's standby energy consumption.
Figure III.1 shows the power consumption in W during the active washing
mode followed by the first 45 minutes of cycle-finished mode. The
shaded portion of the figure indicates cycle finished mode.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP09AU11.014
Table III.2 shows the cycle finished mode energy consumption for
the test clothes washer along with the other factors that the proposed
Integrated Modified Energy Factor (IMEF) metric incorporates: (1)
Machine electrical energy use in active washing mode, (2) hot water
energy use in active washing mode, (3) energy associated with moisture
removal (i.e., drying energy), and (4) standby (inactive) mode energy
use.
Table III.2--Example Comparison of Total Per-Cycle Energy Consumption
With and Without Cycle Finished Mode
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per-cycle energy consumption
contributors (kWh/cycle)
Mode -------------------------------------
Cycle-finished
Standby mode only mode included
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active washing mode--Machine 0.16 0.16
electrical energy................
Active washing mode--Hot water 0.23 0.23
energy...........................
Active washing mode--Drying energy 1.58 1.58
Standby mode (23 hours)........... 0.06 N/A
[[Page 49247]]
C
