Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Availability of Provisional Analysis Results, 74727-74730 [2016-26007]
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places of production must be hired,
trained, and supervised by the NPPO of
Colombia. APHIS may monitor the
places of production if necessary.
(2) In addition to conducting fruit
inspections at the packinghouses, the
NPPO of Colombia must monitor
packinghouse operations to verify that
the packinghouses are complying with
the requirements of this section.
(3) If the NPPO of Colombia finds that
a place of production or packinghouse
is not complying with the requirements
of this section, no avocados from the
place of production or packinghouse
will be eligible for export to the United
States until APHIS and the NPPO of
Colombia conduct an investigation and
agree that appropriate remedial actions
have been implemented.
(4) The NPPO of Colombia must retain
all forms and documents related to
export program activities in places of
production and packinghouses for at
least 1 year and, as requested, provide
them to APHIS for review.
(c) Grove sanitation. Avocado fruit
that has fallen from the trees must be
removed from each place of production
at least once every 7 days, starting 2
months before harvest and continuing to
the end of harvest. Fallen avocado fruit
may not be included in field containers
of fruit brought to the packinghouse to
be packed for export.
(d) Mitigation measures for H. lauri,
H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer.
Avocados must either be grown in
places of production located in
departments of Colombia that are
designated as free of H. lauri, H.
trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in
accordance with § 319.56–5 of this
chapter, or be grown in places of
production that have been surveyed by
the NPPO of Colombia and have been
determined to be free of these pests. If
the latter, the NPPO must maintain a
buffer zone of 1 kilometer around the
perimeter of the place of production,
and must survey representative areas of
the place of production and buffer zone
for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S.
catenifer monthly, beginning no more
than 2 months before harvest, in
accordance with a survey protocol
approved by APHIS. If one or more H.
lauri, H. trifasciatus, or S. catenifer is
detected during a survey of the place of
production or buffer zone, the place of
production will be suspended from the
export program for avocados to the
continental United States until APHIS
and the NPPO of Colombia conduct an
investigation and agree that appropriate
remedial actions to reestablish pest
freedom have been implemented.
(e) Harvesting requirements.
Harvested avocados must be placed in
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field cartons or containers that are
marked with the official registration
number of the place of production. The
place of production where the avocados
were grown must remain identifiable
when the fruit leaves the grove, at the
packinghouse, and throughout the
export process. The fruit must be moved
to a registered packinghouse within 3
hours of harvest or must be protected
from fruit fly introduction until moved.
The fruit must be safeguarded in
accordance with the operational
workplan while in transit to the
packinghouse and while awaiting
packing.
(f) Packinghouse requirements. (1)
During the time registered
packinghouses are in use for packing
avocados for export to the United States,
the packinghouses may only accept
avocados that are from registered places
of production and that are produced in
accordance with the requirements of
this section.
(2) Avocados must be packed within
24 hours of harvest in a pestexclusionary packinghouse. All
openings to the outside of the
packinghouse must be screened or
covered by a barrier that prevents pests
from entering, as specified within the
operational workplan. The
packinghouse must have double doors
at the entrance to the facility and at the
interior entrance to the area where the
avocados are packed.
(3) Fruit must be packed in insectproof packaging, or covered with insectproof mesh or a plastic tarpaulin, for
transport to the United States. These
safeguards must remain intact until
arrival in the United States.
(4) Shipping documents
accompanying consignments of
avocados from Colombia that are
exported to the United States must
specify the place of production at which
the avocados were grown as well as the
packing shed or sheds in which the fruit
was processed and packed. This
identification must be maintained until
the fruit is released for entry into the
United States.
(g) NPPO of Colombia inspection.
Following any post-harvest processing,
inspectors from the NPPO of Colombia
must visually inspect a biometric
sample of fruit from each place of
production at a rate to be determined by
APHIS. The inspectors must visually
inspect for quarantine pests, including
M. hirsutus, and must cut a portion of
the fruit to inspect for H. lauri, H.
trifasciatus, and S. catenifer. If a single
quarantine pest is detected during this
inspection protocol, the consignment
from which the sample was taken is
prohibited from being shipped to the
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United States. Additionally, if a single
H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, or S. catenifer
at any life stage is detected during this
inspection, the place of production of
the infested avocados will be suspended
from the export program for avocados to
the continental United States until
APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia
conduct an investigation and agree that
appropriate remedial actions to
reestablish pest freedom have been
implemented.
(h) Phytosanitary certificate. Each
consignment of Hass avocados from
Colombia must be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate issued by the
NPPO of Colombia with an additional
declaration stating that the avocados in
the consignment were produced in
accordance with this section and the
operational workplan.
Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of
October 2016.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–26033 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket Number EERE–2014–BT–STD–
0048]
RIN 1904–AD37
Energy Conservation Standards for
Residential Central Air Conditioners
and Heat Pumps: Availability of
Provisional Analysis Results
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of data availability
(NODA).
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) has completed a
provisional analysis to translate the
residential central air conditioner and
heat pump energy conservation
standard levels recommended by the
CAC/HP ECS Working Group—
expressed in terms of the test procedure
at the time of the Working Group
negotiations—into levels consistent
with the DOE test procedure proposed
in the August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR. At this time, DOE is not
proposing any energy conservation
standard for residential central air
conditioners and heat pumps. However,
it is publishing these analysis results
and the underlining assumptions and
calculations that might ultimately
support a proposed standard. DOE
SUMMARY:
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encourages stakeholders to provide any
additional data or information that may
improve the analysis.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,
and information regarding this notice of
data availability (NODA) no later than
November 14, 2016.
Any comments submitted must
identify the NODA for central air
conditioners and heat pumps, and
provide docket number EERE–2014–
BT–STD–0048 and/or regulatory
information number (RIN) number
1904–AD37. Comments may be
submitted using any of the following
methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: CACHeatPump2016TP0029@
ee.doe.gov Include the docket number
and/or RIN in the subject line of the
message.
Mail: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S.
Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–2J,
1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121. If
possible, please submit all items on a
CD, in which case it is not necessary to
include printed copies.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Ashley
Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Office, 950
L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20024. Telephone:
(202) 586–6590. If possible, please
submit all items on a CD, in which case
it is not necessary to include printed
copies.
For further information on how to
submit a comment, review other public
comments and the docket, contact the
Appliance and Equipment Standards
Program staff at (202) 586–6636 or by
email: central_air_conditioners_and_
heat_pumps@ee.doe.gov.
ADDRESSES: The Docket Number EERE–
2014–BT–STD–0048, is available for
review at www.regulations.gov,
including Federal Register notices,
comments, and other supporting
documents/materials. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. However,
not all documents listed in the index
may be publicly available, such as
information that is exempt from public
disclosure.
A link to the docket Web page can be
found at: https://www.regulations.gov/
docket?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048.
The www.regulations.gov Web page
contains instructions on how to access
all documents in the docket, including
public comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of
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Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies, EE–2J, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–6590. Email:
central_air_conditioners_and_heat_
pumps@ee.doe.gov.
Ms. Johanna Jochum, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 287–6307. Email:
Johanna.Jochum@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Summary of the Analyses Performed by
DOE
III. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Public
Comment
I. Background
On June 27, 2011, DOE published in
the Federal Register a direct final rule
amending the energy conservation
standard for residential furnaces and
central air conditioners and heat pumps.
76 FR 37408. (The standards set forth in
the June 27, 2011 DFR were confirmed
in a notice of effective date and
compliance dates published in the
Federal Register on October 31, 2011.
76 FR 67037.)
DOE is amending its energy
conservation standards for central air
conditioners pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
6295(m)(1), which requires DOE to
periodically review its already
established energy conservation
standards for a covered product. More
specifically, the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as
amended by the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007),
requires that not later than 6 years after
issuance of any final rule establishing or
amending a standard, DOE must publish
either a notice of determination that
standards for the product do not need to
be amended, or a notice of proposed
rulemaking including new proposed
energy conservation standards. As
DOE’s last final rule for residential
central air conditioners and heat pumps
energy conservation standards was
issued on June 27, 2011, DOE must act
by June 27, 2017.
On July 14, 2015, DOE published a
notice of intent to form a working group
to negotiate energy conservation
standards for central air conditioners
and heat pumps and requested
nominations from parties interested in
serving as members of that working
group. 80 FR 40938. This working group
(‘‘CAC/HP ECS Working Group’’), which
ultimately consisted of 15 members in
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addition to one member from the
Appliance Standards and Rulemaking
Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC),
and one DOE representative, came to a
consensus on January 19, 2016 to
recommend the energy conservation
standard levels outlined in the ASRAC
Working Group Final Term Sheet (‘‘the
Term Sheet’’). (ASRAC Working Group
Term Sheet, Docket No. EERE–2014–
BT–STD–0048, No. 0076). On August
24, 2016, DOE published a
supplemental notice of proposed
rulemaking (the August 2016 SNOPR)
that incorporates some of those
recommendations into DOE’s test
procedure for central air conditioners
and heat pumps. 81 FR 58164.
Several of the Term Sheet
recommendations are relevant to this
NODA. Recommendation #8 of the Term
Sheet recommended standard levels, in
terms of SEER, EER, and HSPF, based
on the test procedure that was in place
at the time of the CAC/HP ECS Working
Group negotiations. Recommendation
#9 of the Term Sheet provided
translated values, in terms of SEER2 and
EER2, for some of the recommended
standard levels in Recommendation #8
that would be consistent with the
proposed amendments to the test
procedure outlined in the November
2015 test procedure SNOPR.1 80 FR
69278 (Nov. 9, 2015). The Term Sheet
also provided translated values for
heating efficiency of split system and
single-package heat pumps, in terms of
HSPF2, using an alternative test
procedure favored by some of the
Working Group members.
Recommendation #9 of the Term Sheet
stated that the energy conservation
standards for small-duct high velocity
and space constrained products should
remain unchanged from current levels
(i.e. that there would be no change in
stringency), but did not provide
translated values. (ASRAC Term Sheet,
No. 76 at pp. 4–5)
Based on comments received on the
November 2015 test procedure SNOPR,
DOE continued work on the concurrent
rulemaking to amend the CAC/HP test
procedure while the CAC/HP ASRAC
Working Group was negotiating the
standard levels for CACs and HPs. DOE
published a test procedure SNOPR on
August 24, 2016 proposing revisions to
the amendments of the November 2015
NOPR. 81 FR 58164. The August 2016
test procedure SNOPR included
translated HSPF2 levels for split-system
and single-package heat pumps, but did
not include translated levels for small1 DOE proposed similar amendments most
recently in the August 2016 SNOPR published on
August 24, 2016. 81 FR 58164.
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duct high velocity and space
constrained products.
This NODA provides provisional
translations of the CAC/HP Working
Group’s recommended energy
conservation standard levels for smallduct high velocity and space
constrained products (which are in
terms of the test procedure at the time
of the 2015–2016 Negotiations) into
levels consistent with the test procedure
proposed in the August 2016 test
procedure SNOPR. As mentioned,
translated values for all other product
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classes can be found in the Term Sheet 2
or August 24, 2016 test procedure
SNOPR. 81 FR 58164.
II. Summary of the Analyses Performed
by DOE
TABLE 1—PROVISIONAL TRANSLATIONS OF CAC/HP WORKING GROUP-RECOMMENDED ENERGY CONSERVATION
STANDARD LEVELS
CAC/HP working group
recommendation
Product class
SEER
Small-Duct High-Velocity Systems ..................................................................
Space-Constrained Air Conditioners ...............................................................
Space-Constrained Heat Pumps .....................................................................
HSPF
12
........................
12
7.2
........................
........................
August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR translation
SEER2
12
11.6 */11.8 **
11.5 */11.9 **
HSPF2
6.1
........................
6.3
* Estimated SEER2 at 0.50 in. wc.
** Estimated SEER2 at 0.30 in. wc.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
A. Small-Duct High-Velocity
The August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR made minor changes to the
procedure for measuring SEER in SDHV
systems. Specifically, rather than testing
with external static pressure that varies
with capacity from 1.1 to 1.2 inches
water column (in. wc.), consistent with
term sheet Recommendation #2, the
August 2016 SNOPR proposed testing
all SDHV units with 1.15 in wc. external
static pressure. 81 FR 58163 (Aug. 24,
2016). Translation of SEER for this test
procedure change would involve a
slight reduction for low-capacity unit,
no change for medium-capacity units,
and a slight increase for high-capacity
units. Rather than setting three different
SEER levels for these products, DOE’s
translated level represents an average
translation, equivalent to no change in
the value. Consequently, current SEER
ratings would not change should DOE
adopt the test procedure proposed in the
August 2016 SNOPR, per the CAC/HP
Working Group’s Recommendation #8
to keep the current 12 SEER standard.
The August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR proposes changes to the test
procedure for determining heating
performance, including for SDHV
systems. Consequently, HSPF2
numerical values for SDHV will be
different than the current HSPF
numerical values. In the August 2016
test procedure, DOE interpolated
between the HSPF2 values resulting
from the heating load line slope factor
options presented by the CAC/HP
Working Group in the Term Sheet to
translate current HSPF standard levels
to HSPF2 levels in terms of the
proposed heating load line slope factor
for split-system heat pumps. DOE found
that this methodology resulted in a 15%
reduction from HSPF to HSPF2 ratings.
81 FR at 58191. For SDHV heat pump
products, DOE reviewed split-system
heat pump test data to determine the
appropriate HSPF to HSPF2 translation
and found that the same 15% reduction
in HSPF to HSPF2 would be appropriate
to apply to SDHV heat pump products
as well. Thus, to translate the CAC/HP
Working Group recommendation a
HSPF2 value consistent with the August
2016 test procedure SNOPR achieve the
HSPF2 values presented in this NODA,
DOE applied a 15% reduction to the
current SDHV HSPF standard.
B. Space-Constrained Products
For the space-constrained air
conditioner SEER standard level
translation, DOE reviewed existing test
data, adjusted relevant measurements
based on indoor fan performance data to
account for the test procedure changes
(e.g., increased ESP), and translated the
levels based on the average impact. DOE
reviewed test data for multiple blowercoil split-system space-constrained air
conditioners. Because these data are for
blower-coil systems tested at static
pressures lower than those proposed in
the August 2016 test procedure SNOPR,
DOE had to adjust the data for a relevant
translation. Under 10 CFR 429.16,
ratings for split-system spaceconstrained products must include a
coil-only efficiency representation of the
least efficient coil-only combination. To
derive a space-constrained coil-only
SEER rating based on the test data, DOE
replaced the tested indoor fan power
with 365 W/1000 CFM, and recalculated
the SEER rating. The 365 W/1000 CFM
is the default fan power value in the
current test procedure, which represents
indoor fan performance at the operating
conditions specified in the current test
procedure.
The August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR proposed that split-system coilonly products be tested at a minimum
external static pressure of 0.5 in. wc. To
adjust for this change, DOE replaced the
tested indoor fan power with 441 W/
1000 CFM, and recalculated the SEER
rating. The 441 W/1000 CFM is the
default fan power value recommended
in the CAC/HP Working Group Term
Sheet and proposed in the August 2016
test procedure SNOPR to represent splitsystem coil-only blower power
consumption at 0.5 in. wc., which
reduced the space-constrained coil-only
SEER value by an average of 4%.
ASRAC Term Sheet, No. 76 at p. 3; 81
FR at 58185 (Aug. 24, 2016). DOE
applied this 4% reduction to the SEER
standard level recommended by the
CAC/HP Working Group (to maintain
stringency equivalent to the current
space constrained air conditioner 12
SEER standard) to derive the translated
SEER2 level in Table 1. DOE also
evaluated the impact on SEER assuming
operation at 0.30 in. wc., as
recommended by the CAC/HP ECS
Working Group, given that the test
procedure is not finalized and DOE’s
proposals may change. To estimate
SEER at 0.30 in. wc., DOE replaced the
tested indoor fan power with 406 W/
1000 CFM, and recalculated the SEER
rating. The 406 W/1000 CFM is the
default fan power value recommended
in the CAC/HP Working Group Term
Sheet and proposed in the August 2016
test procedure SNOPR to represent split-
2 Available at https://www.regulations.gov/
document?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048-0076.
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system mobile home coil-only blower
power consumption at 0.30 in. wc.
(ASRAC Term Sheet, No. 76 at p. 3) 81
FR at 58185 (Aug. 24, 2016). The spaceconstrained coil-only SEER reduced by
an average of 2%. DOE applied this 2%
reduction to the SEER standard level
recommended by the CAC/HP Working
Group (to maintain stringency
equivalent to the current space
constrained air conditioner 12 SEER
standard) to derive the translated SEER2
level in Table 1.
For the space-constrained heat pump
SEER translation, DOE used a similar
methodology as it used for spaceconstrained air conditioners, but the
adjustments to blower power were
slightly different. Section 429.16
requires that split-system heat pumps
have blower-coil efficiency
representations. In addition, the August
2016 test procedure SNOPR proposed
that split-system coil-only products be
tested at a minimum external static
pressure of 0.5 in. wc., which is higher
than the 0.1 to 0.2 in. wc. at which these
products are currently. DOE replaced
the tested indoor fan power with fan
power at 0.5 in. wc. determined from
product specification sheets and
recalculated SEER. The tested SEER
reduced by an average of 4% to 11.5, as
listed in Table 1 of this preamble. DOE
also evaluated the impact on SEER
reduction, assuming operation at 0.30
in. wc., as recommended by the CAC/
HP ECS Working Group, given that the
test procedure is not finalized and
DOE’s proposals may change. DOE
replaced the tested indoor fan power
with fan power at 0.30 in. wc.
determined from product specification
sheets and recalculated SEER. The
tested SEER reduced by an average of
1% to 11.9, as listed in Table 1 of this
preamble.
For the space-constrained heat pump
HSPF translation, DOE used the same
methodology as it used for its SDHV
system HSPF translation (i.e., applying
a 15% reduction). See section II.A.
III. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Public
Comment
DOE is interested in receiving
comments and views of interested
parties concerning the translation of
SEER and HSPF values to SEER2 and
HSPF2 values shown in Table 1 for
spaced-constrained and SDHV products.
The purpose of this NODA is to notify
industry, manufacturers, consumer
groups, efficiency advocates,
government agencies, and other
stakeholders of the publication of an
analysis of potential energy
conservation standards for commercial
and industrial fans and blowers.
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Stakeholders should contact DOE for
any additional information pertaining to
the analyses performed for this NODA.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 21,
2016.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2016–26007 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE
AGENCY
12 CFR Part 1207
RIN 2590–AA78
Minority and Women Inclusion
Amendments
Federal Housing Finance
Agency.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
The Federal Housing Finance
Agency (FHFA or Agency) is issuing
notice and providing an opportunity for
the public to comment on proposed
amendments to its regulations on
minority and women inclusion. Those
regulations, require the Federal National
Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation (Freddie Mac) (together,
Enterprises), and the Federal Home
Loan Banks (Banks or Bank System)
(collectively, the regulated entities) and
the Bank System’s Office of Finance to
promote diversity and ensure the
inclusion and utilization of minorities,
women, and individuals with
disabilities and minority-, women-, and
disabled-owned businesses in all
business and activities at all levels,
including management, employment,
and contracting. The proposed
amendments would clarify the scope of
the regulated entities’ obligation to
promote diversity and ensure the
inclusion and utilization of minorities,
women, and individuals with
disabilities in all business and activities;
require each regulated entity to develop
and adopt strategies for promoting
diversity and ensuring the inclusion of
minorities, women, and individuals
with disabilities; and improve the
usefulness and comparability of the
information the regulated entities report
to FHFA about their efforts to advance
diversity and inclusion.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before December 27,
2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your
comments, identified by Regulatory
SUMMARY:
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Information Number (RIN) 2590–AA78,
by any of the following methods:
• Agency Web site: www.fhfa.gov/
open-for-comment-or-input.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. If
you submit your comment to the
Federal eRulemaking Portal, please also
send it by email to FHFA at
RegComments@fhfa.gov to ensure
timely receipt by the Agency. Please
include Comments/RIN 2590–AA78 in
the subject line of the message.
• Courier/Hand Delivery: The hand
delivery address is: Alfred M. Pollard,
General Counsel, Attention: Comments/
RIN 2590–AA78, Federal Housing
Finance Agency, 400 Seventh Street
SW., Eighth Floor, Washington, DC
20219. Deliver the package to the
Seventh Street entrance Guard Desk,
First Floor, on business days between 9
a.m. to 5 p.m.
• U.S. Mail, United Parcel Service,
Federal Express or Other Mail Service:
The mailing address for comments is:
Alfred M. Pollard, General Counsel,
Attention: Comments/RIN 2590–AA78,
Federal Housing Finance Agency, 400
Seventh Street SW., Eighth Floor,
Washington, DC 20219.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharron P. A. Levine, Director, Office of
Minority and Women Inclusion,
Sharron.Levine@fhfa.gov, (202) 649–
3496; Eric Howard, Deputy Director,
Office of Minority and Women
Inclusion, Eric.Howard@fhfa.gov, (202)
649–3009; or James Jordan, Assistant
General Counsel, James.Jordan@
fhfa.gov, (202) 649–3075 (not toll-free
numbers), Federal Housing Finance
Agency, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20219. The telephone
number for the Telecommunications
Device for the Hearing Impaired is (800)
877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Comments
FHFA invites comments on all aspects
of the proposed amendments and will
take all comments into consideration
before issuing a final rule. Copies of all
comments received will be posted
without change on the FHFA Web site
at https://www.fhfa.gov and will include
any personal information you provide,
such as your name, address, email
address, and telephone number. Copies
of all comments received will be made
available for examination by the public
on business days between the hours of
l0 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Federal
Housing Finance Agency, 400 Seventh
Street SW., Eighth Floor, Washington,
DC 20219. To make an appointment to
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74727-74730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26007]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket Number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048]
RIN 1904-AD37
Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air
Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Availability of Provisional Analysis
Results
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of data availability (NODA).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed a
provisional analysis to translate the residential central air
conditioner and heat pump energy conservation standard levels
recommended by the CAC/HP ECS Working Group--expressed in terms of the
test procedure at the time of the Working Group negotiations--into
levels consistent with the DOE test procedure proposed in the August
2016 test procedure SNOPR. At this time, DOE is not proposing any
energy conservation standard for residential central air conditioners
and heat pumps. However, it is publishing these analysis results and
the underlining assumptions and calculations that might ultimately
support a proposed standard. DOE
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encourages stakeholders to provide any additional data or information
that may improve the analysis.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this
notice of data availability (NODA) no later than November 14, 2016.
Any comments submitted must identify the NODA for central air
conditioners and heat pumps, and provide docket number EERE-2014-BT-
STD-0048 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) number 1904-AD37.
Comments may be submitted using any of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: CACHeatPump2016TP0029@ee.doe.gov Include the docket number
and/or RIN in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a
CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite
600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. If possible,
please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to
include printed copies.
For further information on how to submit a comment, review other
public comments and the docket, contact the Appliance and Equipment
Standards Program staff at (202) 586-6636 or by email:
central_air_conditioners_and_heat_pumps@ee.doe.gov.
ADDRESSES: The Docket Number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048, is available for
review at www.regulations.gov, including Federal Register notices,
comments, and other supporting documents/materials. All documents in
the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. However, not
all documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as
information that is exempt from public disclosure.
A link to the docket Web page can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048. The
www.regulations.gov Web page contains instructions on how to access all
documents in the docket, including public comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. Email:
central_air_conditioners_and_heat_pumps@ee.doe.gov.
Ms. Johanna Jochum, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-6307. Email:
Johanna.Jochum@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE
III. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Public Comment
I. Background
On June 27, 2011, DOE published in the Federal Register a direct
final rule amending the energy conservation standard for residential
furnaces and central air conditioners and heat pumps. 76 FR 37408. (The
standards set forth in the June 27, 2011 DFR were confirmed in a notice
of effective date and compliance dates published in the Federal
Register on October 31, 2011. 76 FR 67037.)
DOE is amending its energy conservation standards for central air
conditioners pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1), which requires DOE to
periodically review its already established energy conservation
standards for a covered product. More specifically, the Energy Policy
and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended by the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), requires that not
later than 6 years after issuance of any final rule establishing or
amending a standard, DOE must publish either a notice of determination
that standards for the product do not need to be amended, or a notice
of proposed rulemaking including new proposed energy conservation
standards. As DOE's last final rule for residential central air
conditioners and heat pumps energy conservation standards was issued on
June 27, 2011, DOE must act by June 27, 2017.
On July 14, 2015, DOE published a notice of intent to form a
working group to negotiate energy conservation standards for central
air conditioners and heat pumps and requested nominations from parties
interested in serving as members of that working group. 80 FR 40938.
This working group (``CAC/HP ECS Working Group''), which ultimately
consisted of 15 members in addition to one member from the Appliance
Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC), and one
DOE representative, came to a consensus on January 19, 2016 to
recommend the energy conservation standard levels outlined in the ASRAC
Working Group Final Term Sheet (``the Term Sheet''). (ASRAC Working
Group Term Sheet, Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048, No. 0076). On
August 24, 2016, DOE published a supplemental notice of proposed
rulemaking (the August 2016 SNOPR) that incorporates some of those
recommendations into DOE's test procedure for central air conditioners
and heat pumps. 81 FR 58164.
Several of the Term Sheet recommendations are relevant to this
NODA. Recommendation #8 of the Term Sheet recommended standard levels,
in terms of SEER, EER, and HSPF, based on the test procedure that was
in place at the time of the CAC/HP ECS Working Group negotiations.
Recommendation #9 of the Term Sheet provided translated values, in
terms of SEER2 and EER2, for some of the recommended standard levels in
Recommendation #8 that would be consistent with the proposed amendments
to the test procedure outlined in the November 2015 test procedure
SNOPR.\1\ 80 FR 69278 (Nov. 9, 2015). The Term Sheet also provided
translated values for heating efficiency of split system and single-
package heat pumps, in terms of HSPF2, using an alternative test
procedure favored by some of the Working Group members. Recommendation
#9 of the Term Sheet stated that the energy conservation standards for
small-duct high velocity and space constrained products should remain
unchanged from current levels (i.e. that there would be no change in
stringency), but did not provide translated values. (ASRAC Term Sheet,
No. 76 at pp. 4-5)
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\1\ DOE proposed similar amendments most recently in the August
2016 SNOPR published on August 24, 2016. 81 FR 58164.
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Based on comments received on the November 2015 test procedure
SNOPR, DOE continued work on the concurrent rulemaking to amend the
CAC/HP test procedure while the CAC/HP ASRAC Working Group was
negotiating the standard levels for CACs and HPs. DOE published a test
procedure SNOPR on August 24, 2016 proposing revisions to the
amendments of the November 2015 NOPR. 81 FR 58164. The August 2016 test
procedure SNOPR included translated HSPF2 levels for split-system and
single-package heat pumps, but did not include translated levels for
small-
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duct high velocity and space constrained products.
This NODA provides provisional translations of the CAC/HP Working
Group's recommended energy conservation standard levels for small-duct
high velocity and space constrained products (which are in terms of the
test procedure at the time of the 2015-2016 Negotiations) into levels
consistent with the test procedure proposed in the August 2016 test
procedure SNOPR. As mentioned, translated values for all other product
classes can be found in the Term Sheet \2\ or August 24, 2016 test
procedure SNOPR. 81 FR 58164.
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\2\ Available at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048-0076.
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II. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE
Table 1--Provisional Translations of CAC/HP Working Group-Recommended Energy Conservation Standard Levels
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CAC/HP working group August 2016 test procedure
recommendation SNOPR translation
Product class ---------------------------------------------------------------
SEER HSPF SEER2 HSPF2
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Small-Duct High-Velocity Systems................ 12 7.2 12 6.1
Space-Constrained Air Conditioners.............. .............. .............. 11.6 */11.8 ** ..............
Space-Constrained Heat Pumps.................... 12 .............. 11.5 */11.9 ** 6.3
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* Estimated SEER2 at 0.50 in. wc.
** Estimated SEER2 at 0.30 in. wc.
A. Small-Duct High-Velocity
The August 2016 test procedure SNOPR made minor changes to the
procedure for measuring SEER in SDHV systems. Specifically, rather than
testing with external static pressure that varies with capacity from
1.1 to 1.2 inches water column (in. wc.), consistent with term sheet
Recommendation #2, the August 2016 SNOPR proposed testing all SDHV
units with 1.15 in wc. external static pressure. 81 FR 58163 (Aug. 24,
2016). Translation of SEER for this test procedure change would involve
a slight reduction for low-capacity unit, no change for medium-capacity
units, and a slight increase for high-capacity units. Rather than
setting three different SEER levels for these products, DOE's
translated level represents an average translation, equivalent to no
change in the value. Consequently, current SEER ratings would not
change should DOE adopt the test procedure proposed in the August 2016
SNOPR, per the CAC/HP Working Group's Recommendation #8 to keep the
current 12 SEER standard.
The August 2016 test procedure SNOPR proposes changes to the test
procedure for determining heating performance, including for SDHV
systems. Consequently, HSPF2 numerical values for SDHV will be
different than the current HSPF numerical values. In the August 2016
test procedure, DOE interpolated between the HSPF2 values resulting
from the heating load line slope factor options presented by the CAC/HP
Working Group in the Term Sheet to translate current HSPF standard
levels to HSPF2 levels in terms of the proposed heating load line slope
factor for split-system heat pumps. DOE found that this methodology
resulted in a 15% reduction from HSPF to HSPF2 ratings. 81 FR at 58191.
For SDHV heat pump products, DOE reviewed split-system heat pump test
data to determine the appropriate HSPF to HSPF2 translation and found
that the same 15% reduction in HSPF to HSPF2 would be appropriate to
apply to SDHV heat pump products as well. Thus, to translate the CAC/HP
Working Group recommendation a HSPF2 value consistent with the August
2016 test procedure SNOPR achieve the HSPF2 values presented in this
NODA, DOE applied a 15% reduction to the current SDHV HSPF standard.
B. Space-Constrained Products
For the space-constrained air conditioner SEER standard level
translation, DOE reviewed existing test data, adjusted relevant
measurements based on indoor fan performance data to account for the
test procedure changes (e.g., increased ESP), and translated the levels
based on the average impact. DOE reviewed test data for multiple
blower-coil split-system space-constrained air conditioners. Because
these data are for blower-coil systems tested at static pressures lower
than those proposed in the August 2016 test procedure SNOPR, DOE had to
adjust the data for a relevant translation. Under 10 CFR 429.16,
ratings for split-system space-constrained products must include a
coil-only efficiency representation of the least efficient coil-only
combination. To derive a space-constrained coil-only SEER rating based
on the test data, DOE replaced the tested indoor fan power with 365 W/
1000 CFM, and recalculated the SEER rating. The 365 W/1000 CFM is the
default fan power value in the current test procedure, which represents
indoor fan performance at the operating conditions specified in the
current test procedure.
The August 2016 test procedure SNOPR proposed that split-system
coil-only products be tested at a minimum external static pressure of
0.5 in. wc. To adjust for this change, DOE replaced the tested indoor
fan power with 441 W/1000 CFM, and recalculated the SEER rating. The
441 W/1000 CFM is the default fan power value recommended in the CAC/HP
Working Group Term Sheet and proposed in the August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR to represent split-system coil-only blower power consumption at
0.5 in. wc., which reduced the space-constrained coil-only SEER value
by an average of 4%. ASRAC Term Sheet, No. 76 at p. 3; 81 FR at 58185
(Aug. 24, 2016). DOE applied this 4% reduction to the SEER standard
level recommended by the CAC/HP Working Group (to maintain stringency
equivalent to the current space constrained air conditioner 12 SEER
standard) to derive the translated SEER2 level in Table 1. DOE also
evaluated the impact on SEER assuming operation at 0.30 in. wc., as
recommended by the CAC/HP ECS Working Group, given that the test
procedure is not finalized and DOE's proposals may change. To estimate
SEER at 0.30 in. wc., DOE replaced the tested indoor fan power with 406
W/1000 CFM, and recalculated the SEER rating. The 406 W/1000 CFM is the
default fan power value recommended in the CAC/HP Working Group Term
Sheet and proposed in the August 2016 test procedure SNOPR to represent
split-
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system mobile home coil-only blower power consumption at 0.30 in. wc.
(ASRAC Term Sheet, No. 76 at p. 3) 81 FR at 58185 (Aug. 24, 2016). The
space-constrained coil-only SEER reduced by an average of 2%. DOE
applied this 2% reduction to the SEER standard level recommended by the
CAC/HP Working Group (to maintain stringency equivalent to the current
space constrained air conditioner 12 SEER standard) to derive the
translated SEER2 level in Table 1.
For the space-constrained heat pump SEER translation, DOE used a
similar methodology as it used for space-constrained air conditioners,
but the adjustments to blower power were slightly different. Section
429.16 requires that split-system heat pumps have blower-coil
efficiency representations. In addition, the August 2016 test procedure
SNOPR proposed that split-system coil-only products be tested at a
minimum external static pressure of 0.5 in. wc., which is higher than
the 0.1 to 0.2 in. wc. at which these products are currently. DOE
replaced the tested indoor fan power with fan power at 0.5 in. wc.
determined from product specification sheets and recalculated SEER. The
tested SEER reduced by an average of 4% to 11.5, as listed in Table 1
of this preamble. DOE also evaluated the impact on SEER reduction,
assuming operation at 0.30 in. wc., as recommended by the CAC/HP ECS
Working Group, given that the test procedure is not finalized and DOE's
proposals may change. DOE replaced the tested indoor fan power with fan
power at 0.30 in. wc. determined from product specification sheets and
recalculated SEER. The tested SEER reduced by an average of 1% to 11.9,
as listed in Table 1 of this preamble.
For the space-constrained heat pump HSPF translation, DOE used the
same methodology as it used for its SDHV system HSPF translation (i.e.,
applying a 15% reduction). See section II.A.
III. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Public Comment
DOE is interested in receiving comments and views of interested
parties concerning the translation of SEER and HSPF values to SEER2 and
HSPF2 values shown in Table 1 for spaced-constrained and SDHV products.
The purpose of this NODA is to notify industry, manufacturers,
consumer groups, efficiency advocates, government agencies, and other
stakeholders of the publication of an analysis of potential energy
conservation standards for commercial and industrial fans and blowers.
Stakeholders should contact DOE for any additional information
pertaining to the analyses performed for this NODA.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2016.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2016-26007 Filed 10-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
