Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Clothes Dryers, Webinar and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document, 20327-20334 [2021-07823]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 73 / Monday, April 19, 2021 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[EERE–2014–BT–STD–0058]
RIN 1904–AD99
Energy Conservation Program: Energy
Conservation Standards for Consumer
Clothes Dryers, Webinar and
Availability of the Preliminary
Technical Support Document
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notification of a webinar and
availability of preliminary technical
support document.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (‘‘DOE’’ or ‘‘the Department’’)
will hold a webinar to discuss and
receive comments on the preliminary
analysis it has conducted for purposes
of evaluating energy conservation
standards for consumer clothes dryers.
The webinar will cover the analytical
framework, models, and tools that DOE
is using to evaluate potential standards
for this product; the results of
preliminary analyses performed by DOE
for this product; the potential energy
conservation standard levels derived
from these analyses that DOE could
consider for this product should it
determine that proposed amendments
are necessary; and any other issues
relevant to the evaluation of energy
conservation standards for consumer
clothes dryers. In addition, DOE
encourages written comments on these
subjects. To inform interested parties
and to facilitate this process, DOE has
prepared an agenda, a preliminary
technical support document (‘‘TSD’’),
and briefing materials, which are
available on the DOE website at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/standards.aspx?
productid=50&action=viewlive.
DATES: Meeting: DOE will hold a
webinar on Wednesday, May 26, 2021,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See section IV,
‘‘Public Participation,’’ for webinar
registration information, participant
instructions, and information about the
capabilities available to webinar
participants.
Comments: Written comments and
information will be accepted on or
before, July 6, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Alternatively, interested persons may
submit comments by email to the
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SUMMARY:
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following address: ResClothesDryers
2014STD0058@ee.doe.gov. Include
‘‘Notification of a webinar and
availability of preliminary technical
support document’’ and docket number
EERE–2014–BT–STD–0058 and/or RIN
number 1904–AD99 in the subject line
of the message. Submit electronic
comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft
Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and
avoid the use of special characters or
any form of encryption.
Although DOE has routinely accepted
public comment submissions through a
variety of mechanisms, including postal
mail and hand delivery/courier, the
Department has found it necessary to
make temporary modifications to the
comment submission process in light of
the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is
currently accepting only electronic
submissions at this time. If a commenter
finds that this change poses an undue
hardship, please contact Appliance
Standards Program staff at (202) 586–
1445 to discuss the need for alternative
arrangements. Once the Covid-19
pandemic health emergency is resolved,
DOE anticipates resuming all of its
regular options for public comment
submission, including postal mail and
hand delivery/courier.
No telefacsimiles (‘‘faxes’’) will be
accepted. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on this process, see section
IV of this document.
Docket: The docket for this activity,
which includes Federal Register
notices, comments, and other
supporting documents/materials, is
available for review at https://
www.regulations.gov. All documents in
the docket are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. However,
some documents listed in the index,
such as those containing information
that is exempt from public disclosure,
may not be publicly available.
The docket web page can be found at
https://www.regulations.gov/
docket?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058.
The docket web page contains
instructions on how to access all
documents, including public comments
in the docket. See section IV for
information on how to submit
comments through https://
www.regulations.gov.
Mr.
Bryan Berringer, 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–
0371. Email: ApplianceStandards
Questions@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Ms. Kathryn McIntosh, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC–33, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–
2002. Email: Kathryn.McIntosh@
hq.doe.gov.
For further information on how to
submit a comment, review other public
comments and the docket, or participate
in the webinar, contact the Appliance
and Equipment Standards Program staff
at (202) 287–1445 or by email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Authority
B. Rulemaking Process
II. Background
A. Current Standards
B. Current Process
III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by
DOE
A. Engineering Analysis
B. Markups Analysis
C. Energy Use Analysis
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
Analyses
E. National Impact Analysis
IV. Public Participation
A. Participation in the Webinar
B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared
General Statements for Distribution
C. Conduct of the Webinar
D. Submission of Comments
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Introduction
A. Authority
The Energy Policy and Conservation
Act, as amended (‘‘EPCA’’),1 among
other things, authorizes DOE to regulate
the energy efficiency of a number of
consumer products and certain
industrial equipment. 42 U.S.C. 6291–
6317. Title III, Part B 2 of EPCA
established the Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles. These products
include consumer clothes dryers, the
subject of this document. 42 U.S.C.
6292(a)(8). EPCA prescribed energy
conservation standards for these
products, and directed DOE to conduct
two cycles of rulemakings to determine
whether to amend these standards. 42
U.S.C. 6295(g)(4). EPCA further
provides that, not later than 6 years after
the issuance of any final rule
establishing or amending a standard,
DOE must publish either a notice of
1 All references to EPCA in this document refer
to the statute as amended through the Energy Act
of 2020, Public Law 116–260 (Dec. 27, 2020).
2 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the
U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A.
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determination that standards for the
product do not need to be amended, or
a notice of proposed rulemaking
(‘‘NOPR’’) including new proposed
energy conservation standards
(proceeding to a final rule, as
appropriate). 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1). Not
later than three years after issuance of
a final determination not to amend
standards, DOE must publish either a
notice of determination that standards
for the product do not need to be
amended, or a NOPR including new
proposed energy conservation standards
(proceeding to a final rule, as
appropriate). 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(3)(B).
DOE is publishing this Preliminary
Analysis to collect data and information
to inform its decision consistent with its
obligations under EPCA.
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B. Rulemaking Process
DOE must follow specific statutory
criteria for prescribing new or amended
standards for covered products,
including consumer clothes dryers.
EPCA requires that any new or amended
energy conservation standard prescribed
by the Secretary of Energy (‘‘Secretary’’)
be designed to achieve the maximum
improvement in energy efficiency (or
water efficiency for certain products
specified by EPCA) that is
technologically feasible and
economically justified. 42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(2)(A). Furthermore, DOE may
not adopt any standard that would not
result in the significant conservation of
energy. 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B). The
Secretary may not prescribe an amended
or new standard that will not result in
significant conservation of energy, or is
not technologically feasible or
economically justified. Id.
On February 14, 2020, DOE published
an update to its procedures,
interpretations, and policies for
consideration in new or revised energy
conservation standards and test
procedure, i.e., ‘‘Procedures,
Interpretations, and Policies for
Consideration of New or Revised Energy
Conservation Standards and Test
Procedures for Consumer Products and
Certain Commercial/Industrial
Equipment’’ (see 10 CFR part 430,
subpart C, appendix A (‘‘Process
Rule,’’)).3 85 FR 8626. In the updated
3 On January 20, 2021, the President issued
Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health
and the Environment and Restoring Science to
Tackle the Climate Crisis. Exec. Order No. 13,990,
86 FR 7037 (Jan. 25, 2021) (‘‘E.O. 13990’’). E.O.
13990 affirms the Nation’s commitment to empower
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Process Rule, DOE established a
significance threshold for energy
savings under which DOE employs a
two-step approach that considers both
an absolute site energy savings
threshold and a threshold that is a
percent reduction in the energy use of
the covered product. Section 6(a) of the
Process Rule.
DOE first evaluates the projected
energy savings from a potential
maximum technologically feasible
(‘‘max-tech’’) standard over a 30-year
period against a 0.3 quadrillion British
thermal units (‘‘quads’’) of site energy
savings threshold. Section 6(b)(2) of the
Process Rule. If the 0.3-quad threshold
is not met, DOE then compares the maxtech savings to the total energy usage of
the covered product to calculate a
percentage reduction in energy usage.
Section 6(b)(3) of the Process Rule. If
this comparison does not yield a
reduction in site energy use of at least
10 percent over a 30-year period, the
analysis will end and DOE will propose
to determine that no significant energy
savings would likely result from setting
new or amended standards. Section
6(b)(4) of the Process Rule. If either one
of the thresholds is reached, DOE will
conduct analyses to ascertain whether a
standard can be prescribed that
produces the maximum improvement in
energy efficiency that is both
technologically feasible and
economically justified and still
constitutes significant energy savings at
the level determined to be economically
justified. Section 6(b)(5) of the Process
Rule. This two-step approach allows
DOE to ascertain whether a potential
standard satisfies EPCA’s significant
energy savings requirements in 42
U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B) to ensure that DOE
our workers and communities; promote and protect
our public health and the environment; and
conserve our national treasures and monuments. To
that end, the stated policies of E.O. 13990 include:
improving public health and protecting our
environment; ensuring access to clean air and
water; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. E.O.
13990 section 1. Section 2 of E.O. 13990 directs
agencies, in part, to immediately review all existing
regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies,
and any other similar agency actions (‘‘agency
actions’’) promulgated, issued, or adopted between
January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021, that are or
may be inconsistent with, or present obstacles to,
the policy set forth in the Executive Order. E.O.
13990 section 2. In addition, section 2(iii) of E.O.
13990 specifically directs DOE to, as appropriate
and consistent with applicable law, publishing for
notice and comment a proposed rule suspending,
revising, or rescinding the updated Process Rule. In
response to this directive, DOE has undertaken a
review of the updated Process Rule at this time.
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avoids setting a standard that ‘‘will not
result in significant conservation of
energy.’’
EPCA defines ‘‘energy efficiency’’ as
the ratio of the useful output of services
from a consumer product to the energy
use of such product, measured
according to the Federal test procedures.
(42 U.S.C. 6291(5), emphasis added)
EPCA defines ‘‘energy use’’ as the
quantity of energy directly consumed by
a consumer product at point of use, as
measured by the Federal test
procedures. (42 U.S.C. 6291(4)) Further,
EPCA uses a household energy
consumption metric as a threshold for
setting standards for new covered
products. (42 U.S.C. 6295(l)(1)) Given
this context, DOE relies on site energy
as the appropriate metric for evaluating
the significance of energy savings.
To determine whether a standard is
economically justified, EPCA requires
that DOE determine whether the
benefits of the standard exceed its
burdens by considering, to the greatest
extent practicable, the following seven
factors:
(1) The economic impact of the
standard on the manufacturers and
consumers of the products subject to the
standard;
(2) the savings in operating costs
throughout the estimated average life of
the covered products in the type (or
class) compared to any increase in the
price, initial charges, or maintenance
expenses for the covered products that
are likely to result from the standard;
(3) the total projected amount of
energy (or as applicable, water) savings
likely to result directly from the
standard;
(4) any lessening of the utility or the
performance of the products likely to
result from the standard;
(5) the impact of any lessening of
competition, as determined in writing
by the Attorney General, that is likely to
result from the standard;
(6) the need for national energy and
water conservation; and
(7) other factors the Secretary of
Energy (Secretary) considers relevant.
42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)–(VII).
DOE fulfills these and other
applicable requirements by conducting
a series of analyses throughout the
rulemaking process. Table I.1 shows the
individual analyses that are performed
to satisfy each of the requirements
within EPCA.
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TABLE I.1—EPCA REQUIREMENTS AND CORRESPONDING DOE ANALYSIS
EPCA requirement
Corresponding DOE analysis
Significant Energy Savings .......................................................................
Technological Feasibility ..........................................................................
Economic Justification:
1. Economic impact on manufacturers and consumers ...................
2. Lifetime operating cost savings compared to increased cost for
the product.
3. Total projected energy savings .....................................................
4. Impact on utility or performance ...................................................
5. Impact of any lessening of competition ........................................
6. Need for national energy and water conservation ........................
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7. Other factors the Secretary considers relevant ............................
Further, EPCA establishes a rebuttable
presumption that a standard is
economically justified if the Secretary
finds that the additional cost to the
consumer of purchasing a product
complying with an energy conservation
standard level will be less than three
times the value of the energy savings
during the first year that the consumer
will receive as a result of the standard,
as calculated under the applicable test
procedure. 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii).
EPCA also contains what is known as
an ‘‘anti-backsliding’’ provision, which
prevents the Secretary from prescribing
any amended standard that either
increases the maximum allowable
energy use or decreases the minimum
required energy efficiency of a covered
product. 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1). Also, the
Secretary may not prescribe an amended
or new standard if interested persons
have established by a preponderance of
the evidence that the standard is likely
to result in the unavailability in the
United States in any covered product
type (or class) of performance
characteristics (including reliability),
features, sizes, capacities, and volumes
that are substantially the same as those
generally available in the United States.
42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(4).
Additionally, EPCA specifies
requirements when promulgating an
energy conservation standard for a
covered product that has two or more
subcategories. DOE must specify a
different standard level for a type or
class of product that has the same
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Shipments Analysis.
National Impact Analysis.
Energy and Water Use Determination.
Market and Technology Assessment.
Screening Analysis.
Engineering Analysis.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Manufacturer Impact Analysis.
Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis.
Life-Cycle Cost Subgroup Analysis.
Shipments Analysis.
Markups for Product Price Determination.
Energy and Water Use Determination.
Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis.
Shipments Analysis.
National Impact Analysis.
Screening Analysis.
Engineering Analysis.
Manufacturer Impact Analysis.
Shipments Analysis.
National Impact Analysis.
Employment Impact Analysis.
Utility Impact Analysis.
Emissions Analysis.
Monetization of Emission Reductions Benefits.
Regulatory Impact Analysis.
function or intended use, if DOE
determines that products within such
group: (A) Consume a different kind of
energy from that consumed by other
covered products within such type (or
class); or (B) have a capacity or other
performance-related feature which other
products within such type (or class) do
not have and such feature justifies a
higher or lower standard. 42 U.S.C.
6295(q)(1). In determining whether a
performance-related feature justifies a
different standard for a group of
products, DOE must consider such
factors as the utility to the consumer of
the feature and other factors DOE deems
appropriate. Id. Any rule prescribing
such a standard must include an
explanation of the basis on which such
higher or lower level was established.
42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(2).
Pursuant to the amendments
contained in the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (‘‘EISA 2007’’),
Public Law 110–140, any final rule for
new or amended energy conservation
standards promulgated after July 1,
2010, is required to address standby
mode and off mode energy use. 42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3). Specifically, when
DOE adopts a standard for a covered
product after that date, it must, if
justified by the criteria for adoption of
standards under EPCA (42 U.S.C.
6295(o)), incorporate standby mode and
off mode energy use into a single
standard, or, if that is not feasible, adopt
a separate standard for such energy use
for that product. 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3).
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DOE’s current test procedures for
consumer clothes dryers address
standby mode and off mode energy use.
In this rulemaking, DOE intends to
incorporate such energy use into any
amended energy conservation standards
it adopts in the final rule.
Before proposing a standard, DOE
seeks public input on the analytical
framework, models, and tools that DOE
intends to use to evaluate standards for
the product at issue and the results of
preliminary analyses DOE performed for
the product.
DOE is examining whether to amend
the current standards for consumer
clothes dryers pursuant to its
obligations under EPCA. This document
announces the availability of the
preliminary TSD, which details the
preliminary analyses and summarizes
the preliminary results of DOE’s
analyses. In addition, DOE is
announcing a webinar to solicit
feedback from interested parties on its
analytical framework, models, and
preliminary results.
II. Background
A. Current Standards
The most recent standards rulemaking
for consumer clothes dryers was
promulgated on April 21, 2011.
Specifically, DOE published a direct
final rule (the ‘‘2011 Direct Final Rule’’)
amending the energy conservation
standard for consumer clothes dryers.
76 FR 22454 (Apr. 21, 2011). The energy
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80 FR 16309 (Mar. 27, 2015). In
addition, the RFI solicited information
from the public to help DOE determine
whether amended standards for
consumer clothes dryers would result in
a significant amount of additional
energy savings, and whether those
standards would be technologically
feasible and economically justified. Id.
The March 2015 RFI is available at
TABLE II.1—CURRENT CONSUMER
https://www.regulations.gov/document?
D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058-0001.
CLOTHES DRYERS STANDARDS
In response to the publication of the
CEF
March 2015 RFI, DOE received
Product class
(lbs/kWh)
comments regarding DOE’s analytical
approach from interested parties,
(A) Vented Electric, Standard
(4.4 ft3 or greater capacity) .....
3.73 including manufacturers, trade
associations, environmental and energy
(B) Vented Electric, Compact
(120V) (less than 4.4 ft3 caefficiency advocates, and other
pacity) ......................................
3.61 interested parties.
(C) Vented Electric, Compact
Comments received since publication
(240V) (less than 4.4 ft3 caof the March 2015 RFI have helped DOE
pacity) ......................................
3.27
(D) Vented Gas ..........................
3.30 identify and resolve issues related to the
preliminary analyses. Chapter 2 of the
(E) Ventless Electric, Compact
preliminary TSD summarizes and
(240V) (less than 4.4 ft3 capacity) ......................................
2.55 addresses the comments received.
conservation standards, as amended in
the 2011 Direct Final Rule, represent the
current standards and are based on the
combined energy factor (‘‘CEF’’)—a
metric that incorporates energy use in
active mode, standby mode, and off
mode. Compliance with the current
standards was required as of January 1,
2015. 76 FR 52852 (Aug. 24, 2011).
(F) Ventless Electric, Combination Washer-Dryer ...................
2.08
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On December 16, 2020, DOE
published a final rule establishing a
separate product classes for consumer
clothes dryers that offer cycle times for
a ‘‘normal’’ cycle 4 of less than 30
minutes. 85 FR 81359 (Dec. 16, 2020)
(‘‘December 2020 Final Rule’’). Because
no such ‘‘short-cycle’’ consumer clothes
dryers are currently on the market in the
United States, DOE did not include
analysis of this newly established
product class in the preliminary TSD.
As noted, section 2 of E.O. 13990
directs agencies, in part, to immediately
review all existing regulations, orders,
guidance documents, policies, and any
other similar agency actions (‘‘agency
actions’’) promulgated, issued, or
adopted between January 20, 2017, and
January 20, 2021, that are or may be
inconsistent with, or present obstacles
to, the policy set forth in the Executive
Order. E.O. 13990 section 2. In response
to this directive, DOE has undertaken a
review of the new, short cycle product
classes for clothes dryers at this time.
B. Current Process
DOE published a request for
information (‘‘RFI’’) on March 27, 2015
(the ‘‘March 2015 RFI’’) describing the
approaches and methods DOE will use
in evaluating potential amended
standards for consumer clothes dryers.
4 Section 3.3.2 of Appendix D2 requires that the
‘‘normal’’ program shall be selected for the test
cycle; for clothes dryers that do not have a
‘‘normal’’ program, the cycle recommended by the
manufacturer for drying cotton or linen clothes
shall be selected.
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III. Summary of the Analyses
Performed by DOE
For the products covered in this
preliminary analysis, DOE conducted
in-depth technical analyses in the
following areas: (1) Engineering; (2)
markups to determine product price; (3)
energy use; (4) life-cycle cost (‘‘LCC’’)
and payback period (‘‘PBP’’); and (5)
national impacts. The preliminary TSD
that presents the methodology and
results of each of these analyses is
available at https://www1.eere.
energy.gov/buildings/appliance_
standards/standards.aspx?productid=
50&action=viewlive.
DOE also conducted, and has
included in the preliminary TSD,
several other analyses that support the
major analyses or are preliminary
analyses that will be expanded upon if
DOE determines that a NOPR is
warranted to propose amended energy
conservation standards. These analyses
include: (1) The market and technology
assessment; (2) the screening analysis,
which contributes to the engineering
analysis; and (3) the shipments analysis,
which contributes to the LCC and PBP
analysis and the national impact
analysis (‘‘NIA’’). In addition to these
analyses, DOE has begun preliminary
work on the manufacturer impact
analysis and has identified the methods
to be used for the consumer subgroup
analysis, the emissions analysis, the
employment impact analysis, the
regulatory impact analysis, and the
utility impact analysis. DOE will
expand upon these analyses in the
NOPR should one be issued.
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A. Engineering Analysis
The purpose of the engineering
analysis is to establish the relationship
between the efficiency and cost of
consumer clothes dryers. There are two
elements to consider in the engineering
analysis; the selection of efficiency
levels to analyze (i.e., the ‘‘efficiency
analysis’’) and the determination of
consumer clothes dryer cost at each
efficiency level (i.e., the ‘‘cost
analysis’’). In determining the
performance of higher-efficiency
consumer clothes dryers, DOE considers
technologies and design option
combinations not eliminated by the
screening analysis. For each product
class, DOE estimates the baseline cost,
as well as the incremental cost for the
product at efficiency levels above the
baseline. The output of the engineering
analysis is a set of cost-efficiency
‘‘curves’’ that are used in downstream
analyses (i.e., the LCC and PBP analyses
and the NIA).
See Chapter 5 of the preliminary TSD
for additional detail on the engineering
analysis.
B. Markups Analysis
The markups analysis develops
appropriate markups (e.g., retailer
markups, distributor markups,
contractor markups) in the distribution
chain and sales taxes to convert
manufacturer production cost (‘‘MPC’’)
estimates derived in the engineering
analysis to consumer prices, which are
then used in the LCC and PBP analysis
and in the manufacturer impact
analysis. At each step in the distribution
channel, companies mark up the price
of the product to cover business costs
and profit margin.
DOE developed baseline and
incremental markups for each actor in
the distribution chain. Baseline
markups are applied to the price of
products with baseline efficiency, while
incremental markups are applied to the
difference in price between baseline and
higher-efficiency models (the
incremental cost increase). The
incremental markup is typically less
than the baseline markup and is
designed to maintain similar per-unit
operating profit before and after new or
amended standards.5
5 Because the projected price of standardscompliant products is typically higher than the
price of baseline products, using the same markup
for the incremental cost and the baseline cost would
result in higher per-unit operating profit. While
such an outcome is possible, DOE maintains that in
markets that are reasonably competitive it is
unlikely that standards would lead to a sustainable
increase in profitability in the long run.
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Chapter 6 of the preliminary TSD
provides details on DOE’s development
of markups for consumer clothes dryers.
C. Energy Use Analysis
The purpose of the energy use
analysis is to determine the annual
energy consumption of consumer
clothes dryers at different efficiencies in
representative U.S. single-family homes,
and multi-family residences, and to
assess the energy savings potential of
increased consumer clothes dryer
efficiency. The energy use analysis
estimates the range of energy use of
consumer clothes dryers in the field
(i.e., as they are actually used by
consumers). The energy use analysis
provides the basis for other analyses
DOE performed, particularly
assessments of the energy savings and
the savings in consumer operating costs
that could result from adoption of
amended or new standards.
Chapter 7 of the preliminary TSD
addresses the energy use analysis.
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D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
Analyses
The effect of new or amended energy
conservation standards on individual
consumers usually involves a reduction
in operating cost and an increase in
purchase cost. DOE used the following
two metrics to measure consumer
impacts:
• The LCC is the total consumer
expense of an appliance or product over
the life of that product, consisting of
total installed cost (manufacturer selling
price, distribution chain markups, sales
tax, and installation costs) plus
operating costs (expenses for energy use,
maintenance, and repair). To compute
the operating costs, DOE discounts
future operating costs to the time of
purchase and sums them over the
lifetime of the product.
• The PBP is the estimated amount of
time (in years) it takes consumers to
recover the increased purchase cost
(including installation) of a moreefficient product through lower
operating costs. DOE calculates the PBP
by dividing the change in purchase cost
at higher efficiency levels by the change
in annual operating cost for the year that
amended or new standards are assumed
to take effect.
Chapter 8 of the preliminary TSD
addresses the LCC and PBP analyses.
E. National Impact Analysis
The NIA estimates the national energy
savings (‘‘NES’’) and the net present
value (‘‘NPV’’) of total consumer costs
and savings expected to result from
amended standards at specific efficiency
levels (referred to as candidate standard
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levels).6 DOE calculates the NES and
NPV for the potential standard levels
considered based on projections of
annual product shipments, along with
the annual energy consumption and
total installed cost data from the energy
use and LCC analyses. For the present
analysis, DOE projected the energy
savings, operating cost savings, product
costs, and NPV of consumer benefits
over the lifetime of consumer clothes
dryers sold from 2024 to 2053.
DOE evaluates the impacts of new or
amended standards by comparing a case
without such standards with standardscase projections. The no-new-standards
case characterizes energy use and
consumer costs for each product class in
the absence of new or amended energy
conservation standards. For this
projection, DOE considers historical
trends in efficiency and various forces
that are likely to affect the mix of
efficiencies over time. DOE compares
the no-new-standards case with
projections characterizing the market for
each product class if DOE adopted new
or amended standards at specific energy
efficiency levels for that class. For each
efficiency level, DOE considers how a
given standard would likely affect the
market shares of products with
efficiencies greater than the standard.
DOE uses a spreadsheet model to
calculate the energy savings and the
national consumer costs and savings
from each efficiency level. Interested
parties can review DOE’s analyses by
changing various input quantities
within the spreadsheet. The NIA
spreadsheet model uses typical values
(as opposed to probability distributions)
as inputs. Critical inputs to this analysis
include shipments projections,
estimated product lifetimes, product
installed costs and operating costs,
product annual energy consumption,
the no-new-standards case efficiency
projection, and discount rates.
DOE estimates a combined total of
2.61 quads of site energy savings at the
max- tech efficiency levels for consumer
clothes dryers (Efficiency Level 6 for
vented electric standard and compact
units, Efficiency Level 4 for vented gas
standard and compact units, and
Efficiency Level 2 for ventless electric
units). Combined site energy savings at
Efficiency Level 1 for all product classes
are estimated to be 0.48 quads.
Therefore, DOE has determined the
potential energy savings for consumer
clothes dryers are more than the 0.3
quads of site energy threshold
established by the Process Rule and are
considered significant under EPCA. (42
6 The NIA accounts for impacts in the 50 states
and U.S. territories.
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20331
U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) DOE seeks
comment on the estimated combined
total site energy savings, and the
determination that the energy savings
potential for consumer clothes dryers
are more than the 0.3-quad threshold
established by the Process Rule.
Chapter 10 of the preliminary TSD
addresses the NIA.
IV. Public Participation
DOE invites public input in this
process through participation in the
webinar and submission of written
comments and information. After the
webinar and the closing of the comment
period, DOE will consider all timelysubmitted comments and additional
information obtained from interested
parties, as well as information obtained
through further analyses. Following
such consideration, the Department will
publish either a proposed determination
that the standards for consumer clothes
dryers need not be amended or a
proposed rule to amend the current
standards. Members of the public would
be given an opportunity to submit
written and oral comments on either
proposal.
A. Participation in the Webinar
The time and date of the webinar are
listed in the DATES section at the
beginning of this document. Webinar
registration information, participant
instructions, and information about the
capabilities available to webinar
participants will be published on DOE’s
website at https://cms.doe.gov/eere/
buildings/public-meetings-andcomment-deadlines. Participants are
responsible for ensuring their systems
are compatible with the webinar
software.
DOE encourages those who wish to
participate in the webinar to obtain the
preliminary TSD from DOE’s website
and to be prepared to discuss its
contents. Once again, a copy of the
preliminary TSD is available at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/standards.aspx?
productid=50&action=viewlive.
However, webinar participants need not
limit their comments to the topics
identified in the preliminary TSD; DOE
is also interested in receiving views
concerning other relevant issues that
participants believe would affect energy
conservation standards for this product
or that DOE should address in a NOPR
should one be issued.
B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared
General Statements for Distribution
Any person who has an interest in the
topics addressed in this document, or
who is representative of a group or class
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of persons that has an interest in these
issues, may request an opportunity to
make an oral presentation at the
webinar. Such persons may submit such
request to ApplianceStandards
Questions@ee.doe.gov. Persons who
wish to speak should include with their
request a computer file in WordPerfect,
Microsoft Word, PDF, or text (ASCII) file
format that briefly describes the nature
of their interest in this rulemaking and
the topics they wish to discuss. Such
persons should also provide a daytime
telephone number where they can be
reached.
Persons requesting to speak should
briefly describe the nature of their
interest in this rulemaking and provide
a telephone number for contact. DOE
requests persons selected to make an
oral presentation to submit an advance
copy of their statements at least two
weeks before the webinar. At its
discretion, DOE may permit persons
who cannot supply an advance copy of
their statement to participate, if those
persons have made advance alternative
arrangements with the Building
Technologies Office. As necessary,
requests to give an oral presentation
should ask for such alternative
arrangements.
C. Conduct of the Webinar
DOE will designate a DOE official to
preside at the webinar/public meeting
and may also use a professional
facilitator to aid discussion. The
meeting will not be a judicial or
evidentiary-type public hearing, but
DOE will conduct it in accordance with
section 336 of EPCA. 42 U.S.C. 6306. A
court reporter will be present to record
the proceedings and prepare a
transcript. DOE reserves the right to
schedule the order of presentations and
to establish the procedures governing
the conduct of the webinar. There shall
not be discussion of proprietary
information, costs or prices, market
share, or other commercial matters
regulated by U.S. anti-trust laws. After
the webinar and until the end of the
comment period, interested parties may
submit further comments on the
proceedings and any aspect of the
rulemaking.
The webinar will be conducted in an
informal, conference style. DOE will
present summaries of comments
received before the webinar, allow time
for prepared general statements by
participants, and encourage all
interested parties to share their views on
issues affecting this rulemaking. Each
participant will be allowed to make a
general statement (within time limits
determined by DOE), before the
discussion of specific topics. DOE will
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permit, as time permits, other
participants to comment briefly on any
general statements.
At the end of all prepared statements
on a topic, DOE will permit participants
to clarify their statements briefly.
Participants should be prepared to
answer questions by DOE and by other
participants concerning these issues.
DOE representatives may also ask
questions of participants concerning
other matters relevant to this
rulemaking. The official conducting the
webinar/public meeting will accept
additional comments or questions from
those attending, as time permits. The
presiding official will announce any
further procedural rules or modification
of the above procedures that may be
needed for the proper conduct of the
webinar.
A transcript of the webinar will be
included in the docket, which can be
viewed as described in the Docket
section at the beginning of this
document. In addition, any person may
buy a copy of the transcript from the
transcribing reporter.
D. Submission of Comments
DOE will accept comments, data, and
information regarding this preliminary
analysis no later than the date provided
in the DATES section at the beginning of
this Notification of a webinar and
availability of preliminary technical
support document. Interested parties
may submit comments using any of the
methods described in the ADDRESSES
section at the beginning of this
document.
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 itself 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.
Otherwise, persons viewing comments
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will see only first and last names,
organization names, correspondence
containing comments, and any
documents submitted with the
comments.
Do not submit to https://
www.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 https://
www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed
as CBI. Comments received through the
website 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 https://www.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 https://
www.regulations.gov provides after you
have successfully uploaded your
comment.
Submitting comments via email.
Comments and documents submitted
via email also will be posted to https://
www.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 in a cover letter.
Include your first and last names, email
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. No
telefacsimiles (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, that are written in English, and
that 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
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compiled into one or more PDFs. This
reduces comment processing and
posting time.
Confidential Business Information.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person
submitting information that he or she
believes to be confidential and exempt
by law from public disclosure should
submit via email two well-marked
copies: One copy of the document
marked ‘‘confidential’’ including all the
information believed to be confidential,
and one copy of the document marked
‘‘non-confidential’’ with the information
believed to be confidential deleted. DOE
will make its own determination about
the confidential status of the
information and treat it according to its
determination.
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).
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
DOE is interested in receiving
comments from interested parties on all
aspects of the preliminary TSD,
especially comments or data that might
improve DOE’s analyses. DOE welcomes
data or information that will help
resolve the following specific issues,
which were raised during preparation of
the preliminary TSD.
1. Consumer Clothes Dryer Product
Classes and Ventless Electric Standard
Clothes Dryers
DOE requests comment on the current
product classes for consumer clothes
dryers. DOE also seeks feedback on
current and projected shipments of
ventless electric standard clothes dryers,
which are not currently considered a
separate product class as this
configuration has only recently been
introduced on the market.
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2. Baseline Efficiency
To establish baseline efficiency levels
for each of the product classes, DOE
relied on test data using Appendix D2
from products in the DOE test sample.
DOE seeks comment and additional test
data from interested parties to
characterize the baseline efficiency
levels for each product class. In
particular, DOE requests Appendix D2
test data disaggregated into standby
mode/off mode and active mode energy
use for each product class, as well as the
type of automatic termination controls
(e.g., electronic versus
electromechanical controls, temperature
sensing versus moisture sensing, etc.).
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3. Incremental Efficiency Levels
DOE developed efficiency levels
based on its review of market data and
product testing consistent with products
available on the U.S. market. DOE
requests comment from interested
parties on whether these efficiency
levels are appropriate for this analysis.
4. Standby Power
DOE measured a range of standby
power among the consumer clothes
dryers in its test sample. However,
through testing and reverse-engineering,
DOE did not identify any design options
for improving efficiency in standby
mode or off mode. All of the products
in the DOE test sample that were
equipped with electronic controls used
switch-mode power supplies, as
opposed to less efficient linear power
supplies, and automatically powered
down the display after a period of user
inactivity. DOE seeks comment on
whether there are any design options or
control strategies available to reduce
standby mode power consumption.
5. Design Options and Cost Estimates
As discussed further in chapters 3
through 5 of the preliminary TSD, DOE
developed a preliminary list of
technology options and design paths for
improving consumer clothes dryer
efficiency. DOE requests feedback on
whether there are additional
technologies available that may improve
consumer clothes dryer performance.
DOE also seeks comment on whether
the manufacturer production costs at
each efficiency level are appropriate
given the associated incremental
changes manufacturers would likely
make to meet these levels.
6. Energy Use Analysis
DOE relied on usage information for
consumer clothes dryers as determined
from the Residential Energy
Consumption Survey (‘‘RECS’’) 2015 to
establish the annual number of cycles
for consumer clothes dryers. DOE
requests input on its proposed method
for determining usage hours and energy
use.
7. Maintenance and Repair Costs
DOE seeks input from interested
parties on characterizing maintenance
and repair costs for more-efficient
consumer clothes dryers.
8. Efficiency Distribution of Consumer
Clothes Dryers
DOE requests data from interested
parties to characterize the current mix of
consumer clothes dryer efficiencies in
the market.
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20333
9. Historical Shipments of Consumer
Clothes Dryers
DOE requests historical shipments
data for consumer clothes dryers,
disaggregated by product class. DOE
also seeks historical shipments data
showing percentage of shipments by
efficiency level for as many product
classes as possible.
10. Product Lifetime
As discussed in chapter 8 of the
preliminary TSD, the 2014 issue of
Appliance magazine provides estimates
of 7, 15, and 11 years for electric clothes
dryers and 7, 16, and 12 years for gas
clothes dryers, as the respective low,
high, and average lifetimes. These
estimates represent the expert judgment
of Appliance staff based on input
obtained from various sources. Because
the basis for the estimates in the
magazine was uncertain, DOE
developed a method using household
survey data to estimate the distribution
of consumer clothes dryer lifetimes in
the field. RECS records the presence and
age of various appliances in each
household. Data from the U.S. Census’s
American Housing Survey (‘‘AHS’’),
which surveys all housing, including
vacant and second homes, enabled DOE
to adjust the most recent RECS data to
reflect the presence of appliances
outside of primary residences. By
combining the results of both surveys
with the known history of appliance
shipments, DOE estimated the
percentage of appliances of a given age
still in operation and developed the
appliance survival function in the form
of a cumulative Weibull distribution,
providing an average and a median
appliance lifetime. DOE’s approach
yields an average age of 14 years for
both electric and gas clothes dryers,
with a distribution ranging between 2
and 30 years with varying probability of
survival.
DOE requests comment from
interested parties on the
appropriateness of the two sources
(DOE’s approach of using survey data
and Appliance magazine) for the current
analysis. In the case of Appliance
magazine’s estimates, DOE welcomes
any supporting evidence or data from
stakeholders that corroborates the
magazine’s estimate.
11. National Impact Analysis
DOE seeks comment on the estimated
combined total site energy savings, and
the determination that the energy
savings potential for consumer clothes
dryers are more than the 0.3-quad
threshold established by the Process
Rule.
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12. Manufacturer Subgroups
DOE seeks comment on any other
potential manufacturer subgroups,
besides small business manufacturers,
that could be disproportionally affected
by potential amended energy
conservation standards for consumer
clothes dryers.
V. Approval of the Office of the
Secretary
The Secretary of Energy has approved
publication of this notification of a
webinar and availability of preliminary
technical support document.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on April 11, 2021, by
Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy, pursuant to
delegated authority from the Secretary
of Energy. That document with the
original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative
purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been
authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for
publication, as an official document of
the Department of Energy. This
administrative process in no way alters
the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 13,
2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021–07823 Filed 4–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION
12 CFR Part 1006
[Docket No. CFPB–2021–0007]
RIN 3170–AA41
Debt Collection Practices (Regulation
F); Delay of Effective Date
Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
public comment.
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AGENCY:
In 2020, the Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau)
finalized two rules titled Debt
Collection Practices (Regulation F). The
rules revise Regulation F, which
SUMMARY:
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implements the Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act (FDCPA). Both final rules
have an effective date of November 30,
2021. The Bureau is proposing to extend
that effective date by 60 days, until
January 29, 2022.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before May 19, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by Docket No. CFPB–2021–
0007 or RIN 3170–AA41, by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: 2021-NPRMDCEffectiveDate@cfpb.gov. Include
Docket No. CFPB–2021–0007 or RIN
3170–AA41 in the subject line of the
message.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:
Comment Intake—Debt Collection
Effective Date, Bureau of Consumer
Financial Protection, 1700 G Street NW,
Washington, DC 20552.
Instructions: The Bureau encourages
the early submission of comments. All
submissions should include the agency
name and docket number or Regulatory
Information Number (RIN) for this
rulemaking. Because paper mail in the
Washington, DC, area and at the Bureau
is subject to delay, and in light of
difficulties associated with mail and
hand deliveries during the COVID–19
pandemic, commenters are encouraged
to submit comments electronically. In
general, all comments received will be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov. In addition, once
the Bureau’s headquarters reopens,
comments will be available for public
inspection and copying at 1700 G Street
NW, Washington, DC 20552, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can
make an appointment to inspect the
documents by telephoning 202–435–
7275.
All comments, including attachments
and other supporting materials, will
become part of the public record and
subject to public disclosure. Proprietary
information or sensitive personal
information, such as account numbers
or Social Security numbers, or names of
other individuals, should not be
included. Comments will not be edited
to remove any identifying or contact
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seth
Caffrey, Courtney Jean, or Kristin
McPartland, Senior Counsels, Office of
Regulations, at 202–435–7700. If you
require this document in an alternative
electronic format, please contact CFPB_
Accessibility@cfpb.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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I. Summary of the Proposed Rule
In October and December 2020, the
Bureau released final rules to revise
Regulation F, 12 CFR part 1006, which
implements the FDCPA (together, the
Debt Collection Final Rules). The Debt
Collection Final Rules prescribe Federal
rules governing the activities of debt
collectors, as that term is defined in the
FDCPA, and have an effective date of
November 30, 2021.1 In light of the
ongoing societal disruption caused by
the global COVID–19 pandemic, the
Bureau is proposing to extend that
effective date. To afford stakeholders
additional time to review and, if
applicable, to implement the Debt
Collection Final Rules, the Bureau is
proposing to extend the effective date by
60 days, to January 29, 2022. This
proposal requests comment on whether
the Bureau should extend the effective
date of the Debt Collection Final Rules,
and if so, whether 60 days is an
appropriate length of time for such an
extension.
II. Background
A. The Debt Collection Final Rules
The first debt collection final rule,
released on October 30, 2020, addresses,
among other topics, communications in
connection with debt collection and
prohibitions on harassment or abuse,
false or misleading representations, and
unfair practices in debt collection. The
first final rule also addresses the use of
newer communication technologies in
debt collection and establishes record
retention requirements.
The second debt collection final rule,
released on December 18, 2020, focuses
on debt collection disclosures and
addresses, among other topics, the
information that debt collectors must
provide consumers at the outset of
collections communications. The
second final rule also prohibits debt
collectors from bringing or threatening
to bring a legal action against a
consumer to collect a time-barred debt
and prohibits debt collectors from
furnishing information about a debt to a
consumer reporting agency before the
debt collector takes certain actions to
contact the consumer about the debt.
B. Proposed Effective Date
The Debt Collection Final Rules have
an effective date of November 30, 2021,
or one year after the first debt collection
final rule was published in the Federal
Register. In finalizing that effective date
for both final rules, the Bureau
concluded that all stakeholders would
1 85 FR 76734 (Nov. 30, 2020); 86 FR 5766 (Jan.
19, 2021).
E:\FR\FM\19APP1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 73 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20327-20334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07823]
[[Page 20327]]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058]
RIN 1904-AD99
Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
Consumer Clothes Dryers, Webinar and Availability of the Preliminary
Technical Support Document
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notification of a webinar and availability of preliminary
technical support document.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the Department'')
will hold a webinar to discuss and receive comments on the preliminary
analysis it has conducted for purposes of evaluating energy
conservation standards for consumer clothes dryers. The webinar will
cover the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to
evaluate potential standards for this product; the results of
preliminary analyses performed by DOE for this product; the potential
energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that
DOE could consider for this product should it determine that proposed
amendments are necessary; and any other issues relevant to the
evaluation of energy conservation standards for consumer clothes
dryers. In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects.
To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has
prepared an agenda, a preliminary technical support document (``TSD''),
and briefing materials, which are available on the DOE website at:
https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/standards.aspx?productid=50&action=viewlive.
DATES: Meeting: DOE will hold a webinar on Wednesday, May 26, 2021,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See section IV, ``Public Participation,'' for
webinar registration information, participant instructions, and
information about the capabilities available to webinar participants.
Comments: Written comments and information will be accepted on or
before, July 6, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested
persons may submit comments by email to the following address:
[email protected]. Include ``Notification of a
webinar and availability of preliminary technical support document''
and docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058 and/or RIN number 1904-AD99 in
the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the
use of special characters or any form of encryption.
Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of
the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only
electronic submissions at this time. If a commenter finds that this
change poses an undue hardship, please contact Appliance Standards
Program staff at (202) 586-1445 to discuss the need for alternative
arrangements. Once the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency is resolved,
DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular options for public comment
submission, including postal mail and hand delivery/courier.
No telefacsimiles (``faxes'') will be accepted. For detailed
instructions on submitting comments and additional information on this
process, see section IV of this document.
Docket: The docket for this activity, which includes Federal
Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials,
is available for review at https://www.regulations.gov. All documents in
the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. However,
some documents listed in the index, such as those containing
information that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly
available.
The docket web page can be found at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058. The docket web page contains
instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments
in the docket. See section IV for information on how to submit comments
through https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bryan Berringer, 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) 586-0371. Email:
[email protected].
Ms. Kathryn McIntosh, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2002. Email:
[email protected].
For further information on how to submit a comment, review other
public comments and the docket, or participate in the webinar, contact
the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445
or by email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Authority
B. Rulemaking Process
II. Background
A. Current Standards
B. Current Process
III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE
A. Engineering Analysis
B. Markups Analysis
C. Energy Use Analysis
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses
E. National Impact Analysis
IV. Public Participation
A. Participation in the Webinar
B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared General Statements for
Distribution
C. Conduct of the Webinar
D. Submission of Comments
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Introduction
A. Authority
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''),\1\
among other things, authorizes DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of
a number of consumer products and certain industrial equipment. 42
U.S.C. 6291-6317. Title III, Part B \2\ of EPCA established the Energy
Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.
These products include consumer clothes dryers, the subject of this
document. 42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(8). EPCA prescribed energy conservation
standards for these products, and directed DOE to conduct two cycles of
rulemakings to determine whether to amend these standards. 42 U.S.C.
6295(g)(4). EPCA further provides that, not later than 6 years after
the issuance of any final rule establishing or amending a standard, DOE
must publish either a notice of
[[Page 20328]]
determination that standards for the product do not need to be amended,
or a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') including new proposed
energy conservation standards (proceeding to a final rule, as
appropriate). 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1). Not later than three years after
issuance of a final determination not to amend standards, DOE must
publish either a notice of determination that standards for the product
do not need to be amended, or a NOPR including new proposed energy
conservation standards (proceeding to a final rule, as appropriate). 42
U.S.C. 6295(m)(3)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute
as amended through the Energy Act of 2020, Public Law 116-260 (Dec.
27, 2020).
\2\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code,
Part B was redesignated Part A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE is publishing this Preliminary Analysis to collect data and
information to inform its decision consistent with its obligations
under EPCA.
B. Rulemaking Process
DOE must follow specific statutory criteria for prescribing new or
amended standards for covered products, including consumer clothes
dryers. EPCA requires that any new or amended energy conservation
standard prescribed by the Secretary of Energy (``Secretary'') be
designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency (or
water efficiency for certain products specified by EPCA) that is
technologically feasible and economically justified. 42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(2)(A). Furthermore, DOE may not adopt any standard that would
not result in the significant conservation of energy. 42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(3)(B). The Secretary may not prescribe an amended or new
standard that will not result in significant conservation of energy, or
is not technologically feasible or economically justified. Id.
On February 14, 2020, DOE published an update to its procedures,
interpretations, and policies for consideration in new or revised
energy conservation standards and test procedure, i.e., ``Procedures,
Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised
Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products
and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment'' (see 10 CFR part 430,
subpart C, appendix A (``Process Rule,'')).\3\ 85 FR 8626. In the
updated Process Rule, DOE established a significance threshold for
energy savings under which DOE employs a two-step approach that
considers both an absolute site energy savings threshold and a
threshold that is a percent reduction in the energy use of the covered
product. Section 6(a) of the Process Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ On January 20, 2021, the President issued Executive Order
13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring
Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis. Exec. Order No. 13,990, 86 FR
7037 (Jan. 25, 2021) (``E.O. 13990''). E.O. 13990 affirms the
Nation's commitment to empower our workers and communities; promote
and protect our public health and the environment; and conserve our
national treasures and monuments. To that end, the stated policies
of E.O. 13990 include: improving public health and protecting our
environment; ensuring access to clean air and water; and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. E.O. 13990 section 1. Section 2 of E.O.
13990 directs agencies, in part, to immediately review all existing
regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other
similar agency actions (``agency actions'') promulgated, issued, or
adopted between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021, that are or
may be inconsistent with, or present obstacles to, the policy set
forth in the Executive Order. E.O. 13990 section 2. In addition,
section 2(iii) of E.O. 13990 specifically directs DOE to, as
appropriate and consistent with applicable law, publishing for
notice and comment a proposed rule suspending, revising, or
rescinding the updated Process Rule. In response to this directive,
DOE has undertaken a review of the updated Process Rule at this
time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE first evaluates the projected energy savings from a potential
maximum technologically feasible (``max-tech'') standard over a 30-year
period against a 0.3 quadrillion British thermal units (``quads'') of
site energy savings threshold. Section 6(b)(2) of the Process Rule. If
the 0.3-quad threshold is not met, DOE then compares the max-tech
savings to the total energy usage of the covered product to calculate a
percentage reduction in energy usage. Section 6(b)(3) of the Process
Rule. If this comparison does not yield a reduction in site energy use
of at least 10 percent over a 30-year period, the analysis will end and
DOE will propose to determine that no significant energy savings would
likely result from setting new or amended standards. Section 6(b)(4) of
the Process Rule. If either one of the thresholds is reached, DOE will
conduct analyses to ascertain whether a standard can be prescribed that
produces the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is both
technologically feasible and economically justified and still
constitutes significant energy savings at the level determined to be
economically justified. Section 6(b)(5) of the Process Rule. This two-
step approach allows DOE to ascertain whether a potential standard
satisfies EPCA's significant energy savings requirements in 42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(3)(B) to ensure that DOE avoids setting a standard that ``will
not result in significant conservation of energy.''
EPCA defines ``energy efficiency'' as the ratio of the useful
output of services from a consumer product to the energy use of such
product, measured according to the Federal test procedures. (42 U.S.C.
6291(5), emphasis added) EPCA defines ``energy use'' as the quantity of
energy directly consumed by a consumer product at point of use, as
measured by the Federal test procedures. (42 U.S.C. 6291(4)) Further,
EPCA uses a household energy consumption metric as a threshold for
setting standards for new covered products. (42 U.S.C. 6295(l)(1))
Given this context, DOE relies on site energy as the appropriate metric
for evaluating the significance of energy savings.
To determine whether a standard is economically justified, EPCA
requires that DOE determine whether the benefits of the standard exceed
its burdens by considering, to the greatest extent practicable, the
following seven factors:
(1) The economic impact of the standard on the manufacturers and
consumers of the products subject to the standard;
(2) the savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average
life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any
increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the
covered products that are likely to result from the standard;
(3) the total projected amount of energy (or as applicable, water)
savings likely to result directly from the standard;
(4) any lessening of the utility or the performance of the products
likely to result from the standard;
(5) the impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the
standard;
(6) the need for national energy and water conservation; and
(7) other factors the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) considers
relevant.
42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(VII).
DOE fulfills these and other applicable requirements by conducting
a series of analyses throughout the rulemaking process. Table I.1 shows
the individual analyses that are performed to satisfy each of the
requirements within EPCA.
[[Page 20329]]
Table I.1--EPCA Requirements and Corresponding DOE Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPCA requirement Corresponding DOE analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Significant Energy Savings............. Shipments Analysis.
National Impact
Analysis.
Energy and Water Use
Determination.
Technological Feasibility.............. Market and Technology
Assessment.
Screening Analysis.
Engineering Analysis.
Economic Justification:
1. Economic impact on manufacturers Manufacturer Impact
and consumers. Analysis.
Life-Cycle Cost and
Payback Period Analysis.
Life-Cycle Cost
Subgroup Analysis.
Shipments Analysis.
2. Lifetime operating cost savings Markups for Product
compared to increased cost for the Price Determination.
product. Energy and Water Use
Determination.
Life-Cycle Cost and
Payback Period Analysis.
3. Total projected energy savings.. Shipments Analysis.
National Impact
Analysis.
4. Impact on utility or performance Screening Analysis.
Engineering Analysis.
5. Impact of any lessening of Manufacturer Impact
competition. Analysis.
6. Need for national energy and Shipments Analysis.
water conservation. National Impact
Analysis.
7. Other factors the Secretary Employment Impact
considers relevant. Analysis.
Utility Impact
Analysis.
Emissions Analysis.
Monetization of
Emission Reductions Benefits.
Regulatory Impact
Analysis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further, EPCA establishes a rebuttable presumption that a standard
is economically justified if the Secretary finds that the additional
cost to the consumer of purchasing a product complying with an energy
conservation standard level will be less than three times the value of
the energy savings during the first year that the consumer will receive
as a result of the standard, as calculated under the applicable test
procedure. 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii).
EPCA also contains what is known as an ``anti-backsliding''
provision, which prevents the Secretary from prescribing any amended
standard that either increases the maximum allowable energy use or
decreases the minimum required energy efficiency of a covered product.
42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1). Also, the Secretary may not prescribe an amended
or new standard if interested persons have established by a
preponderance of the evidence that the standard is likely to result in
the unavailability in the United States in any covered product type (or
class) of performance characteristics (including reliability),
features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the
same as those generally available in the United States. 42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(4).
Additionally, EPCA specifies requirements when promulgating an
energy conservation standard for a covered product that has two or more
subcategories. DOE must specify a different standard level for a type
or class of product that has the same function or intended use, if DOE
determines that products within such group: (A) Consume a different
kind of energy from that consumed by other covered products within such
type (or class); or (B) have a capacity or other performance-related
feature which other products within such type (or class) do not have
and such feature justifies a higher or lower standard. 42 U.S.C.
6295(q)(1). In determining whether a performance-related feature
justifies a different standard for a group of products, DOE must
consider such factors as the utility to the consumer of the feature and
other factors DOE deems appropriate. Id. Any rule prescribing such a
standard must include an explanation of the basis on which such higher
or lower level was established. 42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(2).
Pursuant to the amendments contained in the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (``EISA 2007''), Public Law 110-140, any final
rule for new or amended energy conservation standards promulgated after
July 1, 2010, is required to address standby mode and off mode energy
use. 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3). Specifically, when DOE adopts a standard
for a covered product after that date, it must, if justified by the
criteria for adoption of standards under EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)),
incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use into a single
standard, or, if that is not feasible, adopt a separate standard for
such energy use for that product. 42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3). DOE's current
test procedures for consumer clothes dryers address standby mode and
off mode energy use. In this rulemaking, DOE intends to incorporate
such energy use into any amended energy conservation standards it
adopts in the final rule.
Before proposing a standard, DOE seeks public input on the
analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE intends to use to
evaluate standards for the product at issue and the results of
preliminary analyses DOE performed for the product.
DOE is examining whether to amend the current standards for
consumer clothes dryers pursuant to its obligations under EPCA. This
document announces the availability of the preliminary TSD, which
details the preliminary analyses and summarizes the preliminary results
of DOE's analyses. In addition, DOE is announcing a webinar to solicit
feedback from interested parties on its analytical framework, models,
and preliminary results.
II. Background
A. Current Standards
The most recent standards rulemaking for consumer clothes dryers
was promulgated on April 21, 2011. Specifically, DOE published a direct
final rule (the ``2011 Direct Final Rule'') amending the energy
conservation standard for consumer clothes dryers. 76 FR 22454 (Apr.
21, 2011). The energy
[[Page 20330]]
conservation standards, as amended in the 2011 Direct Final Rule,
represent the current standards and are based on the combined energy
factor (``CEF'')--a metric that incorporates energy use in active mode,
standby mode, and off mode. Compliance with the current standards was
required as of January 1, 2015. 76 FR 52852 (Aug. 24, 2011).
Table II.1--Current Consumer Clothes Dryers Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CEF (lbs/
Product class kWh)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) Vented Electric, Standard (4.4 ft\3\ or greater 3.73
capacity)..................................................
(B) Vented Electric, Compact (120V) (less than 4.4 ft\3\ 3.61
capacity)..................................................
(C) Vented Electric, Compact (240V) (less than 4.4 ft\3\ 3.27
capacity)..................................................
(D) Vented Gas.............................................. 3.30
(E) Ventless Electric, Compact (240V) (less than 4.4 ft\3\ 2.55
capacity)..................................................
(F) Ventless Electric, Combination Washer-Dryer............. 2.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 16, 2020, DOE published a final rule establishing a
separate product classes for consumer clothes dryers that offer cycle
times for a ``normal'' cycle \4\ of less than 30 minutes. 85 FR 81359
(Dec. 16, 2020) (``December 2020 Final Rule''). Because no such
``short-cycle'' consumer clothes dryers are currently on the market in
the United States, DOE did not include analysis of this newly
established product class in the preliminary TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Section 3.3.2 of Appendix D2 requires that the ``normal''
program shall be selected for the test cycle; for clothes dryers
that do not have a ``normal'' program, the cycle recommended by the
manufacturer for drying cotton or linen clothes shall be selected.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted, section 2 of E.O. 13990 directs agencies, in part, to
immediately review all existing regulations, orders, guidance
documents, policies, and any other similar agency actions (``agency
actions'') promulgated, issued, or adopted between January 20, 2017,
and January 20, 2021, that are or may be inconsistent with, or present
obstacles to, the policy set forth in the Executive Order. E.O. 13990
section 2. In response to this directive, DOE has undertaken a review
of the new, short cycle product classes for clothes dryers at this
time.
B. Current Process
DOE published a request for information (``RFI'') on March 27, 2015
(the ``March 2015 RFI'') describing the approaches and methods DOE will
use in evaluating potential amended standards for consumer clothes
dryers. 80 FR 16309 (Mar. 27, 2015). In addition, the RFI solicited
information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended
standards for consumer clothes dryers would result in a significant
amount of additional energy savings, and whether those standards would
be technologically feasible and economically justified. Id. The March
2015 RFI is available at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058-0001.
In response to the publication of the March 2015 RFI, DOE received
comments regarding DOE's analytical approach from interested parties,
including manufacturers, trade associations, environmental and energy
efficiency advocates, and other interested parties.
Comments received since publication of the March 2015 RFI have
helped DOE identify and resolve issues related to the preliminary
analyses. Chapter 2 of the preliminary TSD summarizes and addresses the
comments received.
III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE
For the products covered in this preliminary analysis, DOE
conducted in-depth technical analyses in the following areas: (1)
Engineering; (2) markups to determine product price; (3) energy use;
(4) life-cycle cost (``LCC'') and payback period (``PBP''); and (5)
national impacts. The preliminary TSD that presents the methodology and
results of each of these analyses is available at https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/standards.aspx?productid=50&action=viewlive.
DOE also conducted, and has included in the preliminary TSD,
several other analyses that support the major analyses or are
preliminary analyses that will be expanded upon if DOE determines that
a NOPR is warranted to propose amended energy conservation standards.
These analyses include: (1) The market and technology assessment; (2)
the screening analysis, which contributes to the engineering analysis;
and (3) the shipments analysis, which contributes to the LCC and PBP
analysis and the national impact analysis (``NIA''). In addition to
these analyses, DOE has begun preliminary work on the manufacturer
impact analysis and has identified the methods to be used for the
consumer subgroup analysis, the emissions analysis, the employment
impact analysis, the regulatory impact analysis, and the utility impact
analysis. DOE will expand upon these analyses in the NOPR should one be
issued.
A. Engineering Analysis
The purpose of the engineering analysis is to establish the
relationship between the efficiency and cost of consumer clothes
dryers. There are two elements to consider in the engineering analysis;
the selection of efficiency levels to analyze (i.e., the ``efficiency
analysis'') and the determination of consumer clothes dryer cost at
each efficiency level (i.e., the ``cost analysis''). In determining the
performance of higher-efficiency consumer clothes dryers, DOE considers
technologies and design option combinations not eliminated by the
screening analysis. For each product class, DOE estimates the baseline
cost, as well as the incremental cost for the product at efficiency
levels above the baseline. The output of the engineering analysis is a
set of cost-efficiency ``curves'' that are used in downstream analyses
(i.e., the LCC and PBP analyses and the NIA).
See Chapter 5 of the preliminary TSD for additional detail on the
engineering analysis.
B. Markups Analysis
The markups analysis develops appropriate markups (e.g., retailer
markups, distributor markups, contractor markups) in the distribution
chain and sales taxes to convert manufacturer production cost (``MPC'')
estimates derived in the engineering analysis to consumer prices, which
are then used in the LCC and PBP analysis and in the manufacturer
impact analysis. At each step in the distribution channel, companies
mark up the price of the product to cover business costs and profit
margin.
DOE developed baseline and incremental markups for each actor in
the distribution chain. Baseline markups are applied to the price of
products with baseline efficiency, while incremental markups are
applied to the difference in price between baseline and higher-
efficiency models (the incremental cost increase). The incremental
markup is typically less than the baseline markup and is designed to
maintain similar per-unit operating profit before and after new or
amended standards.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Because the projected price of standards-compliant products
is typically higher than the price of baseline products, using the
same markup for the incremental cost and the baseline cost would
result in higher per-unit operating profit. While such an outcome is
possible, DOE maintains that in markets that are reasonably
competitive it is unlikely that standards would lead to a
sustainable increase in profitability in the long run.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 20331]]
Chapter 6 of the preliminary TSD provides details on DOE's
development of markups for consumer clothes dryers.
C. Energy Use Analysis
The purpose of the energy use analysis is to determine the annual
energy consumption of consumer clothes dryers at different efficiencies
in representative U.S. single-family homes, and multi-family
residences, and to assess the energy savings potential of increased
consumer clothes dryer efficiency. The energy use analysis estimates
the range of energy use of consumer clothes dryers in the field (i.e.,
as they are actually used by consumers). The energy use analysis
provides the basis for other analyses DOE performed, particularly
assessments of the energy savings and the savings in consumer operating
costs that could result from adoption of amended or new standards.
Chapter 7 of the preliminary TSD addresses the energy use analysis.
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses
The effect of new or amended energy conservation standards on
individual consumers usually involves a reduction in operating cost and
an increase in purchase cost. DOE used the following two metrics to
measure consumer impacts:
The LCC is the total consumer expense of an appliance or
product over the life of that product, consisting of total installed
cost (manufacturer selling price, distribution chain markups, sales
tax, and installation costs) plus operating costs (expenses for energy
use, maintenance, and repair). To compute the operating costs, DOE
discounts future operating costs to the time of purchase and sums them
over the lifetime of the product.
The PBP is the estimated amount of time (in years) it
takes consumers to recover the increased purchase cost (including
installation) of a more-efficient product through lower operating
costs. DOE calculates the PBP by dividing the change in purchase cost
at higher efficiency levels by the change in annual operating cost for
the year that amended or new standards are assumed to take effect.
Chapter 8 of the preliminary TSD addresses the LCC and PBP
analyses.
E. National Impact Analysis
The NIA estimates the national energy savings (``NES'') and the net
present value (``NPV'') of total consumer costs and savings expected to
result from amended standards at specific efficiency levels (referred
to as candidate standard levels).\6\ DOE calculates the NES and NPV for
the potential standard levels considered based on projections of annual
product shipments, along with the annual energy consumption and total
installed cost data from the energy use and LCC analyses. For the
present analysis, DOE projected the energy savings, operating cost
savings, product costs, and NPV of consumer benefits over the lifetime
of consumer clothes dryers sold from 2024 to 2053.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The NIA accounts for impacts in the 50 states and U.S.
territories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE evaluates the impacts of new or amended standards by comparing
a case without such standards with standards-case projections. The no-
new-standards case characterizes energy use and consumer costs for each
product class in the absence of new or amended energy conservation
standards. For this projection, DOE considers historical trends in
efficiency and various forces that are likely to affect the mix of
efficiencies over time. DOE compares the no-new-standards case with
projections characterizing the market for each product class if DOE
adopted new or amended standards at specific energy efficiency levels
for that class. For each efficiency level, DOE considers how a given
standard would likely affect the market shares of products with
efficiencies greater than the standard.
DOE uses a spreadsheet model to calculate the energy savings and
the national consumer costs and savings from each efficiency level.
Interested parties can review DOE's analyses by changing various input
quantities within the spreadsheet. The NIA spreadsheet model uses
typical values (as opposed to probability distributions) as inputs.
Critical inputs to this analysis include shipments projections,
estimated product lifetimes, product installed costs and operating
costs, product annual energy consumption, the no-new-standards case
efficiency projection, and discount rates.
DOE estimates a combined total of 2.61 quads of site energy savings
at the max- tech efficiency levels for consumer clothes dryers
(Efficiency Level 6 for vented electric standard and compact units,
Efficiency Level 4 for vented gas standard and compact units, and
Efficiency Level 2 for ventless electric units). Combined site energy
savings at Efficiency Level 1 for all product classes are estimated to
be 0.48 quads. Therefore, DOE has determined the potential energy
savings for consumer clothes dryers are more than the 0.3 quads of site
energy threshold established by the Process Rule and are considered
significant under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) DOE seeks comment on
the estimated combined total site energy savings, and the determination
that the energy savings potential for consumer clothes dryers are more
than the 0.3-quad threshold established by the Process Rule.
Chapter 10 of the preliminary TSD addresses the NIA.
IV. Public Participation
DOE invites public input in this process through participation in
the webinar and submission of written comments and information. After
the webinar and the closing of the comment period, DOE will consider
all timely-submitted comments and additional information obtained from
interested parties, as well as information obtained through further
analyses. Following such consideration, the Department will publish
either a proposed determination that the standards for consumer clothes
dryers need not be amended or a proposed rule to amend the current
standards. Members of the public would be given an opportunity to
submit written and oral comments on either proposal.
A. Participation in the Webinar
The time and date of the webinar are listed in the DATES section at
the beginning of this document. Webinar registration information,
participant instructions, and information about the capabilities
available to webinar participants will be published on DOE's website at
https://cms.doe.gov/eere/buildings/public-meetings-and-comment-deadlines. Participants are responsible for ensuring their systems are
compatible with the webinar software.
DOE encourages those who wish to participate in the webinar to
obtain the preliminary TSD from DOE's website and to be prepared to
discuss its contents. Once again, a copy of the preliminary TSD is
available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/standards.aspx?productid=50&action=viewlive.
However, webinar participants need not limit their comments to the
topics identified in the preliminary TSD; DOE is also interested in
receiving views concerning other relevant issues that participants
believe would affect energy conservation standards for this product or
that DOE should address in a NOPR should one be issued.
B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared General Statements for
Distribution
Any person who has an interest in the topics addressed in this
document, or who is representative of a group or class
[[Page 20332]]
of persons that has an interest in these issues, may request an
opportunity to make an oral presentation at the webinar. Such persons
may submit such request to [email protected].
Persons who wish to speak should include with their request a computer
file in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or text (ASCII) file format
that briefly describes the nature of their interest in this rulemaking
and the topics they wish to discuss. Such persons should also provide a
daytime telephone number where they can be reached.
Persons requesting to speak should briefly describe the nature of
their interest in this rulemaking and provide a telephone number for
contact. DOE requests persons selected to make an oral presentation to
submit an advance copy of their statements at least two weeks before
the webinar. At its discretion, DOE may permit persons who cannot
supply an advance copy of their statement to participate, if those
persons have made advance alternative arrangements with the Building
Technologies Office. As necessary, requests to give an oral
presentation should ask for such alternative arrangements.
C. Conduct of the Webinar
DOE will designate a DOE official to preside at the webinar/public
meeting and may also use a professional facilitator to aid discussion.
The meeting will not be a judicial or evidentiary-type public hearing,
but DOE will conduct it in accordance with section 336 of EPCA. 42
U.S.C. 6306. A court reporter will be present to record the proceedings
and prepare a transcript. DOE reserves the right to schedule the order
of presentations and to establish the procedures governing the conduct
of the webinar. There shall not be discussion of proprietary
information, costs or prices, market share, or other commercial matters
regulated by U.S. anti-trust laws. After the webinar and until the end
of the comment period, interested parties may submit further comments
on the proceedings and any aspect of the rulemaking.
The webinar will be conducted in an informal, conference style. DOE
will present summaries of comments received before the webinar, allow
time for prepared general statements by participants, and encourage all
interested parties to share their views on issues affecting this
rulemaking. Each participant will be allowed to make a general
statement (within time limits determined by DOE), before the discussion
of specific topics. DOE will permit, as time permits, other
participants to comment briefly on any general statements.
At the end of all prepared statements on a topic, DOE will permit
participants to clarify their statements briefly. Participants should
be prepared to answer questions by DOE and by other participants
concerning these issues. DOE representatives may also ask questions of
participants concerning other matters relevant to this rulemaking. The
official conducting the webinar/public meeting will accept additional
comments or questions from those attending, as time permits. The
presiding official will announce any further procedural rules or
modification of the above procedures that may be needed for the proper
conduct of the webinar.
A transcript of the webinar will be included in the docket, which
can be viewed as described in the Docket section at the beginning of
this document. In addition, any person may buy a copy of the transcript
from the transcribing reporter.
D. Submission of Comments
DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this
preliminary analysis no later than the date provided in the DATES
section at the beginning of this Notification of a webinar and
availability of preliminary technical support document. Interested
parties may submit comments using any of the methods described in the
ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this document.
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 itself 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. Otherwise, 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 https://www.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 https://www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments
received through the website 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 https://www.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 https://www.regulations.gov provides after you have successfully uploaded your
comment.
Submitting comments via email. Comments and documents submitted via
email also will be posted to https://www.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 in a cover letter. Include your first
and last names, email 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. No telefacsimiles (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, that are written in English, and that 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
[[Page 20333]]
compiled into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and
posting time.
Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
person submitting information that he or she believes to be
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via
email two well-marked copies: One copy of the document marked
``confidential'' including all the information believed to be
confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-confidential''
with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE will make
its own determination about the confidential status of the information
and treat it according to its determination.
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).
E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
DOE is interested in receiving comments from interested parties on
all aspects of the preliminary TSD, especially comments or data that
might improve DOE's analyses. DOE welcomes data or information that
will help resolve the following specific issues, which were raised
during preparation of the preliminary TSD.
1. Consumer Clothes Dryer Product Classes and Ventless Electric
Standard Clothes Dryers
DOE requests comment on the current product classes for consumer
clothes dryers. DOE also seeks feedback on current and projected
shipments of ventless electric standard clothes dryers, which are not
currently considered a separate product class as this configuration has
only recently been introduced on the market.
2. Baseline Efficiency
To establish baseline efficiency levels for each of the product
classes, DOE relied on test data using Appendix D2 from products in the
DOE test sample. DOE seeks comment and additional test data from
interested parties to characterize the baseline efficiency levels for
each product class. In particular, DOE requests Appendix D2 test data
disaggregated into standby mode/off mode and active mode energy use for
each product class, as well as the type of automatic termination
controls (e.g., electronic versus electromechanical controls,
temperature sensing versus moisture sensing, etc.).
3. Incremental Efficiency Levels
DOE developed efficiency levels based on its review of market data
and product testing consistent with products available on the U.S.
market. DOE requests comment from interested parties on whether these
efficiency levels are appropriate for this analysis.
4. Standby Power
DOE measured a range of standby power among the consumer clothes
dryers in its test sample. However, through testing and reverse-
engineering, DOE did not identify any design options for improving
efficiency in standby mode or off mode. All of the products in the DOE
test sample that were equipped with electronic controls used switch-
mode power supplies, as opposed to less efficient linear power
supplies, and automatically powered down the display after a period of
user inactivity. DOE seeks comment on whether there are any design
options or control strategies available to reduce standby mode power
consumption.
5. Design Options and Cost Estimates
As discussed further in chapters 3 through 5 of the preliminary
TSD, DOE developed a preliminary list of technology options and design
paths for improving consumer clothes dryer efficiency. DOE requests
feedback on whether there are additional technologies available that
may improve consumer clothes dryer performance. DOE also seeks comment
on whether the manufacturer production costs at each efficiency level
are appropriate given the associated incremental changes manufacturers
would likely make to meet these levels.
6. Energy Use Analysis
DOE relied on usage information for consumer clothes dryers as
determined from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (``RECS'')
2015 to establish the annual number of cycles for consumer clothes
dryers. DOE requests input on its proposed method for determining usage
hours and energy use.
7. Maintenance and Repair Costs
DOE seeks input from interested parties on characterizing
maintenance and repair costs for more-efficient consumer clothes
dryers.
8. Efficiency Distribution of Consumer Clothes Dryers
DOE requests data from interested parties to characterize the
current mix of consumer clothes dryer efficiencies in the market.
9. Historical Shipments of Consumer Clothes Dryers
DOE requests historical shipments data for consumer clothes dryers,
disaggregated by product class. DOE also seeks historical shipments
data showing percentage of shipments by efficiency level for as many
product classes as possible.
10. Product Lifetime
As discussed in chapter 8 of the preliminary TSD, the 2014 issue of
Appliance magazine provides estimates of 7, 15, and 11 years for
electric clothes dryers and 7, 16, and 12 years for gas clothes dryers,
as the respective low, high, and average lifetimes. These estimates
represent the expert judgment of Appliance staff based on input
obtained from various sources. Because the basis for the estimates in
the magazine was uncertain, DOE developed a method using household
survey data to estimate the distribution of consumer clothes dryer
lifetimes in the field. RECS records the presence and age of various
appliances in each household. Data from the U.S. Census's American
Housing Survey (``AHS''), which surveys all housing, including vacant
and second homes, enabled DOE to adjust the most recent RECS data to
reflect the presence of appliances outside of primary residences. By
combining the results of both surveys with the known history of
appliance shipments, DOE estimated the percentage of appliances of a
given age still in operation and developed the appliance survival
function in the form of a cumulative Weibull distribution, providing an
average and a median appliance lifetime. DOE's approach yields an
average age of 14 years for both electric and gas clothes dryers, with
a distribution ranging between 2 and 30 years with varying probability
of survival.
DOE requests comment from interested parties on the appropriateness
of the two sources (DOE's approach of using survey data and Appliance
magazine) for the current analysis. In the case of Appliance magazine's
estimates, DOE welcomes any supporting evidence or data from
stakeholders that corroborates the magazine's estimate.
11. National Impact Analysis
DOE seeks comment on the estimated combined total site energy
savings, and the determination that the energy savings potential for
consumer clothes dryers are more than the 0.3-quad threshold
established by the Process Rule.
[[Page 20334]]
12. Manufacturer Subgroups
DOE seeks comment on any other potential manufacturer subgroups,
besides small business manufacturers, that could be disproportionally
affected by potential amended energy conservation standards for
consumer clothes dryers.
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this
notification of a webinar and availability of preliminary technical
support document.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 11,
2021, by Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
and Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy.
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-07823 Filed 4-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
