Department of Energy September 20, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver from JCI seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the efficiency of central air conditioners (CAC) and heat pumps (HP). According to JCI, testing its CAC and HP basic models that use variable-speed, oil-injected scroll compressors (VSS systems) with only a 20-hour break-in period produces results unrepresentative of their true energy consumption characteristics, and would provide materially inaccurate comparative data. JCI requests that in lieu of the 20-hour break-in limit, it be permitted to test its VSS systems with a 72-hour break-in period. This notice also grants JCI an interim waiver from the DOE CAC and HP test procedure for its specified basic models, subject to use of the alternative test procedure as set forth in this notice. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning JCI's petition and its suggested alternate test procedure.