Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office August 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On December 15, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) published a final rule waiving Federal preemption for energy conservation standards under 42 U.S.C. 6297(c) with respect to any State regulation concerning the water use or water efficiency of faucets, showerheads, water closets and urinals that is: (1) More stringent than Federal regulation concerning the water use or water efficiency for that same type or class of product; and (2) applicable to any sale or installation of all products in that particular type or class. In today's notice, DOE requests information from interested parties regarding: State activity with respect to efficiency standards for these products undertaken as a result of the December 15, 2010 final rule; market data; and any new or emerging water-efficient product designs or technologies for faucets, showerheads, water closets and urinals. DOE also requests information regarding any recent actions taken by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) toward amending its water efficiency standards for these products. Additional input and suggestions relevant to these products are also welcome.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CW-019) that grants to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE clothes washer test procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these clothes washers with larger clothes containers using an alternate test procedure that takes the larger capacities into account when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) seeks to develop a voluntary National Asset Rating Program for Commercial Buildings (AR Program). The AR Program would establish an Asset Rating system for commercial buildings based on a national standard and would evaluate the physical characteristics and as-built energy efficiency of these buildings. It would also identify potential energy efficiency improvements. The goal is to facilitate cost-effective investment in energy efficiency and reduce energy use in the commercial building sector. DOE seeks comments and information related to the development of the AR Program.

The Department of Energy (DOE) published a document in the Federal Register of May 24, 2011, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), announcing its intention to extend for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This document corrects an error in that notice.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee under Section 9008(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that agencies publish these notices in the Federal Register to allow for public participation. This notice announces the meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee.