Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection of information relates to three of DOE's Better Buildings Programs. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeks comments and information regarding improvements to Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). ESPCs allow Federal agencies to implement energy savings projects where the up-front capital cost is financed by an Energy Services Company (ESCO), who is then repaid from the agency's energy savings over a period of up to 25 years. The DOE Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) is the lead agency program for providing implementing rules and policies regarding ESPCs. DOE FEMP strives to continuously improve the ESPC processes it is has implemented since 1996. DOE is publishing this RFI to obtain ideas and input from ESPC stakeholders and other interested persons to facilitate further improvements to ESPCs.

This notice announces a teleconference call of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-024) that grants to LG Electronics, Inc. (LG) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator- freezer test procedures for determining the energy consumption of residential refrigerator-freezers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, LG shall be required to test and rate its refrigerator-freezers with dual compressors using an alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. DW-009) that grants to BSH Corporation (BSH) a waiver from the DOE dishwasher test procedure for certain basic models containing integrated or built-in water softeners. Under today's decision and order, BSH shall be required to test and rate its dishwashers with integrated water softeners using an alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when measuring energy and water consumption.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The Department of Energy pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DOE, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of DOE's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in an interim final rule. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator- freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a preliminary commercial building energy asset score (hereinafter ``score''). The score provides information regarding the efficiency of a building's major energy consuming systems and is intended to enable greater understanding of building performance and potential savings. DOE is developing this voluntary program as part of its effort to achieve a 20 percent improvement in the energy efficiency of commercial buildings by 2020.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test procedures for microwave ovens established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The proposed amendments would add provisions for measuring the active mode energy use for microwave ovens, including both microwave-only ovens and convection microwave ovens. Specifically, DOE is proposing provisions for measuring the energy use of the microwave-only cooking mode for both microwave-only ovens and convection microwave ovens based on the testing methods in the latest draft version of the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60705, ``Household microwave ovensMethods for measuring performance.'' DOE is proposing provisions for measuring the energy use of the convection-only cooking mode for convection microwave ovens based on the DOE test procedure for conventional ovens in our regulations. DOE is also proposing to calculate the energy use of the convection-microwave cooking mode for convection microwave ovens by apportioning the microwave-only mode and convection-only mode energy consumption measurements based on typical consumer use.