Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool) seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of residential clothes washers. Whirlpool seeks to use an alternate test procedure to address certain issues involved in testing certain specific basic clothes washer models identified in its petition that container volumes between 6.0 cubic feet and 8.0 cubic feet that Whirlpool contends cannot be accurately tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Whirlpool's petition and its suggested alternate test procedure. This notice also grants Whirlpool with an interim waiver from the residential clothes washer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

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 in support of the DOE's Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot will gather quantitative estimates of the pilot's impacts as well as capture implementation lessons learned. The information is needed to assess the impacts of the SBV Pilot, documenting that the investment is producing the expected results, and to determine ways to improve the pilot should it be expanded in scope. The SBV Pilot is a funding mechanism structured to allow small businesses engaged in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors to collaborate with researchers at the DOE National Laboratories and to take advantage of the resources at the Labs that assist small businesses in proceeding through commercialization challenges. Respondents will include small businesses participating in the pilot as well a comparison group of businesses with Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) outside of the SBV Pilot. 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 Department of Energy (DOE) announces public meetings and webinars for the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that agencies publish notice of an advisory committee meeting in the Federal Register.

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. 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 or Department) has updated its methodology for assessing the cost-effectiveness of building energy codes. The Department relies upon this methodology in evaluating both potential code changes and entire new editions of model codes, such as the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1. DOE developed its methodology through a public process, and reviews its methods regularly to ensure its underlying analysis and assumptions remain valid.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for room air conditioners (room ACs). According to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act's 6-year review requirement, DOE must publish by April 8, 2017 a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to propose new standards for room ACs or a notice of determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended. This RFI seeks to solicit information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for room ACs would result in a significant amount of additional energy savings and whether those standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified. In addition, DOE has identified several issues associated with the currently applicable test procedure for room ACs on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comment.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection will enable DOE to understand the universe of organizations participating in four voluntary programs: Zero Energy Ready Home Program, the Better Buildings Residential Network, the Home Energy Score, and the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program (HPwES). The information gathered by DOE in these four programs is necessary for DOE to run the programs effectively.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the final publication of a document entitled A Framework for Characterizing Connected Buildings Equipment. A copy of the Framework document is available at: https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2014- BT-NOA-0016-0047.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) participates in the public process administered by the International Code Council (ICC), which produces the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). DOE develops and publishes code change proposals for the IECC, prior to submitting them to the ICC, to allow interested parties an opportunity to suggest revisions, enhancements and comments. This notice outlines the process by which DOE produces its code change proposals for the IECC, and otherwise participates in the ICC code development process. This process will be used when DOE participates in the development of the 2018 IECC and other codes developed by the ICC.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the availability of the draft Wave Energy Prize competition Rules and Terms and Conditions and requests public comment on the Rules and Terms and Conditions. The prize is designed to achieve game-changing performance enhancements to wave energy conversion (WEC) devices, establishing a pathway to sweeping cost reductions on a commercial scale. The prize consists of three phasesdesign, build, and test and evaluation. Prize purses to the winner(s): Grand Prize ($1,500,000), 2nd Place Finisher ($500,000), and 3rd Place Finisher ($250,000).

The Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the following public workshop entitled, ``Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute on Smart Manufacturing Industry Day Workshop.'' The intent is to discuss the specifics of the previously announced potential investment in SMART Manufacturing.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order in Case No. RF-042 that grants to GE Appliances (GE) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for determining the energy consumption of the specific residential refrigerator-freezer basic models set forth in GE's petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, GE shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezer basic models, which use dual compressors, using an alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when measuring energy consumption.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, a three-year extension to its collection of information titled: Budget Justification, OMB No. 1910-5162. The proposed collection will establish application consistency for numerous Grant and Cooperative Agreement application packages from potential and chosen recipients. This effort will also streamline processes and provide applicants with a clear and straightforward tool to assist with project budgeting. In addition it will endow DOE reviewers with adequate information to determine if proposed costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable.