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

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting public input on the methodology developed by DOE to assist in assessing compliance with building energy codes at the local, state, and national levels. To provide technical assistance for states implementing building energy codes, DOE developed and piloted a compliance methodology across several U.S. states. The experiences of those participating in these pilot studies have led to a number of recommendations and potential changes to the DOE methodology. DOE is interested in receiving broad public input on not only this methodology, but also on fundamental assumptions and approaches to measuring compliance with building energy codes. This notice identifies several areas in which DOE is particularly interested in receiving information; however, any input and suggestions considered relevant to the topic are welcome.

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.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the ASKO Appliances Inc. (ASKO) petition for waiver from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of residential clothes dryers. The waiver request pertains to ASKO's specified models of condensing residential clothes dryers. The existing test procedure does not apply to condensing clothes dryers. In addition, today's notice grants ASKO an interim waiver from the DOE test procedure applicable to residential clothes dryers. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning ASKO's petition.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-029) that grants to GE Appliances (GE) 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, GE 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 Department of Energy is proposing to merge two information collections into one more broad collection, one of which is approved and one of which was previously proposed pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The approved collection is being used to develop a scorecard that will assist DOE's Clean Cities coalitions and stakeholders in assessing the level of readiness of their communities for plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). Information collected via the scorecard is intended to allow DOE to provide respondents with an objective assessment of their communities' readiness for PEV adoption and an understanding of their commitment to successful deployment of PEVs, and is needed to ensure appropriate evaluation of progress in deploying PEVs. The other, previously proposed information collection would be used to develop information that will enable DOE to measure the impact and progress of DOE's National Clean Fleets Partnership (Partnership). The Partnership is an initiative through which DOE provides large private-sector fleets with technical assistance and expertise to incorporate alternative fuels and fuel saving measures into their operations successfully. The initiative builds on the established success of DOE's Clean Cities Program. The Partnership was developed with input from fleet managers, industry representatives, Clean Cities program staff, and Clean Cities coordinators. DOE is also proposing to amend the PEV Scorecard information collection request by expanding the number of entities estimated to participate in the voluntary PEV Scorecard information collection.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order in Case No. RF-027 that grants to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for specific basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is identical to the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 that manufacturers will be required to use starting in 2014. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in that January 2012 final rule, which accounts for multiple defrost cycles when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order in Case No. RF-025 that grants to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for specific basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is identical to the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 that manufacturers will be required to use starting in 2014. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in that January 2012 final rule, which accounts for multiple defrost cycles when measuring energy consumption.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a revision of a currently approved 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 revision of the currently approved 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 reduced burden pertaining to the approved collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to further enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (d) ways to further minimize the burden regarding the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. 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.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver and application for interim waiver from Felix Storch, Inc. (FSI) (hereafter, ``petition'') from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver for specific basic models to FSI from portions of the DOE commercial refrigerator, freezer and refrigerator-freezer test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the FSI petition.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from GE Appliances (GE) seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. GE asks that it be permitted to use an alternate test procedure to address the difficulties in testing shared dual compressor systems according to the currently applicable DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning GE's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants GE with an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice. The waiver request pertains to the basic models set forth in GE's petition that incorporate shared dual compressor systems.

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 DOE participates in the code development process of the International Code Council (ICC), which produces the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). DOE will continue to publish code change proposals for the IECC before submitting them to the ICC to allow interested parties an opportunity to provide suggested revisions, enhancements to and comments on DOE code change proposals. This notice outlines the process by which DOE produces code change proposals, and participates in the ICC code development process.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) requests comments on the draft version of the Wireless Power Meter Challenge Specification. This draft is a set of performance specifications applicable to energy efficiency metering devices for use at the electrical panel level within commercial buildings. The specifications are intended to spur the development of new technologies in the wireless electric metering space.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is making final content available for the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals: Standard Work Specifications for Single Family Energy Upgrades (SWS). This content is a set of recommended work specifications applicable to energy efficiency retrofits of single family homes. These specifications are intended as a resource for any organization, company or individual involved in energy efficiency retrofits of residential homes. Draft versions of the SWS were made available for public comment on November 9, 2010 (75 FR 68781) and on March 29, 2012 (77 FR 19008). The comment period for the March 29, 2011 draft was extended through a notice issued on April 18, 2012 (77 FR 23238).

This notice announces an open meeting of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, requires notice of the meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. DW-010) 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.

In this notice, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential energy sources for the year 2013 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. Samsung asks that it be permitted to use an alternate test procedure to address the difficulties in testing dual compressor systems according to the currently applicable DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung with an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice. The waiver request pertains to the basic models set forth in Samsung's petition that incorporate dual compressors.

The Department of Energy has submitted to the OMB for clearance, a proposal for collection of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection would be used to develop information that will enable DOE to measure the impact and progress of DOE's National Clean Fleets Partnership (Partnership). The Partnership is an initiative through which DOE provides large private- sector fleets with technical assistance and expertise to incorporate alternative fuels and fuel saving measures into their operations successfully. The initiative builds on the established success of DOE's Clean Cities program. The Partnership was developed with input from fleet managers, industry representatives, Clean Cities program staff, and Clean Cities coordinators.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for reinstatement under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-Day comment solicitation period on this information collection was published on May 24, 2012, Vol. 77, No. 101, pg. 31000. The information collection requests a three-year approval of its Customer Electricity Data Access and Control Questionnaire, OMB Control Number 1910-5164. The proposed collection will gather and share information about customer access to electricity usage data. The information will be shared on the DOE-supported OpenEI Web site where consumers can learn about the access offered by their electricity provider to energy usage data. Visitors to the Web site will also be able to learn about measures they can take to use energy more efficiently and economically.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the BSH Corporation (BSH) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of dishwashers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the dishwasher test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the BSH petition.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the BSH Corporation (BSH) petition for waiver from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of dishwashers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the dishwasher test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the BSH petition.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-021) that grants to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver in Case RF-021. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559). Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in DOE's final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559) that takes multiple defrost cycles into account when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the administration of a prize competition (Challenge) titled ``Apps for Vehicles: improving safety and fuel efficiency through technology innovation''.