80 FR 52206 - Energy Conservation Standards for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Availability of Provisional Analysis Tools
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 167 (August 28, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 167 (August 28, 2015)
| Page Range | 52206-52210 | |
| FR Document | 2015-21321 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 52206-52210] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-21321] ======================================================================== Proposed Rules Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Proposed Rules [[Page 52206]] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 10 CFR Part 430 [Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048] RIN 1904-AD37 Energy Conservation Standards for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Availability of Provisional Analysis Tools AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of data availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed a provisional analysis of the potential economic impacts and energy savings that could result from promulgating amended energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. At this time, DOE is not proposing any energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. Instead, this analysis will be used in support of the Appliance Standards Federal Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ASRAC) central air conditioners and heat pumps working group, which has been established to negotiate potential proposed amended energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps standards and to discuss certain aspects of the proposed Federal test procedure. The analysis for this NODA is available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=104. DOE encourages stakeholders to provide any additional data or information that may improve the analysis during the course of the working group meetings. DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and other information regarding this NODA and its related analyses no later than December 31, 2015. See section IV, ``Submission of Comments,'' of this NODA for further details. ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the NODA on Energy Conservation Standards for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, and provide docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048 and/or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) 1904-AD37. Comments may be submitted using any of the following methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. 2. Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number and/or RIN in the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. 3. Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies. 4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies. No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see section IV of this document (Submission of Comments). Docket: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for review at www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure. A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains instructions on how to access all documents in the docket, including public comments. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see section IV, ``Submission of Comments,'' of this document. For further information on how to submit a comment or review other public comments and the docket, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Antonio Bouza, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-4563. Email: central air conditioners and heat [email protected]. Mr. Eric Stas or Ms. Johanna Hariharan, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 5869507 or (202) 287-6307. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]. For further information on how to review other public comments and the docket, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents I. Authority II. History of the Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps A. Background B. Current Status III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE A. Engineering Analysis B. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses C. National Impact Analysis D. Manufacturer Impact Analysis IV. Submission of Comments V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary I. Authority Title III, Part B \1\ of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended, (EPCA or the Act), Public Law 94-163 (42 U.S.C. 6291- 6309, as codified) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency and established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles, a program covering most major household appliances (collectively referred to as ``covered products''), which includes the residential central air conditioners [[Page 52207]] and heat pumps that are the subject of this rulemaking.\2\ (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(3)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A. \2\ All referenced to EPCA in this document refer to the statute as amended through the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 (EEIA 2015), Public Law 114-11 (April 30, 2015). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, included amendments to EPCA that established the original energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. (42 U.S.C. 6295(d)(1)-(2)) EPCA, as amended, also requires DOE to conduct two cycles of rulemakings to determine whether to amend the energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. (42 U.S.C. 6295(d)(3)) More recently, EPCA was amended to require DOE to review the standards for each of its consumer products not later than every six years to determine whether such standards should be amended. (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)) Under this ``six-year-lookback'' authority, DOE must publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to propose amended standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, or a notice of determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended. Id. EPCA provides criteria for prescribing amended energy conservation standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. More specifically, DOE is required to consider standards that: (1) Achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified; and (2) result in significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A) and (o)(3)(B)) To determine whether a proposed standard is economically justified, DOE will, after receiving comments on the proposed standard, determine whether the benefits of the standard exceed its burdens by, to the greatest extent practicable, considering the following seven factors: 1. The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and consumers of products subject to the standard; 2. The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the covered products which are likely to result from the standard; 3. The total projected amount of energy savings likely to result directly from the standard; 4. Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered products likely to result from the standard; 5. The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the standard; 6. The need for national energy conservation; and 7. Other factors the Secretary of Energy considers relevant. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) EPCA also directs that DOE may not prescribe an amended or new standard if the standard is likely to result in the unavailability in the United States in any covered product type (or class) of performance characteristics (including reliability), features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the same as those generally available in the United States at the time that the standard is prescribed. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(4)) Before proposing a standard, DOE typically seeks public input on the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE will use to evaluate standards for the product at issue and the results of preliminary analyses DOE performed for the product. This notice announces the availability of the preliminary analysis of the economic impacts and energy savings of potential amended energy conservation standards. II. History of the Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps A. Background As noted above, EPCA, as amended, established energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps, as well as requirements for DOE to conduct two cycles of rulemaking to determine whether these standards should be amended. (42 U.S.C. 6295(d)(1)-(3)) The first cycle culminated in a final rule published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2004 (the August 2004 Rule), which prescribed energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured or imported on and after January 23, 2006. 69 FR 50997. DOE completed the second of the two rulemaking cycles by publishing a direct final rule on June 27, 2011 (2011 Direct Final Rule). 76 FR 37408. The 2011 Direct Final Rule (2011 DFR) amended standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured or imported on or after January 1, 2015. Pursuant to the EPCA's six-year review requirement under 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1), DOE must publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to propose amended standards for residential air conditioners and heat pumps, or a notice of determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended, by June 6, 2017 (i.e., the date six years after issuance of the last amended standards for these products). In furtherance of this process, DOE published a request for information (``the RFI'') regarding central air conditioners and heat pumps on November 5, 2014. 79 FR 65603. DOE published the RFI to solicit comments on whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for residential central air conditioner and heat pump products. The RFI also described the procedural and analytical approaches that DOE anticipated to use in order to evaluate energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. B. Current Status The analyses described in this NODA were developed to support a potential energy conservation standard for central air conditioners and heat pumps. The Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) recently established a working group in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA) to negotiate proposed amended energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps standards and to discuss certain aspects of the proposed Federal test procedure. 80 FR 40938 (July 14, 2015) The purpose of the working group will be to discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on a proposed rule for amended energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps and provide recommendations to DOE regarding certain aspects of the proposed test procedure. The working group consists of representatives of parties having a defined stake in the outcome of the proposed standards and amended test procedure, and will consult as appropriate with a range of experts on technical issues. To examine these issues, and others as necessary, DOE will provide to all parties in the negotiation data and an analytical framework complete and accurate enough to support their deliberations. DOE is publishing this analysis to inform a prospective negotiation. In this NODA, DOE is not proposing any energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE may revise the analyses presented in this NODA based on any new or updated information or data it obtains during the course of the negotiations. DOE encourages interested parties to provide any additional data or information that may improve the analysis. [[Page 52208]] III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE DOE conducted provisional analyses of central air conditioners and heat pumps in the following areas: (1) Engineering; (2) consumer impacts (life-cycle cost and payback period); (3) national impacts (including energy savings); and (4) manufacturer impacts. The tools used in preparing these analyses and their respective results are available at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT- STD-0048. Each individual spreadsheet includes an introduction that provides an overview of the contents of the spreadsheet. These spreadsheets present the various inputs and outputs to the analysis and, where necessary, instructions. Brief descriptions of the provisional analyses and of the supporting spreadsheet tools are provided below. DOE also prepared a technical support document (TSD) containing a detailed written account of the provisional analyses and the results generated from these analyses, which are described for the four major anlyses below. The TSD is available at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048. A. Engineering Analysis The engineering analysis establishes the relationship between the manufacturer production cost (MPC) and efficiency levels of central air conditioners and heat pumps. This relationship serves as the basis for calculations performed in the other analytical tools to estimate the costs and benefits to individual consumers, manufacturers, and the Nation. The engineering analysis identifies representative baseline products, which is the starting point for analyzing technologies that provide energy efficiency improvements. ``Baseline product'' refers to a model or models having features and technologies typically found in minimally-efficient products currently available on the market and, for products already subject to energy conservation standards, a model that just meets the current standard. After identifying the baseline models, DOE estimated manufacturer selling prices by using a consistent methodology and pricing scheme that includes material costs and manufacturer markups. B. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses The LCC and PBP analyses determine the economic impact of potential standards on individual consumers, starting in the compliance year. The LCC is the total cost of purchasing, installing, and operating a central air conditioner or heat pump over the course of its lifetime. The LCC analysis compares the LCCs of products designed to meet possible energy conservation standards with the LCC of the product likely to be installed in the absence of standards. DOE determines the LCC by considering: (1) The total installed cost to the consumer (which consists of manufacturer selling price, distribution channel markups, installation costs, and sales taxes); (2) the range of annual energy consumption of central air conditioners and heat pumps as they are used in the field; (3) the operating and maintenance costs of central air conditioners and heat pumps (e.g., energy cost); (4) product lifetime; and (5) a discount rate that reflects the real consumer cost of capital and puts the LCC in present-value terms. The PBP represents the number of years needed to recover the increase in purchase price (including installation costs) of higher- efficiency central air conditioners and heat pumps through savings in the operating cost. PBP is calculated by dividing the incremental increase in installed cost of the higher-efficiency product, compared to the baseline product, by the annual savings in operating costs. For each considered standards case corresponding to each efficiency level, DOE measures the change in LCC relative to the no-standards case, which reflects the market in the absence of amended energy conservation standards, including market trends for products that exceed the current energy conservation standards. DOE developed nationally-representative household samples for central air conditioners and heat pumps from the 2009 residential energy consumption survey (RECS). DOE analyzed the net effect of potential amended central air conditioner and heat pump standards on consumers by calculating the LCC savings and PBP for each household by efficiency level. Inputs to the LCC calculation include the installed cost to the consumer (purchase price, including sales tax where appropriate, plus installation cost), operating costs (energy expenses, repair costs, and maintenance costs), the lifetime of the product, and a discount rate. Inputs to the payback period calculation include the installed cost to the consumer and first-year operating costs. DOE performed the LCC and PBP analyses using a spreadsheet model combined with Crystal Ball \3\ to account for uncertainty and variability among the input variables. Each Monte Carlo simulation consists of 10,000 LCC and PBP calculations using input values that are either sampled from probability distributions and household samples or characterized with single-point values. The analytical results include a distribution of 10,000 data points showing the range of LCC savings for a given efficiency level relative to the no-standards-case efficiency distribution. In performing an iteration of the Monte Carlo simulation for a given consumer, product efficiency is chosen based on its probability. If the chosen product efficiency is greater than or equal to the efficiency of the standard level under consideration, the LCC and PBP calculation reveals that a consumer is not impacted by the standard level. By accounting for consumers who already purchase more- efficient products, DOE avoids overstating the potential benefits from increasing product efficiency through amended energy conservation standards. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ Crystal Ball is a commercial software program used to conduct stochastic analysis using Monte Carlo simulation. A Monte Carlo simulation uses random sampling over many iterations of the simulation to obtain a probability distribution of results. Certain key inputs to the analysis are defined as probability distributions rather than single-point values. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For each potential standard level, the primary outputs of the LCC and PBP analyses are: (1) Average LCC; (2) average PBPs; (3) average LCC savings relative to the no-new-standards case; and (4) the percentage of consumers that experience a net cost. C. National Impact Analysis The national impacts analysis (NIA) estimates the national energy savings (NES) and the net present value (NPV) of total consumer costs and savings expected to result from potential amended standards. DOE calculated NES and NPV for central air conditioners and heat pumps as the difference between a case without amended standards and each standards case. DOE calculated the national annual energy consumption for each case using the appropriate per-unit annual energy use data multiplied by the projected central air conditioner and heat pump shipments for each year. Cumulative energy savings are the sum of the annual NES determined for the lifetime of central air conditioner or heat pumps shipped during a 30-year period assumed to start in the expected compliance year. The analysis period is 30 years, which is consistent with other [[Page 52209]] rulemakings and sufficiently long to cover the expected life of the product. Energy savings include the full-fuel-cycle energy savings (i.e., the energy needed to extract, process, and deliver primary fuel sources such as coal and natural gas, and the conversion and distribution losses of generating electricity from those fuel sources). To develop the national NPV of consumer benefits from potential energy conservation standards, DOE calculated projected annual operating costs (energy costs and repair and maintenance costs) and annual installation costs for the no-new-standards case and the standards cases. DOE calculated annual energy expenditures from annual energy consumption using forecasted energy prices (based on the Energy Information Administration's most recent Annual Energy Outlook) in each year. DOE calculated annual product expenditures by multiplying the price per unit times the projected shipments in each year. The aggregate difference each year between operating cost savings and increased installation costs is the net savings or net costs. DOE multiplies the net savings in future years by a discount factor to determine their present value. The national NPV is the sum over time of the discounted net savings each year. Critical inputs to this analysis include shipments projections, estimated product lifetimes, product installed costs and operating costs, product annual energy consumption, the no-new-standard-case efficiency projection, and discount rates. DOE estimates the NPV of consumer benefits using both a 3-percent and a 7- percent real discount rate, in accordance with guidance provided by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to Federal agencies on the development of regulatory analysis.\4\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ Office of Management and Budget, OMB Circular A-4, section E, Identifying and Measuring Benefits and Costs (2003) (Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/m03-21.html). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Manufacturer Impact Analysis DOE performed a manufacturer impact analysis (MIA) to estimate the potential financial impact of potential amended energy conservation standards on manufacturers of central air conditioners and heat pumps. The MIA relied on the Government Regulatory Impact Model (GRIM), an industry cash-flow model used to estimate changes in industry value as a result of amended energy conservation standards. The primary quantitative output of this model is the industry net present value (INPV), which DOE calculates as the sum of industry annual cash flows, discounted to the present day using an industry-specific weighted average cost of capital, or manufacturer discount rate. The GRIM estimates the impacts of more-stringent energy conservation standards on the industry by comparing changes in INPV between a no-new-standards case and standards cases. Key GRIM inputs include manufacturer production cost estimates from the Engineering Analysis and annual shipments forecast estimates from the National Impact Analysis. As part of the MIA, DOE also develops an analysis of industry financial parameters (e.g., average industry tax rate, working capital rate, research and development expense rate, depreciation rate) and estimates conversion costs manufacturers would likely incur in order to comply with amended standards. Additionally, DOE develops multiple manufacturer markup scenarios in order to capture uncertainty surrounding manufacturer pricing strategy following amended standards. For the central air conditioner and heat pump industry, DOE modeled three standards-case markup scenarios: (1) A preservation of baseline markup scenario; (2) a preservation of per-unit operating profit markup scenario; and (3) a tiered markup scenario. These scenarios result in varying revenue and cash flow impacts. IV. Submission of Comments DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding all of the analyses described above, but no later than the date provided in the DATES section at the beginning of this NODA. Interested parties may submit comments, data, and any other information using any of the methods described in the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this document. Submitting comments via www.regulations.gov. The www.regulations.gov Web page will require you to provide your name and contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE Building Technologies staff only. Your contact information will not be publicly viewable except for your first and last names, organization name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties, DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment. However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you include it in the comment itself or in any documents attached to your comment. Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable should not be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to your comment. Otherwise, persons viewing comments will see only first and last names, organization names, correspondence containing comments, and any documents submitted with the comments. Do not submit to www.regulations.gov information for which disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business Information (CBI)). Comments submitted through www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received through the Web site will waive any CBI claims for the information submitted. For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business Information section below. DOE processes submissions made through www.regulations.gov before posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that www.regulations.gov provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment. Submitting comments via email, hand delivery/courier, or mail. Comments and documents submitted via email, hand delivery/courier, or mail also will be posted to www.regulations.gov. If you do not want your personal contact information to be publicly viewable, do not include it in your comment or any accompanying documents. Instead, provide your contact information in a cover letter. Include your first and last names, email address, telephone number, and optional mailing address. The cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it does not include any comments. Include contact information each time you submit comments, data, documents, and other information to DOE. If you submit via mail or hand delivery/courier, please provide all items on a CD, if feasible, in which case it is not necessary to submit printed copies. No telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted. Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that are not secured, that are written in English, and [[Page 52210]] that are free of any defects or viruses. Documents should not contain special characters or any form of encryption and, if possible, they should carry the electronic signature of the author. Campaign form letters. Please submit campaign form letters by the originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters per PDF or as one form latter with a list of supporters' names compiled into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting time. Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email, postal mail, or hand delivery/courier two well-marked copies: one copy of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-confidential'' with the information believed to be confidential deleted. Submit these documents via email or on a CD, if feasible. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential status of the information and treat it according to its determination. Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat submitted information as confidential include: (1) A description of the items; (2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as confidential within the industry; (3) whether the information is generally known by or available from other sources; (4) whether the information has previously been made available to others without obligation concerning its confidentiality; (5) an explanation of the competitive injury to the submitting person that would result from public disclosure; (6) when such information might lose its confidential character due to the passage of time; and (7) why disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest. It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public docket, without change and as received, including any personal information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be exempt from public disclosure). V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this NODA. Issued in Washington, DC, on August 21, 2015. Kathleen B. Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. 2015-21321 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
![52206
Proposed Rules Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 167
Friday, August 28, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER Conditioners and Heat Pumps, and further information on how to submit a
contains notices to the public of the proposed provide docket number EERE–2014– comment or review other public
issuance of rules and regulations. The BT–STD–0048 and/or Regulatory comments and the docket, contact Ms.
purpose of these notices is to give interested Identification Number (RIN) 1904– Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by
persons an opportunity to participate in the AD37. Comments may be submitted email: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
using any of the following methods: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: Antonio Bouza, U.S. Department of
www.regulations.gov. Follow the Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY instructions for submitting comments. Renewable Energy, Building
2. Email: ASRAC@ee.doe.gov. Include Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000
10 CFR Part 430 the docket number and/or RIN in the Independence Avenue SW.,
[Docket No. EERE–2014–BT–STD–0048]
subject line of the message. Submit Washington, DC 20585–0121.
electronic comments in WordPerfect, Telephone: (202) 586–4563. Email:
RIN 1904–AD37 Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file central air conditioners and heat
format, and avoid the use of special pumps@ee.doe.gov.
Energy Conservation Standards for characters or any form of encryption. Mr. Eric Stas or Ms. Johanna
Central Air Conditioners and Heat 3. Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, Hariharan, U.S. Department of Energy,
Pumps: Availability of Provisional U.S. Department of Energy, Building Office of the General Counsel, GC–33,
Analysis Tools Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Renewable Energy, Department of Washington, DC 20585–0121. If Telephone: (202) 5869507 or (202) 287–
Energy. possible, please submit all items on a 6307. Email: Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov or
ACTION: Notice of data availability. compact disc (CD), in which case it is Johanna.Hariharan@hq.doe.gov.
not necessary to include printed copies. For further information on how to
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda review other public comments and the
Energy (DOE) has completed a Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, docket, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at
provisional analysis of the potential Building Technologies Office, 950 (202) 586–2945 or by email:
economic impacts and energy savings L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600, Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
that could result from promulgating Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
amended energy conservation standards (202) 586–2945. If possible, please
for central air conditioners and heat submit all items on a CD, in which case Table of Contents
pumps. At this time, DOE is not it is not necessary to include printed I. Authority
proposing any energy conservation copies. II. History of the Energy Conservation
standards for central air conditioners No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be Standards Rulemaking for Central Air
and heat pumps. Instead, this analysis accepted. For detailed instructions on Conditioners and Heat Pumps
will be used in support of the Appliance A. Background
submitting comments and additional B. Current Status
Standards Federal Rulemaking Advisory information on the rulemaking process, III. Summary of the Analyses Performed by
Committee (ASRAC) central air see section IV of this document DOE
conditioners and heat pumps working (Submission of Comments). A. Engineering Analysis
group, which has been established to Docket: The docket, which includes B. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
negotiate potential proposed amended Federal Register notices, comments, Analyses
energy conservation standards for and other supporting documents/ C. National Impact Analysis
central air conditioners and heat pumps materials, is available for review at D. Manufacturer Impact Analysis
standards and to discuss certain aspects IV. Submission of Comments
www.regulations.gov. All documents in V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
of the proposed Federal test procedure. the docket are listed in the
The analysis for this NODA is available www.regulations.gov index. However, I. Authority
at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/ not all documents listed in the index Title III, Part B 1 of the Energy Policy
buildings/appliance_standards/ may be publicly available, such as and Conservation Act of 1975, as
rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=104. DOE information that is exempt from public amended, (EPCA or the Act), Public Law
encourages stakeholders to provide any disclosure. 94–163 (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309, as
additional data or information that may A link to the docket Web page can be codified) sets forth a variety of
improve the analysis during the course found at: http://www.regulations.gov/ provisions designed to improve energy
of the working group meetings. #!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-STD- efficiency and established the Energy
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, 0048. The www.regulations.gov Web Conservation Program for Consumer
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
and other information regarding this page contains instructions on how to Products Other Than Automobiles, a
NODA and its related analyses no later access all documents in the docket, program covering most major household
than December 31, 2015. See section IV, including public comments. appliances (collectively referred to as
‘‘Submission of Comments,’’ of this For detailed instructions on ‘‘covered products’’), which includes
NODA for further details. submitting comments and additional the residential central air conditioners
ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted information on the rulemaking process,
must identify the NODA on Energy see section IV, ‘‘Submission of 1 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the
Conservation Standards for Central Air Comments,’’ of this document. For U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A.
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![52210 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Proposed Rules
that are free of any defects or viruses. Issued in Washington, DC, on August 21, 1904–AD31, 1000 Independence
Documents should not contain special 2015. Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–
characters or any form of encryption Kathleen B. Hogan, 0121. Phone: (202) 586–2945. If
and, if possible, they should carry the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy possible, please submit all items on a
electronic signature of the author. Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable compact disc (CD), in which case it is
Energy. not necessary to include printed copies.
Campaign form letters. Please submit [FR Doc. 2015–21321 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am] (Please note that comments sent by mail
campaign form letters by the originating
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P are often delayed and may be damaged
organization in batches of between 50 to by mail screening processes.)
500 form letters per PDF or as one form • Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda
latter with a list of supporters’ names DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
compiled into one or more PDFs. This Building Technologies Office, 6th Floor,
reduces comment processing and 10 CFR Part 431 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington,
posting time. [Docket Number EERE–2014–BT–STD– DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586–2945. If
Confidential Business Information. 0027] possible, please submit all items on a
Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person CD, in which case it is not necessary to
RIN 1904–AD31
submitting information that he or she include printed copies.
believes to be confidential and exempt Energy Conservation Program for All submissions received must
by law from public disclosure should Consumer Products: Energy include docket number EERE–2014–BT–
submit via email, postal mail, or hand Conservation Standards for STD–0027 and/or regulatory
delivery/courier two well-marked Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves identification number (RIN) 1904–
AD31.
copies: one copy of the document
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Docket: The docket is available for
marked ‘‘confidential’’ including all the
Renewable Energy, Department of review at http://www.regulations.gov,
information believed to be confidential, Energy. and will include Federal Register
and one copy of the document marked notices, framework document, notice of
ACTION: Extension of public comment
‘‘non-confidential’’ with the information proposed rulemaking, public meeting
period.
believed to be confidential deleted. attendee lists and transcripts,
Submit these documents via email or on SUMMARY: This document announces an comments, and other supporting
a CD, if feasible. DOE will make its own extension of the time period for documents/materials throughout the
determination about the confidential submitting comments, data, and rulemaking process. The regulations.gov
status of the information and treat it information concerning the notice of Web page contains simple instructions
according to its determination. proposed rulemaking for commercial about how to access all documents,
Factors of interest to DOE when prerinse spray valves, published on July including public comments, in the
evaluating requests to treat submitted 9, 2015. The comment period is docket. The docket can be accessed by
information as confidential include: (1) extended to September 22, 2015. searching for docket number EERE–
A description of the items; (2) whether DATES: The comment period for the 2014–BT–STD–0027 on the
and why such items are customarily notice of proposed rulemaking for regulations.gov Web site. All documents
treated as confidential within the commercial prerinse spray valves, in the docket are listed in the http://
published on July 9, 2015 (80 FR 39486) www.regulations.gov index. However,
industry; (3) whether the information is
is extended to September 22, 2015. not all documents listed in the index
generally known by or available from
ADDRESSES: Interested persons may may be publicly available, such as
other sources; (4) whether the
submit comments by any of the information that is exempt from public
information has previously been made disclosure.
available to others without obligation following methods:
concerning its confidentiality; (5) an • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
www.regulations.gov. Follow the James Raba, U.S. Department of Energy,
explanation of the competitive injury to
instructions for submitting comments. Office of Energy Efficiency and
the submitting person that would result
• Email: Renewable Energy, Building
from public disclosure; (6) when such Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000
SprayValves20104STD0027@ee.doe.gov.
information might lose its confidential Independence Avenue SW.,
Include EERE–2014–BT–STD–0027
character due to the passage of time; and Washington, DC 20585–0121.
and/or regulation identifier number
(7) why disclosure of the information (RIN) 1904–AD31 in the subject line of Telephone: (202) 586–8654. Email:
would be contrary to the public interest. the message. All comments should commercial_pre-rinse-spray_valves@
It is DOE’s policy that all comments clearly identify the name, address, and, ee.doe.gov.
may be included in the public docket, if appropriate, organization of the In the Office of General Counsel,
without change and as received, commenter. Submit electronic contact Mr. Peter Cochran, U.S.
including any personal information comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Department of Energy, Office of the
provided in the comments (except Word, portable data format (PDF), or General Counsel, GC–33, 1000
information deemed to be exempt from American Standard Code for Independence Avenue SW.,
public disclosure). Information Interchange (ASCII) file Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–9496. Email:
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
format, and avoid the use of special
V. Approval of the Office of the characters or any form of encryption. Peter.Cochran@hq.doe.gov.
Secretary • Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 9,
Department of Energy, Building 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy
The Secretary of Energy has approved
Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B, (DOE) published a document in the
publication of this NODA. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Federal Register proposing amended
Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves, energy conservation standards for
EERE–2014–BT–STD–0027 and/or RIN commercial prerinse spray valves. The
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:04:09
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:04:09
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of data availability. | |
| Dates | DOE will accept comments, data, and other information regarding this NODA and its related analyses no later than December 31, 2015. See section IV, ``Submission of Comments,'' of this NODA for further details. | |
| Contact | Mr. Antonio Bouza, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-4563. Email: central air conditioners and heat [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 52206 | |
| RIN Number | 1904-AD37 |
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