80 FR 59758 - Amendment to an Approved Agency Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 191 (October 2, 2015)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59758-59759]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25106]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Amendment to an Approved Agency Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: 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.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before December 1, 2015. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent Andre de Fontaine, EE-5A/
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, 
by fax at 202-586-5234, or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Andre de Fontaine, EE-5F/Forrestal Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, by fax at 202-586-5234, 
or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request 
contains:
    (1) OMB No.1910-5141;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Department of Energy 
Better Buildings Challenge, Better Buildings Alliance, and the Better 
Buildings, Better Plants Voluntary Pledge Program;
    (3) Type of Request: Amendment;
    (4) Purpose: This Information Collection Request applies to three 
Department of Energy (DOE) voluntary leadership initiatives that fall 
under the President's Better Buildings Initiative: (1) The Better 
Buildings Challenge; (2) the Better Buildings, Better Plants Program; 
and (3) the Better Buildings Alliance. The information being collected 
is needed so as to include participants in new sub-programs under the 
Better Buildings Challenge concerning energy efficiency in the 
multifamily residential and data center sectors, as well as a new water 
savings challenge. Additionally, other pre-existing collection forms 
are being amended for clarity and to reduce burden on respondents. 
Also, the total number of respondents for individual program areas is 
being adjusted to align with practical experience and to account for 
the fact that certain one-time reporting requirements have already been 
satisfied by a majority of the participants.
    The leadership initiatives under the Better Buildings Initiative 
covered under this Information Collection Request are intended to drive 
greater energy and water efficiency in the commercial, public, 
residential, data center, and industrial marketplace to reduce 
pollution, cut costs, and create jobs. This will be accomplished by 
highlighting the ways participants overcome market barriers to greater 
efficiency with replicable solutions. The program will showcase real 
solutions and partner with industry leaders to better understand policy 
and technical opportunities. There are three types of information to be 
collected from primary participants, also referred to as ``Partners'': 
(1) Background data, including contact information, a partnership 
agreement form, logo(s), information needed to support public 
announcements, updates on participants' showcase projects, and an 
energy savings goal; (2) Portfolio-wide energy performance information; 
and (3) Information on market innovations participants are including in 
their energy efficiency processes. Background data will primarily be 
used to develop Web site content that will be publically available. 
Portfolio-wide facility-level energy performance information will be 
used by DOE to measure the participants' progress in meeting the goals 
of the program, as well as to aggregate the change in energy 
performance and related metrics for the entire program. Information on 
market innovation will be used to highlight successful strategies 
participants use to overcome challenges, and will be publicly 
available. Additional background information is being collected from 
``Allies'', financial and utility organizations that make a public 
commitment to support the energy efficiency marketplace. Background 
information including name, commitment in terms of dollars committed by 
financial allies, or percent of commercial customer class committed by 
utility allies, and a company logo will be used to develop publically 
available Web site content. Responses to the DOE's Information 
Collection Request will be voluntary.

[[Page 59759]]

    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: Amending currently 
approved Information Collection Request (``ICR'') which includes 
respondents of 550, by reducing by 70, for a total of 480;
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: Amending currently 
approved ICR with includes an estimated number of total response of 
2,333, by reducing by 1,361, for a total of 972;
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: Amending currently 
approved ICR with an estimated number of burden hours of 4,652, by 
reducing by 1,932, for a total of 2,720.
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
Amending currently approved ICR with an estimated $183,610, by reducing 
by $76,261, for a total reporting and recording cost burden of 
$107,349.

    Statutory Authority: Section 421 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17081); Section 911 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005, as amended (42 U.S.C. 16191).

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 28, 2015.
Maria Vargas,
Director Better Buildings Challenge, Office of Energy Efficiency & 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-25106 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P