Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps (CAC/HP) established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. DOE published several proposals in a November 2015 supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR). DOE finalized some of the proposed test procedure amendments in a June 2016 final rule. This SNOPR proposes additional revisions to some of the amendments proposed in the past notices and proposes some additional amendments. Specifically, this SNOPR proposes two sets of amendments to the test procedure: Amendments to appendix M that would be required as the basis for making efficiency representations starting 180 days after final rule publication; and amendments as part of a new appendix M1 that would be the basis for making efficiency representations as of the compliance date for any amended energy conservation standards. Broadly speaking, the proposed amendments address the off-mode test procedures, clarifications on test set-up and fan delays, limits to gross indoor fin surface area for valid combinations, external static pressure conditions for testing, clarifications on represented values for CAC/HP that are distributed in commerce with multiple refrigerants, and the methodology for testing and calculating heating performance. DOE does not expect the proposed changes to appendix M to change measured efficiency. However, DOE has determined that the proposed procedures in new appendix M1 would change measured efficiency. DOE welcomes comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this test procedure rulemaking.