Notice of Petition for Waiver of Johnson Controls, Inc. From the Department of Energy Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Test Procedure, and Notice of Grant of Interim Waiver

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver from Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) seeking an exemption from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the efficiency of central air conditioners and heat pumps. JCI seeks to use an alternate test procedure to address issues involved in testing certain basic models identified in its amended petition. According to JCI, testing the basic models of the central air conditioners listed in its amended petition as outdoor units with no match will overstate their energy usage as they will be rated using default indoor unit parameters that are representative of an old, inefficient indoor unit. JCI seeks to use an alternate test procedure to test and rate the basic models listed in its amended petition as matched systems. JCI proposes to waive the DOE test procedure requirement to test these basic models as outdoor units with no match and instead, test these basic models as matched systems. This notice also announces that DOE grants JCI an interim waiver from the DOE central air conditioners and heat pumps test procedure for its specified basic models, subject to use of the alternative test procedure as set forth in the Order. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning JCI's amended petition and its suggested alternate test procedure.