Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards: Evaluation Criteria for the Voluntary Program To Provide Energy Efficiency Information for Luminaires

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards: Evaluation

Criteria for the Voluntary Program To Provide Energy Efficiency

Information for Luminaires

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

Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires the Department of

Energy (DOE or Department) to support a voluntary national testing and

information program for those types of luminaires that are widely used

and show potential for significant energy savings. Not later than

October 24, 1995, DOE must determine whether the voluntary program thus

created by an appropriate organization of interested parties is

consistent with the objectives set forth in the legislation. In order

to clarify the objectives of the legislation, and thereby assist the

development of the voluntary program by the appropriate organization,

the Department has developed a set of evaluation criteria that will be

used as the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the luminaire

testing and information program. The Department will hold a public

meeting on Thursday, January 5, 1995, to discuss the proposed criteria

with parties interested in the development of the voluntary program.

All persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit

written comments and to attend the public meeting.

DATES: Written comments in quadruplicate must be received by January

27, 1995. The public meeting will be held on Thursday, January 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be labeled ``Voluntary Program to

Promote Energy Efficiency in Luminaires'' and submitted to Ms. Barbara

Twigg, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station

EE-431, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 586-8714; FAX: (202) 586-4617.

The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m., and will be held at the U.S.

Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-077, 1000

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC. There will also be a video

conference link at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley,

California.

Copies of the draft evaluation criteria may be requested from

Barbara Twigg at the above address. Copies will also be available in

the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy,

Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC. (202) 586-6020 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara Twigg, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-431, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-8714.

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General

Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authority

Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act,

Public Law 94-163, created the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

Products other than Automobiles (Program). The most recent amendment,

the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 102-486, identified

several new categories of products and equipment beyond the existing

residential appliances for inclusion in various required and voluntary

testing and information programs to promote energy efficiency.

Voluntary programs were specified for commercial office equipment,

window rating and labeling, and luminaires.

As described in section 126 of EPACT, the Secretary of Energy,

after consulting with industry associations and other interested

organizations, is to provide technical and financial assistance to

support a voluntary national testing and information program for those

types of luminaires that are widely used, and for which there is a

potential for significant energy savings as a result of such programs.

Such program will provide information that, when conveyed to consumers,

will enable purchasers of the equipment to make more informed decisions

about the energy efficiency and costs of alternative products.

The voluntary program should determine the luminaires to be

covered, include specifications for testing procedures, and include

information, which may be disseminated through catalogs, trade

publications, labels, or other mechanisms, that will allow consumers to

assess the energy consumption and potential cost savings of alternative

products. Such program shall be developed by an appropriate

organization (composed of interested parties) according to commonly

accepted procedures for the development of national testing procedures

and labeling programs.

Not later than three years after the date of enactment of EPACT

(October 24, 1995), the Secretary shall make a determination as to

whether the voluntary program is positioned to achieve the objectives

established for the testing and rating of luminaires. If the Secretary

determines that the voluntary program is not consistent with the

objectives of the legislation, the Secretary shall, after consultation

with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, develop test

procedures for luminaires. One year later, the Federal Trade Commission

would prescribe labeling rules.

2. Background

Since the passage of EPACT, the Department of Energy has monitored

the efforts of the luminaire industry to develop a testing and

information program through the National Lighting Collaborative (NLC or

Collaborative), a working group composed of the National Electrical

Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the American Lighting Association,

lighting manufacturers, environmental organizations, designers,

national laboratories, and other lighting professionals. On May 24,

1994, DOE held a public meeting to invite interested parties to offer

suggestions concerning methods of evaluation and to obtain updates on

the progress of the Collaborative's voluntary program. Subsequent

comments were invited through June 15, 1994. Additional suggestions and

information were supplied by the Collaborative on July 28, 1994.

3. Discussion

The purpose of the meeting is twofold: (1) to discuss comments on

the proposed evaluation criteria; and (2) to provide an opportunity to

inform DOE on the progress of the voluntary program and establish a

timetable for the evaluation of the program. After the meeting and

comment period, the Department will consider all comments and publish

the evaluation criteria in the Federal Register.

4. Public Meeting Procedure

The meeting will be informal. Participants are requested to review

a copy of the draft evaluation criteria before the meeting.

Issued in Washington, DC, December 20, 1994.

Christine A. Ervin,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 94-32114 Filed 12-27-94; 4:26 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P