Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards: Evaluation Criteria for the Voluntary Program to Provide Energy Efficiency Information for Commercial Office Equipment

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 commercial office equipment 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

persons, is consistent with the objectives set forth in the

legislation. In order to assist the development of the voluntary

program, the Department has developed a set of evaluation criteria that

will be used as the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the

commercial office equipment testing and information program. The

Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 1995, to

discuss the proposed criteria with persons 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 March 31,

1995. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 1995.

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

Promote Energy Efficiency in Commercial Office Equipment'' 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 GH-027, 1000

Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC.

Copies of the draft evaluation criteria may be requested from

Barbara Twigg at the above address. Copies are 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. The most recent amendment, the Energy

Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 102-486, 106 stat. 2776, 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 125 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 commercial office equipment 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 types of commercial

office equipment 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 persons), 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 commercial office equipment.

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 those types of commercial

equipment designated as part of the program. 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 commercial office equipment industry to develop a

testing and information program through the Council on Office Products

Energy Efficiency (COPEE), a working group composed of the Information

Technology Industry Council, formerly the Computer and Business

Equipment Manufacturers Association, office equipment manufacturers,

environmental organizations, designers, national laboratories, and

other office equipment professionals. On May 26, 1994, DOE held a

public meeting, at which interested persons were invited to offer

suggestions concerning methods of evaluation, and to obtain updates on

the progress of COPEE's voluntary program. Comments were invited

through June 15, 1994. Additional suggestions and information were

supplied by the COPEE on July 15, 1994.

3. Discussion

The purpose of the meeting is twofold: (1) To discuss the proposed

evaluation criteria; and (2) to provide an opportunity to inform DOE of

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 [[Page 10380]] copy of the draft evaluation criteria before the

meeting.

Issued in Washington, DC, February 21, 1995.

Christine A. Ervin,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 95-4607 Filed 2-23-95; 8:45 am]

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