Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of Public Workshop on Central Air Conditioner Energy Efficiency Standards Rulemaking

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM/STD-98-440]

RIN 1904-AA77

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of

Public Workshop on Central Air Conditioner Energy Efficiency Standards

Rulemaking

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Public Workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the Department or DOE) today gives

notice that it will convene a public workshop to discuss the proposed

analytical framework and tools for evaluating possible revisions to the

central air conditioner and heat pump energy efficiency standards.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 1998, from

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy,

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, EE-43, Room 1E-245,

1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.

Written comments are welcome, especially following the workshop.

Please submit 10 copies (no faxes) and a computer diskette (WordPerfect

6.1) to: Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products: Notice of Public Workshop on Central Air Conditioner

Energy Efficiency Standards Rulemaking, Docket No. EE-RM/STD-98-440,

EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.

Telephone: (202) 586-2945.

[[Page 29358]]

Copies of the transcript of the public workshop, public comments

received, and this notice may be read at the DOE Freedom of Information

Reading Room, U.S. DOE, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-3142, between

the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Pollock , U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal

Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-5778.

Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Mail

Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121,

(202) 586-2945.

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

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

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-9526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In continuing the work on possible revisions

to energy efficiency standards on central air conditioners, the

Department is convening a workshop to present and receive public

comments on the proposed analytical approach for evaluating the central

air conditioner standards. At this workshop the following will be

discussed:

Review of the Rulemaking Framework: The Department will seek

comment on the draft analytical framework for the central air

conditioner rulemaking. Copies of the draft framework document will be

available beginning the week of May 25, 1998, on the Office of Codes

and Standards web site. The web site address is as follows: http://

www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/codes__ standards/index.htm.

Identification of Analytical Methods and Tools: The Department

seeks input into the selection of engineering and economic analytical

tools to be used during the rulemaking:

Engineering Analysis/Data Collection: The Department plans to

collect data for the engineering analysis using one or more of the

following methods: the energy efficiency approach to derive a cost

efficiency curve within a range, the design option approach, and the

market price (or reverse engineering) approach. The Department will

review the key issues surrounding: (1) The pros and cons of each

approach, and (2) data collection and the reporting of costs for

incorporation into the engineering analysis.

Price of Air Conditioners: The Department will lead a discussion on

possible approaches to generating retail prices to be used in the

consumer life-cycle-cost analysis.

Life-Cycle-Cost: The Department plans to demonstrate a new life-

cycle-cost spreadsheet model which can account for variability of key

criteria, such as utility rates and climate.

Electricity Price: The Department will lead a discussion on

possible approaches for accounting for variations in electricity price,

and the effects of these variations on different consumers.

Refrigerant: The refrigerant used in air conditioners will be

banned by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2010. The Department

will lead a discussion on the effects of this ban on the timing of the

revision to central air conditioner standards.

Energy Savings Forecasts: The Department will present an example of

energy savings forecasting results using a simple spreadsheet to show

how the growth in efficiency can be accounted for over time.

Background on the approach to be followed in evaluating central air

conditioner standards is found in Section 325 of the Energy Policy and

Conservation Act, as amended, and appendix A of subpart C of 10 CFR

part 430, 61 FR 36974 (July 15, 1996). Appendix A outlines the planning

and prioritization process, data collection and analysis, and decision

making criteria. Previously published information pertaining to this

rulemaking includes the following: An Advance Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking Regarding Energy Conservation Standards for Three Types of

Consumer Products, published on September 8, 1993 (58 FR 47326), and

comments thereon. Copies may be read at the DOE Freedom of Information

Reading Room.

Please notify Brenda Edwards-Jones or Edward Pollock at the above

listed address if you intend to attend the workshop, if you wish to

receive material prepared for the workshop (including the draft

analytical framework), or if you wish to be added to the DOE mailing

list for receipt of future notices and information concerning central

air conditioner matters relating to energy efficiency.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 22, 1998.

Dan W. Reicher,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 98-14258 Filed 5-28-98; 8:45 am]

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