Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure for Clothes Washers and Reporting Requirements for Clothes Washers, Clothes Dryers, and Dishwashers

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM-94-230A]

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedure

for Clothes Washers and Reporting Requirements for Clothes Washers,

Clothes Dryers, and Dishwashers

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Proposed rule; limited reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: Appendix J to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 sets forth the test

procedures required for testing whether clothes washers comply with the

existing energy conservation standards. The Department of Energy (DOE

or Department) has proposed to amend these test procedures. The purpose

of this notice is to solicit comments on possible additional amendments

which would require certain specific procedures for testing clothes

washers with adaptive (machine controlled) water fill control

capability, and clothes washers with non-traditional temperature

selections.

DATES: Written comments in response to this notice must be received by

November 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, 10 copies, are to be submitted to: U.S.

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

EE-43, Room 1J-018, ``Test Procedure for Clothes Washers and Reporting

Requirements for Clothes Washers, Clothes Dryers, and Dishwashers,''

Docket No. EE-RM-94-230A, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202)-586-7574.

Copies of the transcript of the public hearing and the public

comments received on the proposed rule, may be read or photocopied at

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

Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-6020 between

the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

public

comments received on the proposed rule, may be read or photocopied at

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

Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-6020 between

the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

P. Marc LaFrance, U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-43, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-8423

Edward Levy, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

II. Discussion

A. Adaptive Water Fill Control

Manual and Adaptive Water Fill Control

Multiple Adaptive Water Fill Control Settings

B. Temperature Selections

Multiple Warm Wash Temperature Combination Selections

Multiple Temperature Settings within a Temperature Combination

Selection

One and Two Temperature Combination Selections

I. Introduction

On March 23, 1995, the Department published a notice of proposed

rulemaking to make several amendments to the clothes washer test

procedure. 60 FR 15330 (hereafter referred to as the Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking or NOPR). On July 12, 1995, a hearing on the proposed rule

was held in Washington, DC.

The proposed amendments to the test procedure were based on the

same factual foundation as the existing test procedure and energy

conservation standards for clothes washers, so that the existing energy

conservation standard would not have to be adjusted

fter referred to as the Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking or NOPR). On July 12, 1995, a hearing on the proposed rule

was held in Washington, DC.

The proposed amendments to the test procedure were based on the

same factual foundation as the existing test procedure and energy

conservation standards for clothes washers, so that the existing energy

conservation standard would not have to be adjusted. The Department

believes, however, that the existing test procedure currently

overstates the average annual energy consumption for clothes washers

because of changes in consumer habits since the current test procedure

was adopted.1 The Department had planned on initiating an

additional clothes washer test procedure rulemaking, at a later date,

which would take into account current consumer habits, and would be

used as the basis for considering revision of the clothes washer energy

conservation standards.2

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\1\ Proctor & Gamble data indicates a decrease in the use of hot

water and the number of cycles per year over time.

\2\ The second round of clothes washer standards rulemaking was

initiated by the publication of an Advance Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking (ANOPR). (59 FR 56423, November 14, 1994.)

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In response to the NOPR, the Association of Home Appliance

Manufacturers (AHAM) submitted comments asking DOE to adopt an

additional new test procedure, based on current consumer habits, which

would be used in considering revision of the clothes washer energy

conservation standards, and would take effect when new standards take

effect. On April 22, 1996, the Department proposed such a new clothes

washer test procedure, Appendix J1, as well as certain additional

revisions to the currently applicable test procedure in Appendix J to

Subpart B of 10 CFR part 430

consumer habits, which

would be used in considering revision of the clothes washer energy

conservation standards, and would take effect when new standards take

effect. On April 22, 1996, the Department proposed such a new clothes

washer test procedure, Appendix J1, as well as certain additional

revisions to the currently applicable test procedure in Appendix J to

Subpart B of 10 CFR part 430. 61 FR 17589 (hereafter referred to as the

Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or Supplemental NOPR). The

Department proposed to issue a final rule with two test procedures, to

be codified in Appendices ``J'' and ``J1'' to subpart B of 10 CFR part

430. Appendix ``J'' would be a revision of the current test procedure,

would be consistent with the existing standards, and would become

effective 30 days after issuance of the final rule. Appendix ``J1'',

generally based on AHAM's suggested test procedures, would be used in

the analysis and review of possible revised efficiency standards, and

would apply to any revised standards. Upon adoption of any revised

standards, the Department would amend its regulations to replace

Appendix ``J'' with Appendix ``J1.''

However, since the publication of the NOPR and the Supplemental

NOPR, additional issues have arisen regarding the Appendix J test

procedure. The purpose of today's notice is to obtain public comment on

options the Department is considering for resolving these issues. These

issues arose in the context of interim waivers from the DOE clothes

washer test procedure granted by DOE with respect to clothes washer

features that are not covered by the current test procedure. On April

6, 1996, the Department granted General Electric Appliances (GEA) an

Interim Waiver (CW-004) for its 3 clothes washer that has multiple

warm wash temperature selections, various temperature settings within

each temperature selection, multiple adaptive water fill control

settings, and a manual water fill control option. 61 FR 18129

s that are not covered by the current test procedure. On April

6, 1996, the Department granted General Electric Appliances (GEA) an

Interim Waiver (CW-004) for its 3 clothes washer that has multiple

warm wash temperature selections, various temperature settings within

each temperature selection, multiple adaptive water fill control

settings, and a manual water fill control option. 61 FR 18129. On

September 6, 1996, the Department granted GEA an Interim Waiver (CW-

005) for its clothes washer that has only two wash/rinse temperature

selections. 61 FR 47115. The Department is considering inclusion in the

Appendix J test procedure of test provisions that address these

features, and solicits comments only on the issues of whether and how

such features should be addressed in Appendix J.

\3\ GEA's clothes washer is actually manufactured by Fisher &

Paykel Limited from New Zealand.

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II. Discussion

A. Adaptive Water Fill Control

The amount of energy that a clothes washer consumes is almost

entirely a function of whether it uses heated or unheated water, and of

the temperature and amount of any heated water it uses. Adaptive water

fill control in a clothes washer is a control scheme which

automatically determines, without operator intervention, the amount of

water used to wash a particular load of clothing, based on the size of

that clothing load. In the NOPR, the Department proposed to amend

Appendix J to include test provisions for adaptive water fill control

4 schemes, but proposed no alteration of the existing test

procedures for manual water fill control.5

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amount of

water used to wash a particular load of clothing, based on the size of

that clothing load. In the NOPR, the Department proposed to amend

Appendix J to include test provisions for adaptive water fill control

4 schemes, but proposed no alteration of the existing test

procedures for manual water fill control.5

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\4\ In the NOPR, the terminology used was ``machine-controlled

water fill,'' although the Department plans to adopt language used

in the Supplemental NOPR ``adaptive water fill control.''

\5\ In Appendix J, two types of manual fill control are defined,

``sensor filled'' and ``timed filled.''

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Manual and Adaptive Water Fill Control

The GEA clothes washer that is the subject of Interim Waiver CW-

004, cited above, has both manual and adaptive water fill control

capability. However, neither the current Appendix J test procedure, nor

the proposed amendments to Appendix J, sets forth a procedure that

applies to a clothes washer that has both of these features. In the

Supplemental NOPR, the Department proposed that Appendix J1 provide

that such machines be tested in both the manual and adaptive water fill

modes, and that test results be prorated based on the assumption that

each mode is used 50 percent of the time. This methodology is used in

Interim Waiver CW-004 granted to GEA. The Department has not received

any negative comment regarding this methodology, and is considering

adoption of this approach for the Appendix J test procedure. The

Department welcomes comments on this issue.

Multiple Adaptive Water Fill Control Settings

The GEA clothes washer covered by Interim Waiver CW-004, also

permits adjustment of the ``sensitivity,'' or relative water fill

amounts, for the adaptive water fill control feature

tive comment regarding this methodology, and is considering

adoption of this approach for the Appendix J test procedure. The

Department welcomes comments on this issue.

Multiple Adaptive Water Fill Control Settings

The GEA clothes washer covered by Interim Waiver CW-004, also

permits adjustment of the ``sensitivity,'' or relative water fill

amounts, for the adaptive water fill control feature. This feature

allows a consumer to fine tune the adaptive water fill control system,

and permits use of different amounts of water for a given amount of

clothing being washed. The test method provided to GEA in Interim

Waiver CW-004, requires the two extreme ``sensitivities,'' which

provide the most and least energy intensive results, to be tested. Then

these two results, or associated energy consumption values, are

averaged to determine the adaptive water fill control energy

consumption value. As mentioned above, the adaptive water fill control

result is then prorated with the manual water fill control result. The

Department has not received any negative comment regarding this

methodology and is considering adoption of this approach for the

Appendix J test procedure. The Department welcomes comments on this

issue.

B. Temperature Selections

Currently, and as proposed, Appendix J allows for the testing of

three basic wash temperatures, cold, warm, and hot, in several

combinations with two

rinse temperatures, cold and warm. The test procedures set forth

percentages, called temperature use factors (TUFs), that represent the

proportion of the time that each combination of wash and rinse

temperatures is used. The test procedures have a set of TUFs that

applies to each clothes washer that is equipped with either three,

four, five or six discrete temperature combination selections (TCSs)

(wash/rinse offering to a consumer). Clothes washers with these TCSs

represent the majority of the market

er could have a

median warm wash selection and two or more pairs (one selection above

and the other below the median) of additional warm selections, with the

two selections in each pair being an equal distance (by temperature)

from the median. The Department contemplates that in such a situation,

as under Interim Waiver CW-004, a manufacturer should have to test only

the median warm wash TCS. Second, unlike the clothes washer covered by

Interim Waiver CW-004, a clothes washer could have multiple warm wash

TCSs that are not equidistant from a median warm wash TCS. The

Department is considering incorporation into Appendix J of a

requirement that, in such a situation, a manufacturer would test the

TCS with the warm wash temperature that is the next higher selection

above the actual mean selection, or above a theoretical mean warm wash

TCS if an actual mean selection does not exist. The Department seeks

comments regarding these issues.

Multiple Temperature Settings Within a Temperature Combination

Selection

The GEA clothes washer covered by Interim Waiver CW-004 also has

multiple temperature settings, i.e., a range of temperatures from which

a consumer can make a setting within a specific TCS. Section 3.2.2.2 of

the current test procedure requires that the ``hottest setting

available'' be used for testing the hot wash TCS. In Interim Waiver CW-

004, the Department provided a test methodology to GEA for its clothes

washer which requires that the hottest temperature setting within a

hot, warm or cold TCS be tested.

This approach is similar to the Department's proposal in the NOPR

for addressing similar TCSs that are labeled so as to appear to the

consumer to be virtually identical. In essence, the similarly labeled

TCSs are two temperature settings for one basic TCS

st methodology to GEA for its clothes

washer which requires that the hottest temperature setting within a

hot, warm or cold TCS be tested.

This approach is similar to the Department's proposal in the NOPR

for addressing similar TCSs that are labeled so as to appear to the

consumer to be virtually identical. In essence, the similarly labeled

TCSs are two temperature settings for one basic TCS. For example on a

single clothes washer, one cold wash/cold rinse TCS may be labeled

``cold/cold,'' with a wash temperature that is never heated, and

another can be labeled ``auto cold/cold'' with a wash temperature that

uses some hot water. The Department's NOPR proposes that the hottest of

these two selections be used for test results. The Department believes

this proposal is consistent with the industry's basic interpretation of

the test procedure. The Department believes this issue is essentially

the same as the multiple temperature setting issue regarding the GEA

clothes washer. The Department did not receive any negative comment

regarding the NOPR's provision for similarly labeled TCSs.

However, the Department did receive negative comment from Fisher &

Paykel Limited (Fisher and Paykel) 6 in response to the Interim

Waiver CW-004 granted to GEA. Fisher & Paykel is concerned that the

test methodology that requires testing at the hottest temperature

setting available within a TCS is inconsistent with the test

methodology regarding multiple warm wash TCSs, discussed above. The two

approaches may appear to be inconsistent, but the Department believes

they would establish the best solution given the treatment of multiple

warm TCSs in Interim Waiver CW-004 and the proposal in the NOPR for

similarly labeled TCSs. One of the Department's goals in proposing to

amend the Appendix J test procedure is to see that the test procedure

does not affect the energy rating of any model that must meet the

current minimum efficiency standard

ment believes

they would establish the best solution given the treatment of multiple

warm TCSs in Interim Waiver CW-004 and the proposal in the NOPR for

similarly labeled TCSs. One of the Department's goals in proposing to

amend the Appendix J test procedure is to see that the test procedure

does not affect the energy rating of any model that must meet the

current minimum efficiency standard. In addition, to the extent

possible, the Department wants to ensure that all models are tested and

rated on a comparable basis. Therefore, the Department is considering

adoption of provisions for Appendix J that would require, for each TCS

tested, that the test be conducted at the hottest setting available for

that TCS. The Department welcomes comments on this issue.

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\6\ Fisher & Paykel Limited is the manufacturer of the clothes

washer that GEA is petitioning for a waiver.

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One and Two Temperature Combination Selections

The GEA clothes washers that are the subject of Interim Waiver CW-

005, cited above, have only two wash/rinse TCSs. One selection has a

cold wash and a cold rinse, while the other has a heated wash and a

cold rinse. In the Interim Waiver granted to GEA, the Department

provided a TUF of 15 percent for the cold/cold selection in these

clothes washers, which is the same TUF value as is contained in the

current test procedure for the cold/cold selection for three, four,

five, and six TCS clothes washers. The heated TCS addressed in Interim

Waiver CW-005 had the remaining percentage, or a TUF of 85 percent. The

Department did not receive any negative comments regarding these

proration factors. The Department is considering adoption of the same

TUF values for Appendix J.

In addition, the Department proposes to specify that a clothes

washer with only one TCS would be tested at that TCS 100 percent of the

time

ddressed in Interim

Waiver CW-005 had the remaining percentage, or a TUF of 85 percent. The

Department did not receive any negative comments regarding these

proration factors. The Department is considering adoption of the same

TUF values for Appendix J.

In addition, the Department proposes to specify that a clothes

washer with only one TCS would be tested at that TCS 100 percent of the

time. The Department plans to adopt the following tables for Appendix

J:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Temperature

Wash/rinse temperature setting use factor

(TUF)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

One Temperature Selection (n=1)

Any........................................................ 1.0

Two Temperature Selection (n=2)

Heated/cold................................................ 0.85

Cold/cold.................................................. 0.15

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The Department welcomes comments regarding these issues.

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430

Administrative practice and procedure, Energy conservation,

Household appliances.

Issued in Washington, DC, November 4, 1996.

Christine A. Ervin,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 96-28746 Filed 11-7-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P