U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Framework Public Meeting

Purpose: The Department will hold an informal public meeting as a first step in the standards rulemaking process for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. This meeting is the starting point for the standards-updating process and is intended to familiarize interested stakeholders with the approach and analytical tools that the DOE anticipates using. The meeting will highlight issues on which DOE requests feedback from interested parties on the assumptions, methodology, and analytical tools the DOE proposes to use. In addition, the Department will request data and information that DOE should consider in its analysis of residential central air conditioners and heat pumps.

To Submit Comments

You may submit comments electronically, by hand delivery, by mail, or by courier by 4pm EDT July 31, 2008. Wherever possible, comments in the electronic format should carry the electronic signature of the author. Absent an electronic signature, comments submitted electronically must be followed and authenticated by submitting a signed original paper document. Comments should be submitted with reference to the docket number EERE-2008-BT-STD-0006 and/or RIN number 1904-AB47 by the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal, directions for submitting comments are on the site.
• E-mail message to address specific to the rulemaking activity: Res_Central_AC_HP@ee.doe.gov. Please include EERE-2008-BT-STD-0006 and/or 1904-AB47 in the subject line of the message.

Postal Mail:

Brenda Edwards
U.S. Department of Energy
Building Technologies Program
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Mailstop EE-2J
Washington, DC 20585-0121
Please include one signed original.

Hand Delivery or Courier:

Brenda Edwards
U.S. Department of Energy
Building Technologies Program
950 L'Enfant Plaza, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20024
Telephone: (202) 586-2945

Meeting Materials

• Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document

• Agenda

• Presentation. DOE's presentation will include an overview of the rulemaking process and approaches to the analyses the Department intends to conduct for the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and, thereafter, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: market and technology assessment, screening analysis, engineering analysis, markups for price determination, life-cycle cost analysis, shipments analysis, National impact analysis, manufacturer impact analysis, environmental assessment, and regulatory impact analysis.

• Transcript. The transcript will also be available for public inspection in the Building Technologies Program Reading Room, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. To schedule an appointment or to purchase a copy of the transcript, contact:
  
  Brenda Edwards
  U.S. Department of Energy
  Building Technologies Program
  950 L'Enfant Plaza, 6th Floor
  Washington, DC 20024
  Telephone: (202) 586-2945