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

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Public Workshop Regarding Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Niche Product Energy Efficiency Standards Test Procedure

The Department of Energy (DOE) is convening a public workshop for central air conditioners to discuss and receive comments on: 1) the analysis for a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to set efficiency standards for small duct high velocity central air conditioners and heat pumps, and 2) several central air conditioner and heat pump test procedure issues.

The workshop will be held on Friday, December 13, 2002, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in Room 1E-245 of the Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Please note that foreign nationals visiting DOE headquarters are subject to advance security screening procedures. Foreign nationals that wish to participate in the workshop are asked to contact Ms. Crystal Branson at (202) 586-6448 so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

In the May 23, 2002, final standards rule, DOE created a new class for small duct, high velocity central air conditioners and heat pumps, but retained the NAECA prescribed standard levels because DOE had not yet conducted the analysis required to determine whether higher levels are technologically feasible and economically justified. DOE has now begun a rulemaking to determine if a higher standard is warranted. In this workshop, we will discuss the analysis conducted to date.

The central air conditioner test procedure is now being revised to address several issues (new default values for the cooling mode cyclic degradation coefficients being most significant) not covered in the general test procedure revision, for which the final rule is currently in internal DOE review. There will be a new rule proposed to address these issues.

A copy of the preliminary agenda is below. Additional information is available on Central Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Rulemaking. 

If you plan to attend the workshop, have any questions, or wish to obtain background materials, please contact Crystal Branson by telephone 202-586-6448 or by telefax at 202-586-4617.

If you would like to make a presentation at the hearing, we would appreciate your letting us know by December 2, and ask that you send us a copy of your remarks as soon as possible. Additional written comments, data, and information pertinent to the rulemaking must be submitted to DOE no later than January 8, 2003. Because of significant delays in conventional mail service here at the Department, we request that you submit comments by electronic mail to the following address, specifically established for this rulemaking: CAC@ee.doe.gov

Comments in electronic format should make reference to the docket number EE-RM/STD-02-330 or EE-RM-TP-02-002 (test procedure), and wherever possible carry the electronic signature of the author. Absent an electronic signature, comments submitted electronically must be followed and authenticated by submitting the signed original paper document. Electronic comments must be submitted as a WordPerfect 5.1, 6.1, or 8 format file and avoid use of special characters or any form or encryption. Telefaxes will not be accepted.

Again, thank you for your interest in this residential central air conditioners and heat pumps niche product energy efficiency standards and test procedure rulemaking. We look forward to seeing you at the workshop.

Draft Agenda

Purpose of Workshop

To discuss and receive comments on: 1) the Engineering and Life-Cycle-Cost analyses proposed for use in a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to set efficiency standards for small duct high velocity central air conditioners and heat pumps, and 2) several central air conditioner and heat pump test procedure issues