Rulemaking for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Standard

DOE has issued a pre-publication Federal Register direct final rule regarding energy conservation standards for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning, heating equipment, and commercial warm air furnaces. (December 17, 2015).

In addition, as required by law when issuing a direct final rule, DOE has also issued a pre-publication supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR). DOE is proposing to amend the energy conservation standards for both small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning, heating equipment, and commercial warm air furnaces identical to those set forth in a direct final rule published elsewhere in this Federal Register. (December 17, 2015)

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

The comment period regarding the SNOPR closes 110 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Instructions:  Any comments submitted must identify the NOPR for Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces, and provide docket number EE-2013–BT–STD–00021.  Comments may be submitted using any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:  www.regulations.gov.  Follow the instructions for submitting comments. 

2. E-mail:  CommWarmAirFurn2013STD0021@ee.doe.gov.  Include the docket number and/or RIN in the subject line of the message.  Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption.

3. Postal Mail:  Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.

4. Hand Delivery/Courier:  Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC, 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945.  If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies.

Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this proposed rule may be submitted to Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy through the methods listed above and by e-mail to Chad_S_Whiteman@omb.eop.gov.

No telefacsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.

The commercial warm air furnaces energy conservation standards rulemaking docket EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents. For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

There are no related open rulemakings for this product at this time.

The American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Pub. L. 112-210, amended EPCA to mandate that DOE consider amending the standards for any covered equipment for which more than 6 years has elapsed since the issuance of the most recent final rule establishing or amending a standard for that type of equipment as of the date of AEMTCA's enactment (i.e., December 18, 2012). (42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C)(vi)) Thus, DOE must issue either a notice of determination that the current standards do not need to be amended or a notice of proposed rulemaking containing proposed standards by December 31, 2013. (42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C)(i) and (vi)).