Rulemaking for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Energy Conservation Standards

DOE will host an open public webinar pertaining to Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps. The webinar will focus on approval of a final term sheet based on the decisions and voting of the working group through the January 12, 2016 meeting.  (January 14, 2015). 

DOE has published a Federal Register notice of public meeting pertaining to the central air conditioners and heat pumps working group. 80 FR 81785 (December 31, 2015).

DOE has published a notice of public meetings for the central air conditioner and heat pump working group to negotiate a notice of proposal rulemaking for energy conservation standards. 80 FR 54444 (September 10, 2015).

DOE has published a notice of data availability (NODA) for energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps 80 FR 52206 (August 28, 2015). Comments are due December 31, 2015.

DOE will host an open public webinar pertaining to Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps (January 14, 2015). 

• January 19, 2016; 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST 

Register for the webinar and receive call-in information here. 

Comments are no longer being accepted.

Any comments submitted must identify the NODA on Energy Conservation Standards for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps and provide docket number EERE–2014–BT–STD–0048 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) number 1904-AD37. 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: ASRAC@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number EERE–2014–BT–STD–0048 and/or 1904-AD37 RIN in the subject line of the message.

3. 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 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.

The residential central air conditioners and heat pumps working group to negotiate a notice of proposed rulemaking docket EERE–2014–BT–STD–0048 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.

EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures DOE must follow when prescribing or amending test procedures for covered products. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 amended EPCA to require DOE to amend the test procedures for covered products to address standby mode and off mode energy consumption. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2))