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Rulemaking for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat PumpsTest Procedures

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is conducting a rulemaking to revise the test procedures for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps.

Recent Updates

DOE has published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR) proposing to amend the test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps. 80 FR 69278 (November 9, 2015). Comments are due December 9, 2015.

Public Meeting Information

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

Submitting Public Comments

Comments regarding the SNOPR are due December 9, 2015.

Any comments submitted must identify the SNOPR for test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps, and provide docket number EERE-2009–BT–TP–0004 and/or regulatory information number (RIN) number 1904-AB94. 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: RCAC-HP-2009-TP-0004@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number EERE-2009–BT–TP–0004 and/or 1904-AB94 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.

Milestones and Documents

The residential central air conditioners and heat pumps test procedure rulemaking docket EERE-2009-BT-TP-0004 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.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking	Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Federal Register, 75 FR 31224 (June 2, 2010) Technical Support Document Analytical Tools Public Meeting 06/11/2010 Public Meeting Presentation Public Meeting Transcript Comment deadline: Closed
Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking	Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Federal Register, 76 FR 18105 (April 1, 2011) Reopening of Public Comment Period, Federal Register, 76 FR 30555 (May 26, 2011) Comment deadline: Closed
Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 2	Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Federal Register, 76 FR 65616 (October 24, 2011) Extension of Public Comment Period, Federal Register, 76 FR 79135 (December 21, 2011) Comment deadline: Closed
Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 3 Final Rule	Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Federal Register, 80 FR 69278 (November 9, 2015) Comment deadline: December 9, 2015.
Compliance

Related Rulemakings

DOE is conducting a rulemaking to address enforcement of regional standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps.

DOE is conducting a rulemaking to amend energy conservation standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps.

Statutory Authority

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) )

Contact Information

For more information related to this rulemaking, please email:

central_air_conditioners_and_heat_pumps@ee.doe.gov