Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers: Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document

AGENCY:

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting and availability of preliminary technical support document.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold an informal public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the product classes that DOE plans to analyze for purposes of amending energy conservation standards for residential refrigeration products; the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate standards for these products; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for these products; and potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for these products. DOE also encourages written comments on these subjects. To inform stakeholders and facilitate this process, DOE has prepared an agenda, a preliminary Technical Support Document (TSD), and briefing materials, which are available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/refrigerators_freezers.html .

DATES:

The Department will hold a public meeting on December 10, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person requesting to speak at the public meeting should submit such request, along with an electronic copy of the statement to be given at the public meeting, before 4 p.m., November 25, 2009. Written comments are welcome, especially following the public meeting, and should be submitted by no later than January 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the necessary procedures can be completed.

Interested persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2008-BT-STD-0012, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: ResRefFreez-2008-STD-0012@hq.doe.gov. Include EERE-2008-BT-STD-0012 in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Public Meeting for Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers, EERE-2008-BT-STD-0012, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit one signed paper original.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 6th Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit one signed paper original.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number or RIN for this rulemaking.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, a copy of the transcript of the public meeting, or comments received, go to the U.S. Department of Energy, 6th Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 for additional information regarding visiting the Resource Room. Please note that the Department's Freedom of Information Reading Room (formerly Room 1E-190 at the Forrestal Building) no longer houses rulemaking materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lucas Adin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: (202) 287-1317. e-mail: lucas.adin@ee.doe.gov or Michael Kido, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: (202) 586-9507. e-mail: michael.kido@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Statutory Authority

Part A of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), 42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq., established an energy conservation program for major household appliances, which includes residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. This program authorizes the Department to establish energy efficiency standards for certain consumer products. Any new or amended standard for these products must (1) achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified, and (2) result in significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) To determine whether a proposed standard is economically justified, DOE must, after receiving comments on the proposed standard, determine whether the benefits of the standard exceed its burdens to the greatest extent practicable, weighing the following seven factors:

1. The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and consumers of products subject to the standard;

2. The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the covered products which are likely to result from the imposition of the standard;

3. The total projected amount of energy savings likely to result directly from the imposition of the standard;

4. Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered products likely to result from the imposition of the standard;

5. The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the imposition of the standard;

6. The need for national energy conservation; and

7. Other factors the Secretary considers relevant.

(See 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i))

Prior to proposing a standard for public comment, DOE typically seeks public input on the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE will use to evaluate standards for the product at issue; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for the product; and potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider.

B. History of Standards Rulemaking for Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers

1. Background

The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Pub. L. 100-12 (March 17, 1989), amended EPCA and established energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. See 42 U.S.C. 6295(b). It also required DOE to decide whether these standards should be amended and to conduct two rounds of rulemakings.

On November 17, 1989, DOE published a final rule in the Federal Register updating the performance standards. The new standards became effective on January 1, 1993. 54 FR 47916. Subsequently, DOE determined that new standards for some of the product classes were based on incomplete data and incorrect analysis, which prompted the publication of a correction notice. See 55 FR 42845 (Oct. 24, 1990). The notice amended the new standards for the following three product classes: (1) Refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with manual defrost, (2) refrigerator-freezers with automatic defrost with a bottom-mounted freezer but without through-the-door (TTD) ice service, and (3) chest freezers and all other freezers. Id. In 1997, DOE updated the performance standards once again for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers by publishing a final rule in the Federal Register on April 28, 1997. 62 FR 23102. The new standards became effective on July 1, 2001. By completing a second standards rulemaking, DOE had fulfilled its legislative requirement to conduct two cycles of standards rulemakings.

A coalition including utility companies, consumer and low-income advocacy groups, environmental and energy efficiency organizations, and the California Energy Commission submitted a petition in 2004 requesting that DOE conduct another rulemaking to amend the standards for residential refrigerator-freezers. (June 1, 2004 Petition, Last accessed 9/9/09, http://www.standardsasap.org/documents/rfdoe.pdf ) In April 2005, DOE granted the petition and conducted a limited set of analyses to assess the potential energy savings and potential economic benefit of new standards. (See, e.g., “Energy Department Grants Petition for New Refrigerator Energy Efficiency Standards”, ACEEE press release, April 13, 2005, Last accessed 9/9/09, http://www.aceee.org/press/0504doepetition.htm ) DOE issued a report in October 2005 detailing the analyses, which examined the technological and economic feasibility of new standards set at Energy Star levels effective in 2005 for the two most popular product classes of refrigerators: top-mount refrigerator-freezers without TTD features and side-mount refrigerator-freezers with TTD features. Depending on assumptions regarding the impact that standards would have on market efficiency, DOE estimated that amended standards at the 2005 ENERGY STAR levels would yield energy savings of up to 2.4 to 3.4 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), with an associated economic impact to the Nation ranging from a burden or cost of $1.2 billion to a benefit or savings of $3.3 billion. (Technical Report: Analysis of Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Refrigerator-Freezers, U.S. Department of Energy, October 2005, Last accessed 9/9/09, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/pdfs/refrigerator_report_1.pdf ).

In October 2005, DOE published draft data sheets containing energy savings potentials for refrigerator-freezers as part of its fiscal year 2006 schedule-setting process. (2006 Draft Rulemaking Activities Data Sheets, Appliance Standards, Building Technologies Program, U.S. Department of Energy, October 2005, Last Accessed 9/9/09, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/pdfs/2006_activities_data_sheets.pdf ). The data sheets were based on the October 2005 draft technical report analyzing potential new amended energy conservation standards for residential refrigerator-freezers described above. The technical report and the associated data sheets provided input to the setting of priorities for rulemaking activities.

2. Current Rulemaking Process

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), Public Law 110-140 (Dec. 19, 2007), requires DOE to publish a final rule by December 31, 2010, to determine whether to amend the standards in effect for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers manufactured on or after January 1, 2014. See EISA, Sec. 311(a)(3) (codified at 42 U.S.C. 6295(b)(4)). As part of this rulemaking, if a positive determination is made, DOE must also include any amended standards. To comply with these new requirements, the Department published on its website the Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking Framework Document for Residential Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers (the framework document) to explain the issues, analyses, and process that it anticipated using for the development of energy efficiency standards for these products. This document is available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/pdfs/refrigerator_freezer_framework.pdf (Last accessed 9/9/09). DOE also published a notice announcing the availability of the framework document and a public meeting to discuss the proposed analytical framework, and inviting written comments concerning the development of standards for the residential refrigeration products. 73 FR 54089 (September 18, 2008).

DOE held a public meeting on September 29, 2008 to discuss the analyses and issues identified in various sections of the framework document. At the meeting, DOE described the different analyses it would conduct, the methods proposed for conducting them, and the relationships among the various analyses. Manufacturers, trade associations, environmental advocates, regulators, and other interested parties attended the meeting. Comments received since publication of the framework document helped identify issues for DOE to address in developing a proposed standard and provided information contributing to DOE's proposed resolution of these issues.

C. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE

For each of the residential refrigeration products currently under consideration, DOE conducted in-depth technical analyses in the following areas: (1) Engineering; (2) markups to determine product price; (3) energy-use characterization; (4) life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period (PBP) analyses; and (5) national impact analysis (NIA). These analyses resulted in a preliminary TSD that presents the methodology and results of each of these analyses. The preliminary TSD is available at the Web address given in the SUMMARY section of this notice. The analyses are described in more detail below.

DOE also conducted several other supplemental analyses that will be expanded upon in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR). These analyses include the market and technology assessment, the screening analysis, which contributes to the engineering analysis, and the shipments analysis, which contributes to the NIA. In addition to these analyses, DOE has begun some preliminary work on the manufacturer impact analysis (MIA) and identified the methods to be used for the LCC subgroup analysis, the environmental assessment, the employment analysis, the regulatory impact analysis, and the utility impact analysis. DOE will expand on these analyses in the NOPR.

1. Engineering Analysis

The engineering analysis establishes the relationship between the cost and efficiency of a product DOE is evaluating for amended energy conservation standards. This relationship serves as the basis for cost-benefit calculations for individual consumers, manufacturers, and the Nation. The engineering analysis identifies representative baseline products, which is the starting point for analyzing technologies that provide energy efficiency improvements. The term “baseline product” refers to a model or models having features and technologies typically found in products currently offered for sale. The baseline model in each product class represents the characteristics of products in that class and, for products already subject to energy conservation standards, is usually a model that just meets the current standard. After identifying the baseline models, DOE estimated manufacturer selling prices through an analysis of (1) manufacturer costs, and (2) markups, which are the multipliers used to determine the manufacturer selling prices based on manufacturing cost. Chapter 5 of the preliminary TSD discusses the engineering analysis.

2. Markups To Determine Product Prices

DOE derives consumer prices for products based on manufacturer, retailer, distributor, contractor, and builder markups, as well as sales taxes. Collectively, these items comprise the markups affecting product pricing. In deriving these markups, DOE has determined (1) the distribution channels for product sales; (2) the markup associated with each party in the distribution channels; and (3) the existence and magnitude of differences between markups for baseline products (baseline markups) and for more-efficient products (incremental markups). DOE calculates both overall baseline and overall incremental markups based on the product markups at each step in the distribution channel. The overall incremental markup relates the change in the manufacturer sales price of higher-efficiency models (the incremental cost increase) to the change in the retailer or distributor sales price. Chapter 6 of the preliminary TSD discusses the estimation of markups.

3. Energy Use Characterization

The energy use characterization provides estimates of annual energy consumption for the residential refrigeration products, which DOE uses in the LCC and PBP analyses and the NIA. DOE developed energy consumption estimates for all of the product classes analyzed in the engineering analysis, as the basis for its energy use estimates. Chapter 7 of the preliminary TSD discusses the energy use characterization.

4. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses

The LCC and PBP analyses determine the economic impact of potential standards on individual consumers. The LCC is the total consumer expense for a product over the life of the product. The LCC analysis compares the LCCs of products designed to meet possible energy conservation standards with the LCCs of the products likely to be installed in the absence of standards. DOE determines LCCs by considering (1) total installed cost to the purchaser (which consists of manufacturer selling price, sales taxes, distribution chain markups, and installation cost); (2) the operating expenses of the products (energy use and maintenance); (3) product lifetime; and (4) a discount rate that reflects the real consumer cost of capital and puts the LCC in present-value terms. The PBP represents the number of years needed to recover the increase in purchase price (including installation cost) of more efficient products through savings in the operating cost of the product. It is the change in total installed cost due to increased efficiency divided by the change in annual operating cost from increased efficiency. Chapter 8 of the preliminary TSD discusses the LCC and PBP analyses.

5. National Impact Analysis

The NIA estimates the national energy savings (NES) and the net present value (NPV) of total consumer costs and savings expected to result from new standards at specific efficiency levels. DOE calculated NES and NPV for each efficiency level as the difference between a base-case forecast (without new standards) and the standards case forecast (with standards). DOE determined national annual energy consumption by multiplying the number of units in use (by vintage) by the average unit energy consumption (also by vintage). Cumulative energy savings are the sum of the annual NES determined over a specified time period. The national NPV is the sum over time of the discounted net savings each year, which consists of the difference between total operating cost savings and increases in total installed costs. Critical inputs to this analysis include shipments projections, retirement rates (based on estimated product lifetimes), and estimates of changes in shipments and retirement rates in response to changes in product costs due to standards. Chapter 10 of the preliminary TSD discusses the NIA.

DOE consulted with stakeholders and other interested persons as part of its process for conducting all of the analyses and invites further input from the public on these topics. The preliminary analytical results are subject to revision following review and input from the public. The final rule will contain the final analysis results.

The Department encourages those who wish to participate in the public meeting to obtain the preliminary TSD and to be prepared to discuss its contents. A copy of the preliminary TSD is available at the Web address given in the SUMMARY section of this notice. However, public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the topics identified in the preliminary TSD. The Department is also interested in receiving views concerning other relevant issues that participants believe would affect energy conservation standards for these products or that DOE should address in the NOPR.

Furthermore, the Department welcomes all interested parties, whether or not they participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by January 15, 2010, comments and information on matters addressed in the preliminary TSD and on other matters relevant to consideration of standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.

The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, conference style. A court reporter will be present to record the minutes of the meeting. Discussion of proprietary information, costs or prices, market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by United States antitrust laws is prohibited.

After the public meeting and the expiration of the period for submitting written statements, the Department will consider all timely comments and additional information that is obtained from interested parties or through further analyses, and it will prepare an NOPR. The NOPR will include proposed energy conservation standards for the products covered by this rulemaking, and members of the public will be given an opportunity to submit written and oral comments on the proposed standards.