Search Results for keywords:"Energy Policy and Conservation Act"

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to withdraw a previous decision to classify certain miscellaneous gas products, like decorative hearths and outdoor heaters, as covered consumer products under energy conservation regulations. This decision is part of the DOE's efforts to comply with the Executive Order "Unleashing American Energy," which aims to ensure that energy regulations are practical and do not overly limit consumer choice. The DOE's proposal suggests that these gas products do not have enough in common functionally to be treated as the same type of product for regulatory purposes. Public comments on this proposal are being accepted until April 14, 2025, through various submission methods, including the Federal eRulemaking Portal.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule clarifying the test procedures for general service lamps (GSLs). These clarifications emphasize that GSLs shouldn't be tested as colored lamps, and if a lamp includes extra components not affecting light output, those components should be turned off during tests. For non-integrated lamps, the rule specifies testing with a ballast or driver that's compatible and commercially available, where possible. The final rule is designed to ensure consistent testing without imposing additional costs or burdens on manufacturers.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) determined that more stringent energy conservation standards for small electric motors (SEMs) are not cost-effective, so existing standards will remain unchanged. The analysis by DOE found that while technically feasible improvements exist for SEMs, the costs of implementing them would outweigh the energy savings benefits for consumers. As a result, the standards set by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) will not be amended because they would not be economically justified. This decision concludes that the potential energy conservation from new standards would not meet significant conservation thresholds under the current criteria.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to withdraw its previous decision to classify portable electric spas (PESs) as covered consumer products under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). This means PESs would not be subject to federal energy conservation standards. DOE determined that classifying PESs is not necessary or appropriate to conserve energy effectively. The agency invites public comments on this decision by May 19, 2025, via their submission portal or other specified methods.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced new energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. These revised standards aim to save energy, are feasible with current technology, and are economically justified. The updated rules will take effect on February 21, 2025, with compliance dates for specific components set for 2027 and 2028. The DOE's decision was based on a careful evaluation of the benefits and costs to consumers and the impact on manufacturers.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed the withdrawal of separate “short-cycle” product classes for dishwashers, residential clothes washers, and consumer clothes dryers. The DOE concluded that such features do not justify different energy conservation standards because they can comply with existing standards using current technologies. This decision follows a Fifth Circuit Court's remand, requiring the DOE to explore other alternatives rather than simply revoking these product classes. The DOE's analysis found that current standards do not prevent manufacturers from designing appliances with short-cycle features that meet energy conservation requirements, ensuring consumers retain desired utility.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed a tentative decision that the current industry test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces (CWAFs) does not accurately reflect their energy efficiency. This new determination critiques the industry's method for failing to consider jacket losses and part-load performance, which impact the true energy efficiency of the equipment. DOE plans to apply a revised test procedure (called TE2) that accounts for these factors and is seeking public comments on this proposed method before making a final decision. Stakeholders can submit their feedback to help ensure the new test procedure is fair and representative of the furnaces' real-world performance.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to withdraw previously proposed energy conservation rules for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters. This decision follows a final interpretive rule stating that non-condensing technology is a key performance feature under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which should not be eliminated. The withdrawal is in response to a petition from several gas industry associations, who argued the proposed rules would make non-condensing products unavailable. Consequently, the DOE is reconsidering its approach in line with the new interpretation.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking comments to help improve its procedures for setting energy conservation standards for consumer products and certain commercial equipment. This request is part of the implementation of the Executive Order "Unleashing American Energy" and aims to ensure consistency with recent directives while meeting statutory obligations. The DOE is encouraging feedback on various topics, including safeguarding consumer choice, reducing regulatory burdens, promoting market competition, and analyzing the costs and benefits of regulations. Comments are due by June 2, 2025, and can be submitted online, via email, or by mail.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reviewed the test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces (CWAFs) after a court remand regarding the thermal efficiency two (TE2) metric. The DOE determined that the industry test procedure for measuring energy efficiency during a typical use cycle, considering jacket losses and part-load operation, is inadequate. Consequently, the DOE reaffirmed its new test procedure, which accounts for these factors, ensuring that energy efficiency is accurately measured. This revised procedure will help provide clearer information for consumers and manufacturers when new energy standards are set.