Search Results for keywords:"Energy Conservation Standards"

The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to withdraw a proposed rule regarding energy conservation standards for fans and blowers. Initially published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2024, the rule aimed to set new standards for air circulating fans and general fans and blowers. The withdrawal follows significant feedback from various stakeholders, and DOE concluded it would not be efficient to finalize these standards at this point. However, DOE may revisit and propose similar standards in the future, considering new data and public input.

The Department of Energy has decided to delay the effective date of new energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. Originally, the rule was set to be enforced on March 21, 2025, but it is now postponed to May 20, 2025. This delay aligns with a Presidential Memorandum that called for reviewing such rules. The compliance date for these standards, however, remains unchanged at December 26, 2029.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is delaying the start date of new energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. Originally set to take effect on December 26, 2024, the new rules will now begin on March 21, 2025, allowing more time for review. This delay is in response to a presidential memorandum calling for a temporary halt on new regulations to evaluate any factual, legal, or policy concerns. The DOE is also inviting public comments on the implications of this delay and any issues it might raise.

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 Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a final interpretive rule regarding energy conservation standards for products like residential furnaces and commercial water heaters. The rule states that non-condensing technology and its associated venting is considered a "feature" that must be preserved under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). This decision comes after public comments and aims to prevent eliminating this technology through energy-saving regulations. This interpretation may limit potential energy savings but allows consumers more choices and prevents unnecessary building modifications. The DOE also withdrew previous proposals on energy conservation standards that were inconsistent with this interpretation.

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) issued a final rule to fix errors in energy conservation standards and test procedures for various consumer products and industrial equipment. These corrections, which are technical and typographical in nature, do not change the substance of any rules or affect the conclusions previously reached. The document covers various appliances like water heaters, air conditioners, and pumps, and aims to resolve discrepancies that could mislead stakeholders. The effective date for these corrections is January 21, 2025, and they will ensure clarity and consistency in compliance and reporting.

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 Department of Energy (DOE) has withdrawn a proposed rule that aimed to change energy conservation standards for consumer boilers, which was originally published on August 14, 2023. This decision follows considerable feedback from various stakeholders and takes into account the upcoming change in administration and the resources required for further review. The DOE still supports the concept of updated energy conservation standards but has chosen to halt this specific rulemaking process for now. They may propose similar standards in the future, ensuring any new rule would still follow public notice and comment requirements.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is delaying the effective date of new energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. Originally, these standards were set to take effect on March 21, 2025, but now the date is pushed to May 20, 2025, to allow more time for reviewing legal, factual, and policy concerns. This change is in line with a government-wide directive for examining rules more closely, although the final compliance dates remain unchanged: December 23, 2027, for non-display doors, and December 31, 2028, for refrigeration systems. The delay is classified as procedural, so public notice or a hearing were not legally necessary for its implementation.