DOE Publishes a Direct Final Rule and NOPR Pertaining to Standards for Consumer Clothes Dryers
On Tuesday, DOE published a Federal Register notice of Direct Final Rule (DFR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer clothes dryers. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer clothes dryers. In this DFR, DOE is adopting amended standards for consumer clothes dryers. According to the notice, “DOE has determined that the amended standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified.” The effective date of this rule is July 10, 2024. If adverse comments are received by July 1, 2024 and DOE determines that such comments may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule under 42 U.S.C. 6295(o), a timely withdrawal of this rule will be published in the Federal Register. If no such adverse comments are received, compliance with the new and amended standards established for consumer clothes dryers in this direct final rule is required on and after March 1, 2028. Comments regarding the likely competitive impact of the standards contained in this direct final rule should be sent to the Department of Justice on or before April 11, 2024.” Also on March 12, DOE published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that proposes amended standards for consumer clothes dryers identical to those set forth in the direct final rule. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notice of withdrawal rule and will proceed with this proposed rule. DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the NOPR no later than July1, 2024. Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number (EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058) by email ([email protected]), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).
Recall that in the September 15, 2023 BECS Committee Update on End Use Codes and Standards, we reported that the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) announced an agreement on home appliance minimum efficiency home appliance standards including residential gas clothes dryers, with the following groups: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Alliance for Water Efficiency, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Earthjustice, National Consumer Law Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. The minimum efficiency levels proposed in the DOE Direct Final Rule and the NOPR follow what is included in the agreement. Specifically, the level agreed to for full size gas clothes dryers was Efficiency Level (EL) 3 in the DOE Technical Support Document (TSD ) for the clothes dryer analysis that would add gas clothes dryer improvements including a modulating 2 stage heating system , improved termination controls and an optimized heating systems and according to the DOE TSD would reduce the estimated annual operating cost to consumers from $56 per year to $36 per year with a simple payback of 1.9 years. The agreement also established a new Product Classification for Vented Gas Compact clothes dryers ( less than 4.4 ft3 capacity), but DOE does not propose an increase in efficiency from the baseline level for this Product Classification. You can find product information for Consumer Clothes Dryers including current standards and test procedures, statutory authority, waivers, exceptions and contact information.
BECS Committee members are requested to review both the DOE Direct Final Rule and NOPR for any concerns with the proposed levels and provide us with your comments by April 1.
State Codes Activity Update.
Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.