Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of Waiver from Residential Refrigerator and Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedure; Electrolux Home Products, Inc.

Federal Register: April 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 82)

Notices

Page 22584-22586

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr29ap10-59

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Case No. RF-012

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Decision and

Order Granting a Waiver to Electrolux Home Products, Inc. From the

Department of Energy Residential Refrigerator and Refrigerator-Freezer

Test Procedure

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION: Decision and order.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-012) that grants to Electrolux Home

Products, Inc. (Electrolux) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure for certain basic models containing relative humidity sensors and adaptive control anti-sweat heaters. Under today's decision and order, Electrolux shall be required to test and rate its refrigerator-freezers with adaptive control anti- sweat heaters using an alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when measuring energy consumption.

DATES: This Decision and Order is effective April 29, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S.

Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone:

(202) 586-9611, E-mail: AS_Waiver_Requests@ee.doe.gov. Betsy Kohl,

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Mail Stop GC- 71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Page 22585

Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507, E-mail:

Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of

Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 430.27(l), DOE gives notice of the issuance of its decision and order as set forth below. The decision and order grants Electrolux a waiver from the applicable residential refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1 for certain basic models of refrigerator- freezers with relative humidity sensors and adaptive control anti-sweat heaters, provided that Electrolux tests and rates such products using the alternate test procedure described in this notice. Today's decision prohibits Electrolux from making representations concerning the energy efficiency of these products unless the product has been tested consistent with the provisions and restrictions in the alternate test procedure set forth in the decision and order below, and the representations fairly disclose the test results. Distributors, retailers, and private labelers are held to the same standard when making representations regarding the energy efficiency of these products. 42 U.S.C. 6293(c).

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2010.

Cathy Zoi,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Decision and Order

In the Matter of: Electrolux Home Products, Inc. (Case No. RF-012).

Background

Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) sets forth a variety of provisions concerning energy efficiency. Part A of

Title III provides for the ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

Products Other Than Automobiles.'' 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309. Part A includes definitions, test procedures, labeling provisions, energy conservation standards, and the authority to require information and reports from manufacturers. Further, Part A authorizes the Secretary of Energy to prescribe test procedures that are reasonably designed to produce results that measure energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated operating costs, and that are not unduly burdensome to conduct. Id.

Sec. 6293(b)(3).

Today's notice involves residential products under Part A. The test procedure for residential electric refrigerator-freezers relevant to the current petition for waiver is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1.

DOE's regulations contain provisions allowing a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements for covered consumer products when (1) the petitioner's basic model contains one or more design characteristics that prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedure, or (2) when prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 430.27(a)(1). Petitioners must include in their petition any alternate test procedures known to the petitioner to evaluate the basic model in a manner representative of its energy consumption characteristics. Sec. 430.27(b)(1)(iii).

The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

(the Assistant Secretary) may grant a waiver subject to conditions, including adherence to alternate test procedures. Sec. 430.27(l).

Waivers remain in effect pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 430.27(m).

The waiver process also allows any interested person who has submitted a petition for waiver to file an application for interim waiver of the applicable test procedure requirements. Sec. 430.27(a)(2). The Assistant Secretary will grant an interim waiver request if it is determined that the applicant will experience economic hardship if the interim waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the petition for waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination on the petition for waiver. Sec. 430.27(g).

On November 6, 2008, Electrolux filed a petition for waiver from the test procedures applicable to residential refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. Electrolux's petition was published in the

Federal Register on June 4, 2009. 74 FR 26853. In that notice, DOE announced its grant of an interim waiver to Electrolux, and expanded that waiver to include four additional models after receiving supplemental information from the company. On July 13, 2009, Electrolux filed a petition for waiver for additional, similar models of residential refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. Electrolux's petition was published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2009.

Id. at 66344. In the same Federal Register notice, DOE extended the

June 4, 2009, interim waiver to these additional models.

On December 4, 2009, Electrolux filed a third petition for waiver from the test procedure applicable to residential electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1. All three Electrolux petitions pertain to new refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers that contain variable anti- sweat heater controls. These controls detect a broad range of temperature and humidity conditions and respond by activating adaptive heaters, as needed, to evaporate excess moisture. According to the petitioner, Electrolux's technology is similar to that used by General

Electric Company (GE) and Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool) for refrigerator-freezers which were the subject of petitions for waiver published April 17, 2007 (72 FR 19189) and July 10, 2008 (73 FR 39684), respectively. GE's waiver was granted on February 27, 2008 (73 FR 10425). Whirlpool's waiver was granted on May 5, 2009 (74 FR 20695).

DOE granted the first two Electrolux waivers on December 15, 2009 (74

FR 66338), and March 11, 2010 (75 FR 11530).

Assertions and Determinations

Electrolux's Petition for Waiver

In its December 2009 petition, Electrolux sought a waiver from the existing DOE test procedure applicable to refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers under 10 CFR part 430 because it takes neither ambient humidity nor adaptive technology into account. Electrolux sought similar waivers in its July and November 2009 petitions, which were granted. Electrolux asserts these new products are identical in function and operation to the basic models listed in Electrolux's earlier petitions with respect to the properties that made those products eligible for a waiver. DOE did not receive any comments on the

Electrolux petition.

Electrolux requested it be permitted to use the same alternate test procedure DOE prescribed for GE, Whirlpool and Electrolux refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers equipped with a similar technology. The alternate test procedure applicable to the GE, Whirlpool and Electrolux products simulates the energy used by the adaptive heaters in a typical consumer household, as explained in the GE decision and order referenced above. As DOE has stated in the past, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis.

Page 22586

Consultations With Other Agencies

DOE consulted with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff concerning the Electrolux petition for waiver. The FTC staff did not have any objections to granting a waiver to Electrolux.

Conclusion

After careful consideration of all the material that was submitted by Electrolux and consultation with the FTC staff, it is ordered that:

(1) The petition for waiver submitted by Electrolux Home Products,

Inc. (Case No. RF-012) is hereby granted as set forth in the paragraphs below.

(2) Electrolux shall not be required to test or rate the following

Electrolux models on the basis of the current test procedures contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1. Instead, it shall be required to test and rate such products according to the alternate test procedure as set forth in paragraph (3) below:

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(3) Electrolux shall be required to test the products listed in paragraph (2) above according to the test procedures for electric refrigerator-freezers prescribed by DOE at 10 CFR part 430, appendix

A1, except that, for the Electrolux products listed in paragraph (2) only:

(A) The following definition is added at the end of Section 1: 1.13 Variable anti-sweat heater control means an anti-sweat heater where power supplied to the device is determined by an operating condition variable(s) and/or ambient condition variable(s).

(B) Section 2.2 is revised to read as follows: 2.2 Operational conditions. The electric refrigerator or electric refrigerator-freezer shall be installed and its operating conditions maintained in accordance with HRF-1-1979, section 7.2 through section 7.4.3.3. except that the vertical ambient temperature gradient at locations 10 inches (25.4 cm) out from the centers of the two sides of the unit being tested is to be maintained during the test. Unless shields or baffles obstruct the area, the gradient is to be maintained from 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the floor or supporting platform to a height 1 foot (30.5 cm) above the unit under test. Defrost controls are to be operative. The anti- sweat heater switch is to be off during one test and on during the second test. In the case of an electric refrigerator-freezer equipped with variable anti-sweat heater control, the result of the second test will be derived by performing the calculation described in 6.2.3. Other exceptions are noted in 2.3, 2.4, and 5.1 below.

(C) New section 6.2.3 is inserted after section 6.2.2.2. 6.2.3 Variable anti-sweat heater control test. The energy consumption of an electric refrigerator-freezer with a variable anti-sweat heater control in the on position (Eon), expressed in kilowatt-hours per day, shall be calculated equivalent to:

EON= E + (Correction Factor) where E is determined by sections 6.2.1.1, 6.2.1.2, 6.2.2.1, or 6.2.2.2, whichever is appropriate, with the anti-sweat heater switch in the off position.

Correction Factor = (Anti-sweat Heater Power x System-loss Factor) x

(24 hrs/1 day) x (1 kW/1000 W)

Where:

Anti-sweat Heater Power = A1 * (Heater Watts at 5%RH)

+ A2 * (Heater Watts at 15%RH)

+ A3 * (Heater Watts at 25%RH)

+ A4 * (Heater Watts at 35%RH)

+ A5 * (Heater Watts at 45%RH)

+ A6 * (Heater Watts at 55%RH)

+ A7 * (Heater Watts at 65%RH)

+ A8 * (Heater Watts at 75%RH)

+ A9 * (Heater Watts at 85%RH)

+ A10 * (Heater Watts at 95%RH)

Where A1-A10 are defined in the following table:

A1 = 0.034

A6 = 0.119

A2 = 0.211

A7 = 0.069

A3 = 0.204

A8 = 0.047

A4 = 0.166

A9 = 0.008

A5 = 0.126

A10 = 0.015

Heater Watts at a specific relative humidity = the nominal watts used by all heaters at that specific relative humidity, 72 [deg]F ambient, and DOE reference temperatures of fresh food (FF) average temperature of 45 [deg]F and freezer (FZ) average temperature of 5

deg

F. System-loss Factor = 1.3

(4) Representations. Electrolux may make representations about the energy use of its adaptive control anti-sweat heater refrigerator- freezer products for compliance, marketing, or other purposes only to the extent that such products have been tested in accordance with the provisions outlined above and such representations fairly disclose the results of such testing.

(5) This waiver shall remain in effect consistent with the provisions of 10 CFR 430.27(m).

(6) This waiver is issued on the condition that the statements, representations, and documentary materials provided by the petitioner are valid. DOE may revoke or modify this waiver at any time if it determines the factual basis underlying the petition for waiver is incorrect, or the results from the alternate test procedure are unrepresentative of the basic models' true energy consumption characteristics.

Issued in Washington, DC on April 22, 2010.

Cathy Zoi,

Assistant Secretary,

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

FR Doc. 2010-9973 Filed 4-28-10; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P