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42 U.S. Code § 6295. Energy conservation standards
(a) PurposesThe purposes of this section are to—
(1)
provide Federal energy conservation standards applicable to covered products; and
(2)
authorize the Secretary to prescribe amended or new energy conservation standards for each type (or class) of covered product.
(b) Standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers
(1)
The following is the maximum energy use allowed in kilowatt hours per year for the following products (other than those described in paragraph (2)) manufactured on or after January 1, 1990:
|
|
Energy Standards Equations |
|---|---|
|
Refrigerators and Refrigerator-Freezers with manual defrost |
16.3 AV+316 |
|
Refrigerator-Freezers—partial automatic defrost |
21.8 AV+429 |
|
Refrigerator-Freezers—automatic defrost with: | |
|
Top mounted freezer without ice |
23.5 AV+471 |
|
Side mounted freezer without ice |
27.7 AV+488 |
|
Bottom mounted freezer without ice |
27.7 AV+488 |
|
Top mounted freezer with through the door ice service |
26.4 AV+535 |
|
Side mounted freezer with through the door ice |
30.9 AV+547 |
|
Upright Freezers with: | |
|
Manual defrost |
10.9 AV+422 |
|
Automatic defrost |
16.0 AV+623 |
|
Chest Freezers and all other freezers |
14.8 AV+223 |
(2)
The standards described in paragraph (1) do not apply to refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers with total refrigerated volume exceeding 39 cubic feet or freezers with total refrigerated volume exceeding 30 cubic feet.
(3)
(A)
(i)
The Secretary shall publish a proposed rule, no later than July 1, 1988, to determine if the standards established by paragraph (1) should be amended. The Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than July 1, 1989, which shall contain such amendment, if any, and provide that the amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 1993. If such a final rule is not published before January 1, 1990, any amendment of such standards shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 1995. Nothing in this subsection provides any justification or defense for a failure by the Secretary to comply with the nondiscretionary duty to publish final rules by the dates stated in this paragraph.
(ii)
(I)
If the Secretary does not publish a final rule before January 1, 1990, relating to the revision of the energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers, the regulations which established standards for such products and were promulgated by the California Energy Commission on December 14, 1984, to be effective January 1, 1992 (or any amendments to such standards that are not more stringent than the standards in the original regulations), shall apply in California to such products, effective beginning January 1, 1993, and shall not be preempted after such effective date by any energy conservation standard established in this section or prescribed, on or after January 1, 1990, under this section.
(II)
If the Secretary does not publish a final rule before January 1, 1992, relating to the revision of the energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers, State regulations which apply to such products manufactured on or after January 1, 1995, shall apply to such products until the effective date of a rule issued under this section with respect to such products.
(B)
After the publication of a final rule under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than five years after the date of publication of the previous final rule. The Secretary shall determine in such rule whether to amend the standards in effect for the products described in paragraph (1).
(C) Any amendment prescribed under subparagraph (B) shall apply to products manufactured after a date which is five years after—
(i)
the effective date of the previous amendment; or
(ii)
if the previous final rule did not amend the standards, the earliest date by which the previous amendment could have been effective;
except that in no case may any amended standard apply to products manufactured within three years after publication of the final rule establishing such amended standard.
(4)Refrigerators and freezers manufactured on or after january 1, 2014.—
(A)In general.—
Not later than December 31, 2010, the Secretary shall publish a final rule determining whether to amend the standards in effect for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers manufactured on or after January 1, 2014.
(B)Amended standards.—
The final rule shall contain any amended standards.
(c) Standards for room air conditioners
(1)
The energy efficiency ratio of room air conditioners shall be not less than the following for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1990:
|
Product Class: |
Ratio |
|---|---|
|
Without Reverse Cycle and With Louvered Sides: | |
|
Less than 6,000 Btu |
8.0 |
|
6,000 to 7,999 Btu |
8.5 |
|
8,000 to 13,999 Btu |
9.0 |
|
14,000 to 19,999 Btu |
8.8 |
|
20,000 and more Btu |
8.2 |
|
Without Reverse Cycle and Without Louvered Sides: | |
|
Less than 6,000 Btu |
8.0 |
|
6,000 to 7,999 Btu |
8.5 |
|
8,000 to 13,999 Btu |
8.5 |
|
14,000 to 19,999 Btu |
8.5 |
|
20,000 and more Btu |
8.2 |
|
With Reverse Cycle and With Louvered Sides |
8.5 |
|
With Reverse Cycle, Without Louvered Sides |
8.0 |
(2)
(A)
The Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than January 1, 1992, to determine if the standards established under paragraph (1) should be amended. Such rule shall contain such amendment, if any, and provide that the amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 1995.
(B)
After January 1, 1992, the Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than five years after the date of publication of a previous final rule. The Secretary shall determine in such rule whether to amend the standards in effect for room air conditioners.
(C) Any amendment prescribed under subparagraph (B) shall apply to products manufactured after a date which is five years after—
(i)
the effective date of the previous amendment; or
(ii)
if the previous final rule did not amend the standards, the earliest date by which a previous amendment could have been effective;
except that in no case may any amended standard apply to products manufactured within three years after publication of the final rule establishing such amended standard.
(d) Standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps
(1) The seasonal energy efficiency ratio of central air conditioners and central air conditioning heat pumps shall be not less than the following:
(A)
Split Systems: 10.0 for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1992.
(B)
Single Package Systems: 9.7 for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1993.
(2) The heating seasonal performance factor of central air conditioning heat pumps shall be not less than the following:
(A)
Split Systems: 6.8 for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1992.
(B)
Single Package Systems: 6.6 for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1993.
(3)
(A)
The Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than January 1, 1994, to determine whether the standards established under paragraph (1) should be amended. Such rule shall contain such amendment, if any, and provide that the amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 1999. The Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than January 1, 1994, to determine whether the standards established under paragraph (2) shall be amended. Such rule shall contain such amendment, if any, and provide that the amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 2002.
(B)
The Secretary shall publish a final rule after January 1, 1994, and no later than January 1, 2001, to determine whether the standards in effect for central air conditioners and central air conditioning heat pumps should be amended. Such rule shall provide that any amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 2006.
(4)Standards for through-the-wall central air conditioners, through-the-wall central air conditioning heat pumps, and small duct, high velocity systems.—
(A)Definitions.—In this paragraph:
(i)Small duct, high velocity system.—The term “small duct, high velocity system” means a heating and cooling product that contains a blower and indoor coil combination that—
(I)
is designed for, and produces, at least 1.2 inches of external static pressure when operated at the certified air volume rate of 220–350 CFM per rated ton of cooling; and
(II)
when applied in the field, uses high velocity room outlets generally greater than 1,000 fpm that have less than 6.0 square inches of free area.
(ii)Through-the-wall central air conditioner; through-the-wall central air conditioning heat pump.—The terms “through-the-wall central air conditioner” and “through-the-wall central air conditioning heat pump” mean a central air conditioner or heat pump, respectively, that is designed to be installed totally or partially within a fixed-size opening in an exterior wall, and—
(I)
is not weatherized;
(II)
is clearly and permanently marked for installation only through an exterior wall;
(III)
has a rated cooling capacity no greater than 30,000 Btu/hr;
(IV)
exchanges all of its outdoor air across a single surface of the equipment cabinet; and
(V)
has a combined outdoor air exchange area of less than 800 square inches (split systems) or less than 1,210 square inches (single packaged systems) as measured on the surface area described in subclause (IV).
(iii)Revision.—
The Secretary may revise the definitions contained in this subparagraph through publication of a final rule.
(B)Small-duct high-velocity systems.—
(i)Seasonal energy efficiency ratio.—The seasonal energy efficiency ratio for small-duct high-velocity systems shall be not less than—
(I)
11.00 for products manufactured on or after January 23, 2006; and
(II)
12.00 for products manufactured on or after January 1, 2015.
(ii)Heating seasonal performance factor.—The heating seasonal performance factor for small-duct high-velocity systems shall be not less than—
(I)
6.8 for products manufactured on or after January 23, 2006; and
(II)
7.2 for products manufactured on or after January 1, 2015.
(C)Subsequent rulemakings.—
The Secretary shall conduct subsequent rulemakings for through-the-wall central air conditioners, through-the-wall central air conditioning heat pumps, and small duct, high velocity systems as part of any rulemaking under this section used to review or revise standards for other central air conditioners and heat pumps.
(e) Standards for water heaters; pool heaters; direct heating equipment
(1)
The energy factor of water heaters shall be not less than the following for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1990:
|
(A) Gas Water Heater: |
.62−(.0019 x Rated Storage Volume in gallons) |
|
(B) Oil Water Heater: |
.59−(.0019 x Rated Storage Volume in gallons) |
|
(C) Electric Water Heater: |
.95−(.00132 x Rated Storage Volume in gallons) |
(2)
The thermal efficiency of pool heaters manufactured on or after January 1, 1990, shall not be less than 78 percent.
(3)
The efficiencies of gas direct heating equipment manufactured on or after January 1, 1990, shall be not less than the following:
|
Wall | |
|
Fan type | |
|
Up to 42,000 Btu/hour |
73% AFUE |
|
Over 42,000 Btu/hour |
74% AFUE |
|
Gravity type | |
|
Up to 10,000 Btu/hour |
59% AFUE |
|
Over 10,000 Btu/hour up to 12,000 Btu/hour |
60% AFUE |
|
Over 12,000 Btu/hour up to 15,000 Btu/hour |
61% AFUE |
|
Over 15,000 Btu/hour up to 19,000 Btu/hour |
62% AFUE |
|
Over 19,000 Btu/hour up to 27,000 Btu/hour |
63% AFUE |
|
Over 27,000 Btu/hour up to 46,000 Btu/hour |
64% AFUE |
|
Over 46,000 Btu/hour |
65% AFUE |
|
Floor | |
|
Up to 37,000 Btu/hour |
56% AFUE |
|
Over 37,000 Btu/hour |
57% AFUE |
|
Room | |
|
Up to 18,000 Btu/hour |
57% AFUE |
|
Over 18,000 Btu/hour up to 20,000 Btu/hour |
58% AFUE |
|
Over 20,000 Btu/hour up to 27,000 Btu/hour |
63% AFUE |
|
Over 27,000 Btu/hour up to 46,000 Btu/hour |
64% AFUE |
|
Over 46,000 Btu/hour |
65% AFUE |
(4)
(A)
The Secretary shall publish final rules no later than January 1, 1992, to determine whether the standards established by paragraph (1), (2), or (3) for water heaters, pool heaters, and direct heating equipment should be amended. Such rule shall provide that any amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 1995.
(B)
The Secretary shall publish a final rule no later than January 1, 2000, to determine whether standards in effect for such products should be amended. Such rule shall provide that any such amendment shall apply to products manufactured on or after January 1, 2005.
(5)Uniform efficiency descriptor for covered water heaters.—
(A)Definitions.—In this paragraph:
(i)Covered water heater.—The term “covered water heater” means—
(I)
a water heater; and
(II)
a storage water heater, instantaneous water heater, and unfired hot water storage tank (as defined in section 6311 of this title).
(ii)Final rule.—
The term “final rule” means the final rule published under this paragraph.
(B)Publication of final rule.—
Not later than 1 year after December 18, 2012, the Secretary shall publish a final rule that establishes a uniform efficiency descriptor and accompanying test methods for covered water heaters.
(C)Purpose.—The purpose of the final rule shall be to replace with a uniform efficiency descriptor—
(i)
the energy factor descriptor for water heaters established under this subsection; and
(ii)
the thermal efficiency and standby loss descriptors for storage water heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and unfired water storage tanks established under section 6313(a)(5) of this title.
(D)Effect of final rule.—
(i)In general.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, effective beginning on the effective date of the final rule, the efficiency standard for covered water heaters shall be denominated according to the efficiency descriptor established by the final rule.
(ii)Effective date.—
The final rule shall take effect 1 year after the date of publication of the final rule under subparagraph (B).
(E)Conversion factor.—
(i)In general.—
The Secretary shall develop a mathematical conversion factor for converting the measurement of efficiency for covered water heaters from the test procedures in effect on December 18, 2012, to the new energy descriptor established under the final rule.
(ii)Application.—
The conversion factor shall apply to models of covered water heaters affected by the final rule and tested prior to the effective date of the final rule.
(iii)Effect on efficiency requirements.—
The conversion factor shall not affect the minimum efficiency requirements for covered water heaters otherwise established under this subchapter.
(iv)Use.—
During the period described in clause (v), a manufacturer may apply the conversion factor established by the Secretary to rerate existing models of covered water heaters that are in existence prior to the effective date of the rule described in clause (v)(II) to comply with the new efficiency descriptor.
(v)Period.—Clause (iv) shall apply during the period—
(I)
beginning on the date of publication of the conversion factor in the Federal Register; and
(II)
ending on the later of 1 year after the date of publication of the conversion factor, or December 31, 2015.
(F)Exclusions.—The final rule may exclude a specific category of covered water heaters from the uniform efficiency descriptor established under this paragraph if the Secretary determines that the category of water heaters—
(i)
does not have a residential use and can be clearly described in the final rule; and
(ii)
are [1] effectively rated using the thermal efficiency and standby loss descriptors applied (as of December 18, 2012) to the category under section 6313(a)(5) of this title.
(G)Options.—The descriptor set by the final rule may be—
(i)
a revised version of the energy factor descriptor in use as of December 18, 2012;
(ii)
the thermal efficiency and standby loss descriptors in use as of that date;
(iii)
a revised version of the thermal efficiency and standby loss descriptors;
(iv)
a hybrid of descriptors; or
(v)
a new approach.
(H)Application.—
The efficiency descriptor and accompanying test method established under the final rule shall apply, to the maximum extent practicable, to all water heating technologies in use as of December 18, 2012, and to future water heating technologies.
(I)Participation.—
The Secretary shall invite interested stakeholders to participate in the rulemaking process used to establish the final rule.
(J)Testing of alternative descriptors.—
In establishing the final rule, the Secretary shall contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as necessary, to conduct testing and simulation of alternative descriptors identified for consideration.
(K)Existing covered water heaters.—A covered water heater shall be considered to comply with the final rule on and after the effective date of the final rule and with any revised labeling requirements established by the Federal Trade Commission to carry out the final rule if the covered water heater—
(i)
was manufactured prior to the effective date of the final rule; and
(ii)
complied with the efficiency standards and labeling requirements in effect prior to the final rule.