Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
Decision and Order.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CR–002) that grants to Hussmann Corporation (Hussmann) a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of its commercial refrigerators for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver (petition). Hussmann claims in its petition that the specified basic models cannot be tested in accordance with the DOE test procedure for commercial refrigeration equipment because the equipment cannot operate at the specified integrated average product temperature of 38 °F ± 2 °F. Under today's decision and order, Hussmann shall be required to test and rate the commercial refrigerators specified in the petition at the lowest integrated average temperature at which the refrigerators can operate of 41 °F ± 2 °F, which is consistent with the lowest application product temperature provision in the DOE test procedure.
This Decision and Order is effective December 31, 2013.
Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mail Stop EE–5B, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–0371. Email:
Ms. Jennifer Tiedeman, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Mail Stop GC–71, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–0103. Telephone: (202) 287–6111. Email:
DOE issues notice of this Decision and Order in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 431.401(f)(4). In this Decision and Order, DOE grants Hussmann a waiver for the commercial refrigerators specified in its petition submitted on December 7, 2011. Hussmann must test and rate this equipment at the lowest integrated average temperature at which the commercial refrigerators can operate, which is consistent with the lowest application product temperature provision in the DOE test procedure at 10 CFR 431.64(b)(3)(A).
Today's decision requires Hussmann to make representations concerning the energy efficiency of this equipment consistent with the provisions and restrictions of the alternate test procedure in the Decision and Order below, and the representations must fairly disclose the test results. (42 U.S.C. 6314(d)) The same standard applies to distributors, retailers, and private labelers when making representations of the energy efficiency of this equipment.
Title III, Part C of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), Public Law 94–163 (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317), established the Energy Conservation Program for certain industrial equipment, which includes commercial refrigeration equipment, the focus of this notice.
Section 343(a)(6)(C) of EPCA directs DOE to develop test procedures to establish the appropriate rating temperatures for products for which standards will be established under section 343(a)(6), including (1) ice-cream freezers; (2) commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers with a self-contained condensing unit without doors; and (3) commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers with a remote condensing unit. Other provisions of section 343(a)(6) provide DOE with additional authority to establish and amend test procedures for commercial refrigeration equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(6)(C)) On December 8, 2006, DOE published a final rule adopting test procedures for commercial refrigeration equipment. 71 FR 71340. Title 10 of the
DOE's regulations for covered products and equipment permit a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements for covered commercial equipment if at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) The petitioner's basic model contains one or more design characteristics that prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedures; or (2) the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 431.401(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. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) may grant a waiver subject to conditions, including adherence to alternate test procedures. 10 CFR 431.401(f)(4). Waivers remain in effect according to the provisions of 10 CFR 431.401(g).
On December 7, 2011, Hussmann submitted a petition for waiver from the DOE test procedure applicable to commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers set forth in 10 CFR 431.64. Hussmann requested the waiver for its commercial refrigerators intended to hold and display bulk produce (whole, uncut fresh fruits and/or vegetables). These refrigerators are manufactured in both “remote” and “self-contained” versions. This equipment is classified as either “commercial refrigerator, freezer, and refrigerator-freezer with a self-contained condensing unit and without doors” (category (viii) in the table listing some of the applicable test procedure requirements at 10 CFR 431.64(b)(2)) or “commercial refrigerator, freezer, and refrigerator-freezer with a remote condensing unit” (category (ix) of the above table). The applicable test procedure for this equipment is specified in 10 CFR 431.64(b), which incorporates by reference ARI Standard 1200–2006.
Hussmann seeks a waiver from the applicable test procedure under 10 CFR 431.64 on the grounds that its commercial refrigerators contain design characteristics that prevent testing according to the current DOE test procedure. Specifically, Hussmann asserts that the refrigerators are not able to operate at the specified integrated average temperature of 38 °F for medium temperature applications. Consequently, Hussmann requested that DOE grant a waiver from the applicable test procedure, allowing the specified products to be tested at 49 °F.
The Department articulated its position regarding basic models of commercial refrigeration equipment that are not capable of operating at the required integrated average temperature specified by the DOE test procedure in a test procedure final rule published on February 21, 2012. 77 FR 10292. Specifically, to qualify to use the lowest application product temperature for a certain piece of equipment, a manufacturer should be confident that any case tested under that equipment rating could achieve the specified lowest application product temperature within +/− 2 °F and could not be tested at the rating temperature (i.e., integrated average temperature specified by the DOE test procedure) for the given equipment class. Further, in the final rule, DOE clarified that, for many pieces of equipment, the lowest application product temperature that should be used for testing will be the lowest temperature setting on the unit's thermostat. 77 FR 10292, 10303 (Feb. 21, 2012).
DOE agrees with Hussmann's assertion that the basic models identified in its petition cannot be operated at the associated rating conditions currently specified for commercial refrigerators in the DOE test procedures given the available data. DOE has confirmed with Hussmann that the lowest temperature these basic models are capable of operating would be 41 °F, however (not the 49 °F requested by Hussmann). In light of this, DOE has determined that the basic models of commercial refrigerators listed in Hussmann's petition should be tested at their lowest application product temperature as defined at 10 CFR 431.62, which corresponds to an integrated average temperature of 41 °F.
DOE notes that use of the amended test procedure set forth in the aforementioned final rule will be required on the compliance date of any amended standards for this equipment. (77 FR 10292, Feb. 21, 2012)
After careful consideration of all the material that was submitted by Hussmann,
(1) The petition for waiver submitted by the Hussmann (Case No. CR–002)
(2) Hussmann
(3) Alternate Test Procedure. Hussmann
DOE notes that it has published an amended test procedure for commercial refrigeration equipment. (77 FR 10292, Feb. 21, 2012). The amended test procedure addresses the testing issue addressed in this waiver, requiring products to be tested at their lowest application product temperature.
(4)
(5) This waiver amendment
(6) This waiver is granted for
(7) This waiver