June ’22 at-a-glance … energy

NAFEM advocates for more transparency in establishing ACIM energy standards

In comments to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), NAFEM reiterated earlier input that the industry needs more info to ensure that the agency’s proposed new product categories and associated test procedures are specific to commercial equipment. Also, DOE needs better economic information that reflects the current world state before implementing costly changes. Finally, NAFEM would like to better understand how proposed changes align with EPA AIM Act requirements to avoid costly duplication. “DOE should not consider amending energy consumption requirements of ACIM products until there is clarity on the impact of EPA’s regulations on the industry’s existing ACIM products,” said Charlie Souhrada, CFSP, vice president of regulatory and technical affairs.

DOE closes comment period on potential WIC/WIF amended test procedures

Comments were due June 21 to DOE’s proposal to amend test procedures for walk-in coolers/walk-in freezers to more fully represent field energy use and better account for the rage of component equipment designs.

DOE says “no” to new commercial prerinse spray valves standards

Amended energy conservation standards for commercial prerinse spray valves are not needed, according to the DOE. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to periodically determine whether more stringent, amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this case, DOE determined new standards are not necessary.

ASRAC update

DOE is facing numerous lawsuits and potential mandated court actions for its 38 rulemakings that are behind schedule. This tight schedule may make the agency unwilling to accept extensions that could cause delays to the completion of standards adjustments for existing product categories, said Charlie Hon, Manager, Engineering, Sustainability and Government Affairs, True Manufacturing Co., Inc., O’Fallon, Mo. These insights come from the recent meeting of DOE’s Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal  Advisory Committee (ASRAC), of which Hon is a member.

Hon also shared that DOE is currently reviewing standards for commercial refrigeration equipment (CRE), including refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers. Once DOE publishes its review of the standards, CRE manufacturers may opt for a negotiated rulemaking that engages all interested parties and “may be more pragmatic and implemented at earlier dates than under a more traditional rulemaking process,” according to DOE.

ASRAC will meet again in September and December.