98-26633. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Energy Star Homes Program

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53415-53416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26633]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6172-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements Under EPA's 
Energy Star Homes Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Recordkeeping and Reporting 
Requirements under EPA's Energy Star Homes Program, EPA ICR No. 1879.01
    Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing EPA ICR No. 1879.01 Recordkeeping and Reporting 
Requirements under EPA's Energy Star Homes Program to: Air and 
Radiation Docket and Information Center, Atmospheric Pollution 
Prevention Division (Mail Code 6102), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency Headquarters (EPA, HQ), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. 
Hand deliveries of comments should be made to Room M1500 at this 
address.
    Comments may also be submitted electronically through the internet 
to: [e-mail]. Comments in electronic format 
should also be identified by EPA ICR No. 1879.01 Recordkeeping and 
Reporting Requirements under EPA's Energy Star Homes Program. All 
electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use 
of special characters and any form of encryption.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, located at the 
address above. The Docket is open to the public on all federal 
government work days from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is recommended that 
the public make an appointment to review docket materials by calling 
[phone]. The Docket will accept phone and fax requests for 
material. Phone requests may be made using the phone number listed 
above, and fax requests may be submitted to [phone]. A 
reasonable fee is charged for the duplication of materials.
    The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also 
include all comments submitted directly in writing.
    EPA responses to comments, whether the comments are written or 
electronic, will be in a notice in the Federal Register. EPA will not 
immediately reply to commenters electronically other than seek 
clarification of electronic comments that may be garbled in 
transmission or during conversion to paper form, as discussed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on specific 
aspects of this collection of information, contact Glenn Chinery, 
Atmospheric Pollution and Prevention Division (Mail Code 620J), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 
20460, Ph. [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
general building contractors, operative builders, utilities, HERS (Home 
Energy Rating System) providers and new homebuyers.
    Title: Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under EPA's Energy 
Star Homes Program, EPA ICR No. 1879.01. OMB Control No. and expiration 
date are not applicable as this is a new ICR.
    Abstract: EPA's Energy Star Homes Program is a voluntary, non-
regulatory program initiated under the President's Global Climate 
Change Action Plan. The broad goal of the program is to demonstrate 
that energy efficient homes can help builders and related service 
providers meet key business objectives, improve home quality and 
homeowner comfort, lower energy demand, reduce air pollution and 
enhance the national economy. The program encourages residential home 
builders, developers, manufacturers, Home Energy Rating System (HERS) 
providers, utilities, service providers, government agencies and other 
organizations involved in the home building industry to promote energy 
efficiency in homes.

[[Page 53416]]

    This Information Collection Request (ICR) covers recordkeeping and 
reporting activities for both participation in the Energy Star Homes 
Program as well as participation in a three-year impact evaluation of 
the Energy Star Homes Program. The results of the impact evaluation 
will be used to evaluate and improve the Energy Star Homes Program 
overall.
    There are two ways to participate in the Energy Star Homes Program: 
either as a partner or as an ally. Builders and developers may become 
partners in the program, whereas, associations, financing companies, 
utilities, material manufacturers and rating companies may become 
allies of the program. Partners and allies can terminate their 
participation in the program at any time. Participation in the program 
begins with the completion and submittal to EPA of a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) that outlines responsibilities of the Energy Star 
Homes partners and allies as well as EPA. Builders and developers that 
become partners in the program are required to build homes that are at 
least 30 percent more efficient than the National Model Energy Code 
(MEC) before they can use the Energy Star logo. Organizations that 
become allies of the program agree to promote the Energy Star program 
and consider opportunities to market the program.
    The Energy Star Homes Program Impact Evaluation is designed to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the program in meeting the program's 
stated objectives. The evaluation will cover Energy Star Homes built 
during 1997, 1998, and 1999. The evaluation consists of surveying 
Energy Star homebuyers, non-Energy Star homebuyers (hereafter referred 
to as ``Control'' homebuyers), Energy Star builder partners, energy 
suppliers, and HERS providers. By collecting information from these 
different constituents, EPA will be able to determine whether Energy 
Star homebuyers are satisfied with their purchase; builder partners are 
meeting their business objectives; and Energy Star homes are delivering 
the pollution prevention promised. EPA will ask respondents to receive 
and review the survey, complete the survey, and return the survey.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    i. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    ii. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    iii. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses).
    Burden Statement: EPA will conduct a census of all Energy Star 
homes using information collected from HERS providers and expects to 
receive 1,000 responses the first year, 5,500 the second year and 
14,000 the third year. The large increase in the number of responses by 
the end of the third year of the evaluation is due to the fact that EPA 
believes that there will be 20,500 Energy Star homes in the U.S. by the 
end of 1999. The agency will also conduct a census of Energy Star home 
builders. The agency expects to receive 600 responses the first year 
and 200 more in each of the subsequent years.
    EPA will survey 686 Energy Star and control homebuyers each year. 
It expects to receive 343 responses each year from each group. The 
agency will also survey the energy suppliers of the homebuyers surveyed 
and expects to receive 686 responses each year.
    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 0.22 hours per respondent. There is no 
recordkeeping burden. It is expected that respondents will incur no 
capital costs. The aggregate bottom-line burden and cost for 
respondents is approximately 3198 hours per year with an annual cost of 
approximately $171,072. The bottom line burden to the agency is 
approximately 7,700 hours per year, at a cost of approximately $332,661 
per year.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time 
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; 
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: September 24, 1998.
Glenn Chinery,
Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division.
[FR Doc. 98-26633 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
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