[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10379-10380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4607]
[[Page 10379]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards: Evaluation
Criteria for the Voluntary Program to Provide Energy Efficiency
Information for Commercial Office Equipment
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires the Department of
Energy (DOE or Department) to support a voluntary national testing and
information program for those types of commercial office equipment that
are widely used and show potential for significant energy savings. Not
later than October 24, 1995, DOE must determine whether the voluntary
program, thus created by an appropriate organization of interested
persons, is consistent with the objectives set forth in the
legislation. In order to assist the development of the voluntary
program, the Department has developed a set of evaluation criteria that
will be used as the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the
commercial office equipment testing and information program. The
Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 1995, to
discuss the proposed criteria with persons interested in the
development of the voluntary program. All persons are hereby given
notice of the opportunity to submit written comments, and to attend the
public meeting.
DATES: Written comments in quadruplicate must be received by March 31,
1995. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be labeled ``Voluntary Program to
Promote Energy Efficiency in Commercial Office Equipment'' and
submitted to Ms. Barbara Twigg, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 586-
8714; FAX: (202) 586-4617.
The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m., and will be held at the U.S.
Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room GH-027, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC.
Copies of the draft evaluation criteria may be requested from
Barbara Twigg at the above address. Copies are available in the DOE
Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy,
Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC, (202) 586-6020 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Twigg, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-431, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-8714
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority
Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act,
Public Law 94-163, created the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products other than Automobiles. The most recent amendment, the Energy
Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 102-486, 106 stat. 2776, identified
several new categories of products and equipment beyond the existing
residential appliances for inclusion in various required and voluntary
testing and information programs to promote energy efficiency.
Voluntary programs were specified for commercial office equipment,
window rating and labeling, and luminaires.
As described in Section 125 of EPACT, the Secretary of Energy,
after consulting with industry associations and other interested
organizations, is to provide technical and financial assistance to
support a voluntary national testing and information program for those
types of commercial office equipment that are widely used, and for
which there is a potential for significant energy savings as a result
of such programs. Such program will provide information that when
conveyed to consumers, will enable purchasers of the equipment to make
more informed decisions about the energy efficiency and costs of
alternative products.
The voluntary program should determine the types of commercial
office equipment to be covered, include specifications for testing
procedures, and include information which may be disseminated through
catalogs, trade publications, labels, or other mechanisms that will
allow consumers to assess the energy consumption and potential cost
savings of alternative products. Such program shall be developed by an
appropriate organization (composed of interested persons), according to
commonly accepted procedures for the development of national testing
procedures and labeling programs.
Not later than three years after the date of enactment of EPACT
(October 24, 1995), the Secretary shall make a determination as to
whether the voluntary program is positioned to achieve the objectives
established for the testing and rating of commercial office equipment.
If the Secretary determines that the voluntary program is not
consistent with the objectives of the legislation, the Secretary shall,
after consultation with the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, develop test procedures for those types of commercial
equipment designated as part of the program. One year later, the
Federal Trade Commission would prescribe labeling rules.
2. Background
Since the passage of EPACT, the Department of Energy has monitored
the efforts of the commercial office equipment industry to develop a
testing and information program through the Council on Office Products
Energy Efficiency (COPEE), a working group composed of the Information
Technology Industry Council, formerly the Computer and Business
Equipment Manufacturers Association, office equipment manufacturers,
environmental organizations, designers, national laboratories, and
other office equipment professionals. On May 26, 1994, DOE held a
public meeting, at which interested persons were invited to offer
suggestions concerning methods of evaluation, and to obtain updates on
the progress of COPEE's voluntary program. Comments were invited
through June 15, 1994. Additional suggestions and information were
supplied by the COPEE on July 15, 1994.
3. Discussion
The purpose of the meeting is twofold: (1) To discuss the proposed
evaluation criteria; and (2) to provide an opportunity to inform DOE of
the progress of the voluntary program, and establish a timetable for
the evaluation of the program. After the meeting and comment period,
the Department will consider all comments and publish the evaluation
criteria in the Federal Register.
4. Public Meeting Procedure
The meeting will be informal. Participants are requested to review
a [[Page 10380]] copy of the draft evaluation criteria before the
meeting.
Issued in Washington, DC, February 21, 1995.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-4607 Filed 2-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
