Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Air-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY <CFR>10 CFR Part 431</CFR> <DEPDOC>[EERE-2022-BT-STD-0015]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1904-AF34</RIN> <SUBJECT>Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Air-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Direct final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (“EPCA”), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps with a rated cooling capacity greater than or equal to 65,000 Btu/h. In this direct final rule, DOE is adopting amended energy conservation standards, based on clear and convincing evidence, for air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps with a rated cooling capacity greater than or equal to 65,000 Btu/h, which it has determined satisfy the relevant statutory criteria. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> The effective date of this rule is September 17, 2024, unless adverse comment is received by September 9, 2024. If adverse comments are received that DOE determines may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, a timely withdrawal of this rule will be published in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> . If no such adverse comments are received, compliance with the amended standards established for air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps with a rated cooling capacity greater than or equal to 65,000 Btu/h in this direct final rule is required on and after January 1, 2029. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> under docket number EERE-2022-BT-STD-0015. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2022-BT-STD-0015, by any of the following methods: <E T="03">Email: ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.</E> Include the docket number EERE-2022-BT-STD-0015 in the subject line of the message. <E T="03">Postal Mail:</E> Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc (“CD”), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies. <E T="03">Hand Delivery/Courier:</E> Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 287-1445. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies. No telefacsimiles (“faxes”) will be accepted. <E T="03">Docket:</E> The docket for this rulemaking, which includes <E T="04">Federal Register</E> notices, public meeting attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting documents/materials, is available for review at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E> All documents in the docket are listed in the <E T="03">www.regulations.gov</E> index. However, not all documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure. The docket web page can be found at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2022-BT-STD-0015.</E> The docket web page contains instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Mr. Lucas Adin, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-5904. Email: <E T="03">ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.</E> Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-4798. Email: <E T="03">Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.</E> For further information on how to submit a comment or review other public comments and the docket, contact the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by email: <E T="03">ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Synopsis of the Direct Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Benefits and Costs to Consumers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Impact on Manufacturers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. National Benefits and Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Conclusion</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Introduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Current Standards</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. History of Standards Rulemaking for ACUACs and ACUHPs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. 2022-2023 ASRAC ACUAC/HP Working Group Recommended Standard Levels</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. General Discussion</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. General Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Scope of Coverage</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Test Procedure and Metrics</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Technological Feasibility</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. General</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Maximum Technologically Feasible Levels</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Energy Savings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Determination of Savings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Significance of Savings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Economic Justification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Specific Criteria</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Economic Impact on Manufacturers and Consumers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Savings in Operating Costs Compared To Increase in Price (LCC and PBP)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Energy Savings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Lessening of Utility or Performance of Equipment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">e. Impact of Any Lessening of Competition</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">f. Need for National Energy Conservation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">g. Other Factors</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Methodology and Discussion of Related Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Market and Technology Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Equipment Classes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Market Post-2023</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Technology Options</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Screening Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Screened-Out Technologies</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Remaining Technologies</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Engineering Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Efficiency Levels in Terms of Existing Metrics</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Baseline Efficiency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Higher Efficiency Levels</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Efficiency Levels in Terms of New Metrics</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. IVEC</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. IVHE</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Energy Modeling</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Impact of Low-GWP Refrigerants</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Cost Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. MPC Estimates</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. MSP Estimates, Manufacturer Markup, and Shipping Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Cost-Efficiency Results</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Markups Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Distribution Channels</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Markups and Sales Tax</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Energy Use Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. System-Level Calculations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Generalized Building Sample</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Energy Use Adjustment Factors</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Equipment Cost</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Installation Cost</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Annual Energy Consumption</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Energy Prices</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Maintenance and Repair Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Equipment Lifetime</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">7. Discount Rates</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">8. Energy Efficiency Distribution in the No-New-Standards Case</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2"> 9. Payback Period Analysis </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Shipments Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. New Shipments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Replacement Shipments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Stock Calculation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. National Impact Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Equipment Efficiency Trends</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. National Energy Savings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Net Present Value Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Consumer Subgroup Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Manufacturer Impact Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Overview</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Government Regulatory Impact Model and Key Inputs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Manufacturer Production Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Shipments Projections</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Capital and Product Conversion Costs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Manufacturer Markup Scenarios</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Discussion of MIA Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Emissions Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Air Quality Regulations Incorporated in DOE's Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. Monetizing Emissions Impacts</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Monetization of Greenhouse Gas Emissions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Social Cost of Methane and Nitrous Oxide</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Sensitivity Analysis Using EPA's New SC-GHG Estimates</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Monetization of Other Emissions Impacts</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M. Utility Im ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 471k characters. 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