Building Technologies ProgramOffice of Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyU.S. Department of EnergyNovember 14, 2008Test Procedure forMicrowave OvensNOPR Public Meetinghttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/cooking_products.html2Purpose of the Test Procedure NOPR Public MeetingIntroductionPresent the Department’s proposed test procedure for microwaveovensSeek comment from participants on the proposed test proceduresDiscuss specific issues or questions related to the proposalDiscuss the next steps for the rulemaking3FinalRuleIntroductionNOPRNOPR issued by DOE on October 1, 2008NOPR Public Meeting today, November 14, 2008Comments on NOPR from interested parties•Transcript records oral comments from today’s public meeting•Written comments (comment period closes December 31, 2008)DOE reviews and considers all commentsFinal Rule Publication•Final Rule is expected to be published no later than the Final Rule forthe energy conservations standards rulemaking (March 2009)Steps in the Microwave Oven Test Procedure Rulemaking4Test Procedure Overview and IssuesIntroduction1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements5Workshop participants are invited to provide summary comments orstatementsParticipants are also invited to raise their issues on the TestProcedure NOPR for discussion todayComments and Issues from ParticipantsIntroduction6Regulatory HistoryThe Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291et seq.) setforth criteria and procedures for DOE’s adoption and amendment oftest procedures for covered products.Test Procedure for Kitchen Ranges, Cooktops, Ovens, and MicrowaveOvens, Final Rule. 62 FR 51976, October 3, 1997.•Established test procedures for measuring the efficiency and annualenergy consumption of microwave ovens.•Incorporated by reference IEC Standard 705-1998 and Amendment 2-1993, Methods for Measuring the Performance of Microwave Ovens forHouseholds and Similar Purposes.•The test procedure currently does not provide for a measure ofmicrowave oven standby- or off-mode energy consumption.Introduction7Regulatory History - ContinuedEnergy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007)Amendments to EPCA•Directs DOE to incorporate standby- and off-mode energy consumptioninto its microwave oven test procedure by March 31, 2011.– DOE is accelerating the microwave oventest procedure schedule so that it maybe used in energy conservation standards that are the subject of a concurrentrulemaking, which has a scheduledfinal rule date of March 31, 2009.•Directs DOE to integrate such energy consumption into the energydescriptor. If technically infeasible, DOE must prescribe a separatestandby mode and off mode energy use test procedure if technicallyfeasible.•DOE must consider the most current versions of IEC Standards 62301and 62087.– IEC Standard 62301, Household electrical appliances–Measurement of standbypower, First Edition 2005-06– IEC Standard 62087, Methods of measurement for the power consumption ofaudio, video andrelated equipment, First Edition 2002-03 [Not Relevant]Introduction8Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements9Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking10 CFR 430.2 defines “microwave oven” as “a class of kitchen ranges andovens which is a household cooking appliance consisting of a compartmentdesigned to cook or heat foodby means of microwave energy.”Proposed amendments cover all microwave ovens for which the primarysource of heating energy is electromagnetic (microwave) energy.•Includes microwave ovens with and without thermal elements (designed forsurface browning of food).•Does not address combination ovensor microwave/conventional ranges.DOE will conduct a subsequent separate rulemaking to amend theconventional cooking products test procedure.•DOE does not have standby mode or offmode power data to determine whatchanges would be required in the test procedures for those products.Covered Products10Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements11Effective Date for the Test ProcedureDOE expects to publish the microwave oven test procedure finalrule before publishing a final rule in the concurrent energyconservation standards rulemaking.The effective date of the modified microwave oven test procedurewould be three years after the test procedure final rule is published,which is expected to be before the effective date of any appliancestandards.Effective Date12Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements13Measures of Energy ConsumptionThe DOE microwave oven test procedure provides for the calculation ofseveral measures of energy consumption:•Cooking efficiency•Energy factor (EF)•Annual energy consumptionDOE’s microwave oven test procedure does not currently account forstandby mode or off mode energy consumption.EPCA, as amended by EISA 2007, requires standby mode and off modeenergy consumption to be “integratedinto the overall energy efficiency,energy consumption, or other energydescriptor for each covered product,unless the Secretary determines that—•(i) the current test procedures for a covered product already fully account forand incorporate standby mode and off mode energy consumption of thecovered product; or•(ii) such an integrated test procedure istechnically infeasible for a coveredproduct, in which case the Secretary shall prescribe a separate standby modeand off mode energy use test procedure for the covered product, if technicallyfeasible.” (42 U.S.C. 6296(gg)(2)(A))Although there are no current energy conservation standards for microwaveovens, DOE’s rulemaking analyses have historically used EF as the energyconservation metric.Measures of Energy Consumption14Evaluating the Microwave Oven Energy DescriptorDOE evaluated the overall energy efficiency descriptor – EF – todetermine whether it could be modified to include standby modeand off mode energy consumption.DOE sampled 32 microwave ovens, and AHAM independently tested21 additional units.•Data from cooking tests showed a cooking efficiency range from 55to 62 percent.•DOE was unable to correlate specific design options or other featuressuch as cavity size or output power with cooking efficiency.•The test data showed test-to-test variability of several EF percentagepoints for a given microwave oven (i.e., where a given combination ofdesign options could be assigned to anumber of trial standard levels,depending on the test results).Measures of Energy Consumption15Evaluating the Microwave Oven Energy DescriptorMeasures of Energy Consumption54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300Rated Output Power (W)

Efficiency (EF)AHAM Standard MOTAHAM Inverter DriveDOE Standard MOTDOE Inverter Drive16Evaluating the Microwave Oven Energy DescriptorMeasures of Energy Consumption54555657585960616263650 750 850 950 1,050 1,150 1,250Measured Output Power (W)

Cooking Effciency (%)54555657585960616263600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200Measured Output (W)

Cooking Efficiency (%)AHAM EF VariabilityDOE EF Variability17Evaluating the Microwave Oven Energy DescriptorThe test procedure measures energy factor by heating 1 kilogram ofwater 10 °C in a glass test vessel, with the microwave oven set atfull power.Manufacturers stated during interviews that the water used in thetest procedure is not representative of an actual food load.DOE believes that it is infeasible to specify a food load in the testprocedure at this time, because it will require significant revisionsand comments from stakeholders to understand what arepresentative food load is and how to ensure consistency in foodproperties from test to test.Measures of Energy Consumption18Combining Cooking Efficiency with Standby and Off ModeEnergy UseDOE explored whether it would betechnically feasible to combinethe energy efficiency during the cooking cycle (per-use) withstandby mode and off mode energy use (over time) to form a singlemetric.DOE finds that an overall energy efficiency that combines the twovalues is representative of neither the energy efficiency of themicrowave oven for a very short period (as is the case with the EF)nor the efficiency of the microwave oven over an extended period oftime.Measures of Energy ConsumptionEF measures heating ofa water load over aperiod of secondsStandby- and off-modeenergy consumption ismeasured over a periodof multiple hours.?+19Combining Cooking Efficiency with Standby and Off ModeEnergy UseDOE notes that certain test procedures do combine a measure ofcycle efficiency and standby energy use to derive an overall energyefficiency measure, which is a meaningful measure when:•The difference in energy use between the primary function and thestandby power is so large that the standby power has little impact onthe overall measure of energy efficiency; or•The combined efficiency is based on energy use of the primaryenergy function and standby power over the same period (e.g.,annual or seasonal).However, microwave oven standby energy use is a significantfraction of the overall energy use.DOE believes it would be technically infeasible to incorporate twodisparate and largely incompatible metrics of similar magnitudes(EF and standby power) into a combined energy efficiency metricthat produces a meaningful result.Measures of Energy Consumption20Separate Metrics for Energy Factor and Standby PowerDOE believes that, although mathematically possible to combineenergy consumption into a single metric encompassing active(cooking), standby, and off modes, it is not technically feasible todo so at this time for the following reasons:•The high variability in the current cooking efficiency measurementfrom which the active mode EF and annual energy consumption arederived.•The significant contribution of standby power to overall microwaveoven energy use.Inherent in a determination of technical feasibility under EISA 2007for a combined metric for active, standby, and off mode energyconsumption is an expectation that the results would bemeaningful.Therefore, DOE is proposing a separate metric to measure standbypower.Measures of Energy Consumption21Request for Comment on the Energy DescriptorMeasures of Energy ConsumptionDOE seeks comment on the determination of the technicalinfeasibility of incorporating energy factor and standby modeand off mode power into a single energy descriptor. (Issue #1)22Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements23Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06for Measuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave OvensDOE investigated test methods that could be incorporated for measuringstandby mode and off mode power in microwave ovens.EPCA, as amended by EISA 2007 requires that amendments to the testprocedure must take into consideration the most current version of IECStandards 62301 and 62087.DOE determined that IEC Standard62087 does not cover microwave ovens,and, therefore, was not considered.DOE conducted a test program to analyze the suitability of IEC Standard62301 test conditions and proceduresfor incorporation into the DOEmicrowave oven test procedure to measure standby mode power use.•Test data suggests that, with additionalspecifications for testing methods,IEC Standard 62301 is indeed suitable for inclusion in the DOE testprocedure for that purpose.Incorporating IEC Standard 6230124Alternate Test ProceduresDOE reviewed alternate test conditions and methods used in standby powertest procedures used by countries considered to be international leaders inreducing standby power consumption.•Japan’s Top Runner Program•Korea’s e-Standby ProgramDOE believes that IEC Standard 62301 provides a more representativeaverage standby power measurement because of the way it accounts forvariations in power consumption associated with clock time display.DOE also considered test procedurespromoted by international standbyprograms. For example, the International Energy Agency (IEA) developedthe “1-Watt Plan”:•Targets reducing standby power internationally in electronic devices•Advocates that all countries adopt the same definition of standby power andtest procedure (e.g., IEC 62301).Incorporating IEC Standard 6230125IEC Standard 62301DOE proposes to incorporate the same clauses from IEC Standard62301 for measuring both standby mode and off mode powerconsumption.Section 4 clauses – provide conditions for:•Supply voltage waveform•Ambient room air temperature•Power measurement meter tolerancesSection 5 clauses:•Clarify the measurement of standby mode for units with a shortduration higher power state before a lower power state•Provide methods for measuring standby mode and off mode powerwhen the power measurement is either stable or unstable (i.e., variesover a representative cycle).Incorporating IEC Standard 6230126Request for Comment on the Incorporation of IECStandard 62301Incorporating IEC Standard 62301DOE seeks comment on the adequacy of IEC Standard 62301to measure standby mode and off mode power for microwaveovens in general, and on the suitability of incorporating thespecified provisions into DOE regulations. (Issue #2)27Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements28Definition of ModesDOE plans to use the EPCA, as amended by EISA 2007, definitionsof “active mode,” “standby mode,” and “off mode.”“Active mode” is defined as “the condition in which an energyusing product –•(I) is connected to a main power source;•(II) has been activated; and•(III) provides 1 or more main functions.” (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(i))DOE considers “main functions” for a microwave oven to be thoseoperations in which the magnetron and/or thermal element isenergized for at least a portion of the time for purposes of heating,cooking, and/or defrosting the load.Active Mode, StandbyMode, and Off Mode29Definition of Modes - Continued“Standby mode” is defined as “the condition in which an energyusing product –•(I) is connected to a main power source; and•(II) offers 1 or more of the following user-oriented or protectivefunctions:– (aa) To facilitate the activationor deactivation of other functions(including active mode) by remoteswitch (including remote control),internal sensor, or timer.– (bb) Continuous functions, including information or status displays(including clocks) or sensor-based functions.” (42 U.S.C.6295(gg)(1)(A)(iii))“Off mode” is defined as “the condition in which an energy-usingproduct –•(I) is connected to a main power source; and•(II) is not providing any standby mode or active mode function.” (42U.S.C. 6295(gg)(1)(A)(ii))Active Mode, StandbyMode, and Off Mode30Examples of Standby Mode and Off ModeA microwave oven with a continuously energized display or cookingsensor, or a microwave oven that automatically powers downcertain energy-consuming components after a cooking cycle andwaits to detect an event triggering re-energization of thesecomponents, would be considered capable of operation in standbymode but not off mode.A microwave oven that has electromechanical controls and nodisplay, but consumes power whilenot in active mode, would beconsidered capable of operation in off mode.If the microwave oven is equipped with a manual power on-offswitch, which completely cuts off power to the appliance (i.e.,removes or interrupts all connections to the main power source, inthe same manner as unplugging the appliance), the microwave ovenwould not be in the off mode when the switch is in the “off”position.Active Mode, StandbyMode, and Off Mode31Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements32Specifications for the Test Methods and Measurements for MicrowaveOven Standby Mode and Off Mode TestingIEC Standard 62301 has flexibility to measure standby and off mode powerfor most household electrical appliances.IEC Standard 62301 does not specify closely the test method for measuringthe power consumption in cases in which the measured power is not stable.•Section 5.3.2 states that “[i]f the power varies over a cycle (i.e., a regularsequence of power states that occurover several minutes or hours), theperiod selected to average power or accumulate energy shall be one or morecomplete cycles in order to get a representative average value.”According to DOE testing of a microwave oven equipped with a 12-hourclock display, standby power use at different times during a 12-hour cyclecould vary by as much as 25 percentdue to the variations in clock timebeing displayed.Test Methods and Measurements33Variation in Standby Power as a Function of Clock DisplayTest Methods and Measurements1.151.21.251.31.351.41.451.55 7 9 11 13 15 17 19Active Elements (LED)

Watts34Specifications for the Test Methods and Measurements for MicrowaveOven Standby Mode and Off Mode TestingLack of specificity in IEC Standard 62301 about the test periodcould produce test results that are not comparable to thoseobtained using other time periods, and that would not represent thetrue standby power consumption of its microwave ovensDOE proposes to include a specification of the test period in casesin which the power is not stable as “a 12-hour ± 30-second period.”•Measures all possible configurations for a 12-hour clock.•Obviates the need for a specific starting time, which could not beensured for microwave ovens that have an automatic power-downfeature.Test Methods and Measurements35Request for Comment on the Specifications of the TestMeasurements Test CycleTest Methods and MeasurementsDOE seeks comment on the proposed clarification to IECStandard 62301, in which DOE would specify a test period of12 hours ± 30 seconds for power measurements formicrowave ovens for which the measured power is not stable.(Issue #3)36Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements37Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test CookingEnergy OutputThe equation provided under section 4.4.1 of the current testprocedure for the calculation of the microwave oven test cookingenergy output, ET, in watt-hours (Wh), contains a technical error.•The equation currently calculates ETin kWh instead of Wh.The test cooking energy output isused to calculate annual energyconsumption in section 4.4.3, in which the units for ETare requiredto be Wh.In this NOPR, DOE proposes to change the value of the conversionfactor, Ke, in section 4.4.1 of 3,412 British thermal units (Btu) perkWh to a value of 3.412 Btu per Wh, so that ETis calculated in thespecified units of Wh.Technical Correction for Cooking Energy Output38Request for Comment on Technical CorrectionDOE seeks comment on the proposed change to theconversion factor used in the calculation of microwave oventest cooking energy output inorder to produce a value in unitsof Wh rather than kWh. (Issue #4)Technical Correction for Cooking Energy Output39Test Procedure Overview1. Products Covered by this Test Procedure Rulemaking2. Effective Date for the Test Procedure3. Measures of Energy Consumption4. Incorporating by Reference IEC Standard 62301 First Edition 2005-06 forMeasuring Standby Mode and Off Mode power in Microwave Ovens5. Definitions of “Active Mode”,“Standby Mode”, and “Off Mode”6. Specifications for the Test Methodsand Measurements for Microwave OvenStandby Mode and Off Mode Testing7. Technical Correction for the Microwave Oven Test Cooking Energy Output8. Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements40Compliance with Other EPCA RequirementsSection 323(b)(3) of EPCA requires that“[a]ny test procedures prescribed oramended under this section shall be reasonably designed to produce testresults which measure energy efficiency,energy use . . . or estimated annualoperating cost of a covered productduring a representative average usecycle or period of use . . . and shall not be unduly burdensome to conduct.”(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))IEC Standard 62301 is widely used and accepted internationally to measurepower in standby and off mode.Based on testing and analysis, DOE has determined that the proposedamendments produce standby mode and off mode average powerconsumption measurements that represent an average use cycle both forcases in which the measured power is stable and unstable (i.e., varies over acycle).DOE does not believe this test procedure would be unduly burdensome•The proposed test methodsand equipment do not differsubstantially from thecurrent DOE test procedure for measuring microwave oven cooking efficiency.•Manufacturers would not be required tomake significant investments in newfacilities and equipment.Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements41How to Submit Comments...Public Meeting– oral comments will be captured in the transcript and becomepart of the public record.Written comments– NOPR comment period open until December 31, 2008Reference docket #: EERE-2008-BT-TP-0011 and/or RIN #: 1904-AB78Email: MicroOven-2008-TP-0011@ee.doe.govMail: Mrs. Brenda EdwardsU.S. Department of EnergyBuilding Technologies Program1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop EE-2JWashington, DC 20585-0121Courier: Mrs. Brenda EdwardsU.S. Department of EnergyBuilding Technologies Program950 L'Enfant Plaza, 6th FloorWashington, DC 20024Telephone: (202) 586-2945Closing