DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket Number: EE-2011-BT-STD--1l011[ 

RIN 1904-AC06 

Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential 

Furnaces and Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Products 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy 

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact: Energy Conservation Program 

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPeA), as amended, requires 

the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to adopt energy conservation standards for various 

consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including 

residential furnaces and residential air conditioners and heat pumps. (42 U.S.c. 6291 ct 

seq.) Based on an Environmental Assessment (EA), chapter 15 of the direct final rule 

technical support document (TSD) for residential furnaces and residential central air 

conditioners and heat pumps, DOE has determined that the adoption of amended energy 

consetvation standards for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and 

heat pumps, as contained in the direct final rule titled the "Energy Conservation Program: 

Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central Air 

Conditioners and Heat Pumps," would not be a major Federal action significantly 

affecting the quality of the human envirorunent within the meaning of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Therefore, an environmental impact 

statement (EIS) is not required, and DOE is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact 

(FONSl). 

ADDRESSES: Public Availability: Copies of the direct final rule TSD are available 

from the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room of the Building Technologies 

Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, 

between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You 

may also obtain copies of the direct final rule TSD from the Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy's website at: 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings!appliance standards! 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mohammed Khan (furnaces) or 

Mr. Wesley Anderson (central air conditioners and heat pumps), U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies 

Program, EE- 2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washinhrton, DC 20585-012l. 

Telephone: (202) 586-7892 or (202) 586-7335. E-mail: Mohammed.Khan@ee.doe.gov 

or Wes.Anderson@ee.doe.gov. 

Mr. Eric Stas or Ms. Jcnnifer Tiedeman, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 

General Counsel, GC- 71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-

0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507 or (202) 287-6111. Email: Eric.Stas@hg.doe.gov or 

J enni fer. Tiedcrnan@hg.doe.gov. 

2 
For further infonnation regarding the DOE NEPA process, contact: Ms. Carol M. 

Borgstrom, Director, Office ofNEPA Policy and Compliance (GC~20), U.S. Department 

of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washinb~on, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 

586-4600, or leave a message at (800) 472-2756. Additional infonnation regarding DOE 

NEPA activities and access to many DOE NEPA documents are available on the Internet 

through the DOE NEPA website at: http://www.gc.cncrgy.gov/ncpa/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of the Regulatory Action: The re!:,'1llatory action is the establishment 

of amended energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and residential central 

air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE is adopting trial standard level (TSL) 4 for the 

energy efficiency requirements and TSL 2 for the standby mode/off mode power 

requirements. 

Environmental Impacts: The EA evaluates the environmental impacts of a range 

of energy conservation standards for residential furnaces, central air conditioners, and 

heat pumps. The results are presented for each TSL DOE considered for these products. 

Each TSL is an alternative action, and the environmental impacts of each alternative are 

compared to what would be expected to happen ifno new or amended standard were 

adopted (i.e., the "no action" alternative). 

3 
The primary environmental impact is decreased emissions from fossil fuel use and 

from fossil-fueled electricity generation. All of the TSLs considered for the product 

classes covered under this regulation would result in decreased fossil fuel use and in a 

reduction in emissions. The energy conservation standards adopted in the direct final rule 

would generally decrease air pollution by decreasing future energy demand. The 

environmental impact analysis considers emissions of carbon dioxide (C02) and three 

criteria pollutants- nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (S02), and mercury (Hg). The 

energy savings from amended energy conservation standards for residential furnaces, 

central air conditioners, and heat pumps are expected to result in reduced power sector 

emissions of CO2, NOx, and Hg. Reduced NOx emissions could also provide an 

economic benefit in the form of a lower market price for emission allowance credits. The 

results of this analysis show that the cumulative emissions reductions resulting from the 

residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps direct final 

rule are projected to be 114 million to 143 million metric tons (Mt) of C02, 97 to 124 

kilotons (kt) of NO x, and 0.143 to 0.169 tons ofHg. These emissions reductions and 

those from the other TSLs are not substantial enough to significantly affect the quality of 

the human environment. See chapter 15 of the residential furnaces and residential central 

air conditioners and heat pumps TSD Table 15.7.1 for more information on the emissions 

reductions at all TSLs. 

4 
Determination 

Based upon the EA, DOE has determined that the adoption ofthc amended energy 

conservation standards for residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and 

heat pumps would not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 

of the human environment, within the meaning ofNEPA. Therefore, an EIS is not 

required, and DOE is issuing this FaNS!. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2011 . 

1151 

Henry KillY 

Acting Assistant Secretary 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

5