Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 205 / Monday, October 24, 2011 / Proposed Rules 65631 

Where, 

CLHA = the actual cooling hours for a 

particular location as determined using 

the map given in Figure 3, hr; 

the space cooling capacity of the unit as 

determined from the A or A2 Test, 

whichever applies, Btu/h; 

HLHA = the actual heating hours for a 

particular location as determined using 

the map given in Figure 2, hr; 

DHR = the design heating requirement used 

in determining the HSPF; refer to section 

4.2 and definition 1.22, Btu/h; 

C = defined in section 4.2 following Equation 

4.2–2, dimensionless; 

SEER = the seasonal energy efficiency ratio 

calculated as specified in section 4.1, 

Btu/W·h; 

HSPF = the heating seasonal performance 

factor calculated as specified in section 

4.2 for the generalized climatic region 

that includes the particular location of 

interest (see Figure 2), Btu/W·h. The 

HSPF should correspond to the actual 

design heating requirement (DHR), if 

known. If it does not, it may correspond 

to one of the standardized design heating 

requirements referenced in section 4.2; 

P1 = the off-mode power consumption taken 

at 82 °F, as determined in section 3.13, 

W, and 

P2 = the off-mode power consumption taken 

at 57 °F, as determined in section 3.13, 

W. 

Evaluate the HSH using 

Where TOD and nj/N are listed in Table 19 

and depend on the location of interest 

relative to Figure 2. For the six generalized 

climatic regions, this equation simplifies to 

the following set of equations: 

Region I HSH = 2.4348 × HLH 

Region II HSH = 2.5182 × HLH 

Region III HSH = 2.5444 × HLH 

Region IV HSH = 2.5078 × HLH 

Region V HSH = 2.5295 × HLH 

Region VI HSH = 2.2757 × HLH 

Evaluate the shoulder season hours using 

Where, 

CSH = the cooling season hours calculated 

using CSH = 2.8045 × CLH. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2011–25813 Filed 10–21–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket Number EERE–2010–BT–TP–0023] 

RIN 1904–AC26 

Energy Conservation Program: Test 

Procedures for Microwave Ovens 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Request for information. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) has initiated a test 

procedure rulemaking to develop active 

mode testing methodologies for 

residential microwave ovens. DOE 

specifically is seeking information, data, 

and comments regarding representative 

and repeatable methods for measuring 

the energy use of microwave-only ovens 

and combination microwave ovens, 

including: Food loads representative of 

consumer use; the repeatability of 

energy use measurements using 

different food loads; and consumer 

usage data on the hours of operation in 

active mode, standby mode, and off 

mode for the development of an 

integrated energy use metric. 

DATES: Written comments and 

information are requested on or before 

November 23, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

encouraged to submit comments using 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Alternatively, interested persons may 

submit comments, identified by docket 

number EERE–2010–BT–TP–0023 and/ 

or RIN 1904–AC26, by any of the 

following methods: 

• E-mail: MWO–2010–TP– 

0023@ee.doe.gov. Include docket 

number EERE–2010–BT–TP–0023 and/ 

or RIN 1904–AC26 in the subject line of 

the message. Submit electronic 

comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft 

Word, PDF, or ASCII file format and 

avoid the use of special characters or 

any form of encryption. 

• Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, 

U.S. Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 

1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–2945. Please 

submit one signed original paper copy. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 

Building Technologies Program, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th Floor, 

Washington, DC 20024. Please submit 

one signed original paper copy. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents, or 

comments received, go to the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Wes Anderson, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, EE–2J, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: 202–586–7335. E-mail: 

Wes.Anderson@ee.doe.gov. 

In the Office of the General Counsel, 

contact Mr. Ari Altman, U.S. 

Department of Energy, 1000 

Independence Ave., SW., Room 6B–159, 

Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 

202–287–6307; E-mail: 

Ari.Altman@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 

22, 2010, DOE published in the Federal 

Register a final rule for the microwave 

oven test procedure rulemaking (July TP 

repeal final rule), in which it repealed 

the regulatory provisions for 

establishing the cooking efficiency test 

procedure for microwave ovens under 

the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 

(EPCA). 75 FR 42579. In the July TP 

repeal final rule, DOE determined that 

the existing microwave oven test 

procedure to measure the cooking 

efficiency did not produce 

representative and repeatable test 

results and was unaware of any test 

procedures that have been developed 

that address DOE’s concerns with the 

microwave oven cooking efficiency test 

procedure. DOE was also unaware of 

any research or data on consumer usage 

indicating what a representative food 

load would be, or any data showing the 

repeatability of test results. 75 FR 

42579, 42581. 

On July 22, 2010, DOE also published 

in the Federal Register a notice of 

public meeting to initiate a separate 

rulemaking process to consider new 

provisions for measuring microwave 

oven energy efficiency in active 

(cooking) mode. 75 FR 42611. DOE held 

the public meeting on September 16, 

2010 to discuss and receive comments 

on several issues related to active mode 

test procedures for microwave ovens to 

consider in developing a new test 

procedure. DOE received no data or 

comments at or after the September 16, 

2010 public meeting suggesting 

potential methodologies for test 

procedures for microwave oven active 

mode. 

In support of its test procedure 

rulemaking, DOE conducts in-depth 

technical analyses of publicly available 

test standards and other relevant 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALSEP24OC11.081</GPH> EP24OC11.082</GPH> EP24OC11.083</GPH>
65632 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 205 / Monday, October 24, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

1The previous DOE microwave oven test 

procedure also provided for the calculation of 

several other measures of energy consumption, 

including cooking efficiency and annual energy 

consumption. 

2For more information, visit http:// 

www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/kitchen/ 

guides/how-we-test-microwaves/. 

information. DOE continually seeks data 

and public input to improve its testing 

methodologies to more accurately reflect 

consumer use and to produce repeatable 

results. In general, DOE is requesting 

comment and supporting data regarding 

representative and repeatable methods 

for measuring the energy use of 

combination microwave ovens. 

Additionally, DOE seeks comment and 

information on the specific topics 

below. 

Food Test Load Characteristics 

DOE’s previous active mode test 

procedure incorporated portions of the 

International Electrotechnical 

Commission (IEC) Standard 705–1998 

and Amendment 2–1993, ‘‘Methods for 

Measuring the Performance of 

Microwave Ovens for Households and 

Similar Purpose.’’ The test methods 

measured the amount of energy required 

to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of 

water by 10 degrees Celsius (°C) under 

controlled conditions. The ratio of 

usable output power over input power 

described the energy factor (EF), a 

measure of the cooking efficiency.1 In 

comments received in response to a 

separate test procedure notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NOPR) published 

in the Federal Register on October 17, 

2008, which addressed provisions for 

measuring standby mode and off mode 

energy use for microwave ovens (73 FR 

62134), interested parties commented 

that pure water has relatively low 

specific resistivity, and actual food 

items that might be cooked in a 

microwave oven would have more salts 

and thus absorb microwave energy more 

efficiently than pure water. Interested 

parties stated that, as a result, testing 

with a water load would likely result in 

lower efficiency measurements than 

would be expected from using actual 

food products. 

DOE also notes that IEC is currently 

revising its test standard for microwave 

ovens, IEC Standard 60705, ‘‘Household 

microwave ovens—Methods for 

measuring performance,’’ but that this 

test procedure continues to use a water 

load for testing. DOE is also unaware of 

any industry or international test 

standards that address the active mode 

cooking function of combination 

microwave ovens (i.e., microwave ovens 

that incorporate convection features or 

possibly other means of cooking) and 

what food loads would be appropriate 

for testing the combination cooking 

function. 

DOE is therefore interested in 

stakeholder feedback on what food 

loads are most commonly cooked by 

consumers and should be used for 

measuring the energy efficiency of 

microwave oven cooking, as well as the 

methodology for testing such food loads. 

In particular, DOE is requesting inputs 

on the following: 

• Consumer usage data on the 

characteristics of food loads cooked by 

consumers in both microwave-only and 

combination cooking modes. Please 

provide specific details on which food 

loads are cooked with the microwaveonly cooking function and which are 

cooked with the combination cooking 

function; 

• The percentage of cooking cycles 

consumers use the microwave-only and 

combination cooking modes; 

• Specific details on the food loads, 

including, but not limited to, weights, 

composition, frequency of cooking, and 

initial and final temperatures, as well as 

the racks or plates used to hold the food 

load; 

• Food loads used by manufacturers 

to evaluate both efficiency and cooking 

performance; 

• Testing methodology for measuring 

the cooking efficiency using different 

food loads (Please provide specific 

details on suggested testing 

methodologies, including, but not 

limited to, the number and placement of 

temperature probes, required 

temperature increases, and any 

procedures for preparing the load prior 

to heating); and 

• Appropriate metrics to use for 

measuring energy use or efficiency in 

both microwave-only ovens and 

combination microwave ovens. 

Food Load Repeatability 

As discussed previously, interested 

parties commented in response to the 

October 2008 test procedure NOPR that 

the previous DOE microwave oven test 

procedure did not produce repeatable 

results. DOE is not aware of any data on 

the repeatability of various food loads. 

DOE notes that consumer product 

review organizations evaluate 

performance of microwave ovens by 

testing loads such as: Potatoes, mashed 

potatoes, whole chicken, cake, and other 

real-world food loads. DOE also notes 

that one consumer product review 

organization in the UK uses a 

solidifying gel, TX–151, to simulate a 

food load (in this case lasagna).2 DOE 

specifically requests comment on: 

• Repeatability of various loads that 

may be used for measuring the energy 

efficiency of microwave oven active 

mode cooking. When providing data, 

please provide detailed description of 

the characteristics of the cooking load 

under test; 

• Whether there are any artificial 

loads that accurately simulate real food 

loads and the repeatability of test results 

using those loads; 

• Methodologies for improving the 

repeatability of testing using various 

food loads, for example, using multiple 

thermocouples to determine an average 

temperature; 

• The number of identical tests that 

should be conducted for various food 

loads (with results averaged) in order to 

produce accurate and repeatable results; 

and 

• Any testing burdens associated with 

testing various food loads. 

Consumer Usage Data on Hours of 

Operation in Active Mode, Standby 

Mode, and Off Mode Operation 

EPCA requires that the energy 

consumption in standby mode and off 

mode be integrated into the energy 

descriptor (which would include active 

mode) for a covered product unless the 

current test procedures already fully 

accounts for such consumption. If 

integration is technically infeasible, 

DOE must prescribe a separate standby 

mode and off mode energy use test 

procedure, if the latter is technically 

feasible. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) DOE 

conducted a separate test procedure 

rulemaking and published an interim 

final rule amending its test procedures 

for microwave ovens to provide for the 

measurement of standby mode and off 

mode power use by microwave ovens. 

76 FR 12825 (Mar. 9, 2011). In the 

interim final rule, DOE determined that 

the absence of active mode provisions 

results in a de facto separate energy use 

descriptor for microwave oven standby 

mode and off mode energy use. If DOE 

adopts amendments to the microwave 

oven test procedure to include 

provisions for measuring active mode 

energy use, it will consider adopting a 

single metric that integrates active 

mode, standby mode, and off mode 

energy use. 

DOE is therefore interested in 

stakeholder feedback on developing 

such an integrated energy use metric. In 

particular, DOE is requesting inputs on 

the following: 

• Consumer usage data on the 

number of hours microwave ovens are 

operated in active mode, standby mode, 

and off mode; and 

• What metric should be used to 

describe the integrated energy use (i.e., 

annual energy use, EF, or cooking 

efficiency); 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 205 / Monday, October 24, 2011 / Proposed Rules 65633 

Public Participation 

DOE invites all interested parties to 

submit in writing by November 23, 

2011, comments and information on 

matters addressed in this notice and on 

other matters relevant to DOE’s 

consideration of a revised test procedure 

for measuring the active mode energy 

consumption of residential microwaves 

(both microwave-only and combination 

microwave types). 

After the close of the comment period, 

DOE will begin collecting data, 

conducting relevant analyses, and 

reviewing the public comments. These 

actions will be taken to aid in the 

development of a test procedure NOPR 

for residential microwaves. 

DOE considers public participation to 

be a very important part of the process 

for developing test procedures. DOE 

actively encourages the participation of 

the public during the comment period 

in each stage of the rulemaking process. 

Interactions with and between members 

of the public provide a balanced 

discussion of the issues and assist DOE 

in the rulemaking process. Anyone who 

wishes to be added to the DOE mailing 

list to receive future notices and 

information about this rulemaking 

should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at 

(202) 586–2945, or via e-mail at 

Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 18, 

2011. 

Kathleen Hogan, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2011–27406 Filed 10–21–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket Number: EERE–2011–BT–STD– 

0006] 

RIN 1904–AC43 

Energy Conservation Program: 

Framework Document for General 

Service Fluorescent Lamps and 

Incandescent Reflector Lamps 

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of extension of public 

comment period. 

SUMMARY: On September 14, 2011, DOE 

published a notice of public meeting 

and availability of the framework 

document on general service fluorescent 

lamps and incandescent reflector lamps 

energy conservation standards in the 

Federal Register. This notice announces 

that the period for submitting comments 

on the framework document is extended 

to November 28, 2011. 

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, 

and information regarding the 

framework document received no later 

than November 28, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted 

must identify the framework document 

on general service fluorescent lamps 

and incandescent reflector lamps energy 

conservation standards, and provide 

docket number EERE–2011–BT–STD– 

0006 and/or RIN number 1904–AC43. 

Comments may be submitted using any 

of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• E-mail: GSFL-IRL_2011-STD0006@ee.doe.gov. Include docket 

number EERE–2011–BT–STD–0006 

and/or RIN 1904–AC43 in the subject 

line of the message. Submit electronic 

comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft 

Word, PDF, or ASCII file format and 

avoid the use of special characters or 

any form of encryption. 

• Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, 

U.S. Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 

1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–2945. Please 

submit one signed original paper copy. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 

Building Technologies Program, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th Floor, 

Washington, DC 20024. Please submit 

one signed original paper copy. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received, visit 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 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the 

above telephone number for additional 

information regarding visiting the 

Resource Room. Please note: DOE’s 

Freedom of Information Reading Room 

(Room 1E–190 at the Forrestal Building) 

no longer houses rulemaking materials. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dr. Tina Kaarsberg, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, EE–2J, 1000 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 287–1393. E-mail: 

Tina.Kaarsberg@ee.doe.gov. 

Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–7796. E-mail: 

Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

September 14, 2011, DOE published a 

notice of public meeting and availability 

of the framework document in the 

Federal Register 76 FR 56678 

(September 14, 2011) to make available 

and invite comments on the framework 

document for general service fluorescent 

lamps and incandescent reflector lamps 

energy conservation standards. The 

notice provided for the submission of 

comments by October 31, 2011, and 

comments were also accepted at a 

public meeting held on October 4, 2011. 

At this public meeting Lutron stated it 

had conferred with other stakeholders 

and they were in agreement that more 

time should be allowed to provide 

comments on the framework document. 

Lutron suggested that the comment 

period for the framework document be 

extended to coincide with the comment 

period for the notice of proposed 

rulemaking for general service 

fluorescent lamps, general service 

incandescent lamps, and incandescent 

reflector lamps test procedures ending 

November 28, 2011. DOE has 

determined that an extension of the 

public comment period is appropriate 

based on the foregoing reasons and is 

hereby extending the comment period. 

DOE will consider any comments 

received by November 28, 2011/ 

midnight and deems any comments 

received between October 31, 2011/ 

midnight and November 28, 2011/ 

midnight to be timely submitted. 

Further Information on Submitting 

Comments 

Under 10 CFR 1004.11, any person 

submitting information that he or she 

believes to be confidential and exempt 

by law from public disclosure should 

submit two copies: One copy of the 

document including all the information 

believed to be confidential, and one 

copy of the document with the 

information believed to be confidential 

deleted. DOE will make its own 

determination about the confidential 

status of the information and treat it 

according to its determination. 

Factors of interest to DOE when 

evaluating requests to treat submitted 

information as confidential include (1) a 

description of the items, (2) whether 

and why such items are customarily 

treated as confidential within the 

industry, (3) whether the information is 

generally known by or available from 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS