CHAPTER 9. TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

9.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 9-1 

9.2 TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS ....................................................................................... 9-1 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 9.2.1 Trial Standard Levels for Commercial Clothes Washers .................................... 9-2 

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CHAPTER 9. TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS 

9.1 INTRODUCTION 

DOE generated NES and NPV results based on trial standard levels (TSLs). The TSLs 

are based on the following: (1) candidate standard (efficiency) levels identified in the Advance 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) published in November 15, 2007,1 (2) the candidate 

standard level identified with the maximum efficiency, and (3) a combination of candidate 

standard levels for different equipment classes that have potentially positive impacts on 

consumers and the Nation. 

This chapter presents information and results pertaining solely to CCWs. As described in 

section 1.3 of chapter 1 of this technical support document (TSD), DOE is continuing the 

rulemaking for energy conservation standards for microwave oven standby power, and analyses 

related to these products will be published in a separate TSD. In addition, DOE issued a final 

rule2

 adopting energy conservation standards for conventional cooking products (i.e., cooktops 

and ovens) and microwave oven energy factor (EF), and details of the analyses for these products 

are contained in the corresponding final rule TSD.3 

9.2 TRIAL STANDARD LEVELS 

Table 9.4.1 shows the TSLs for commercial clothes washers. TSLs consist of a 

combination of modified energy factor (MEF) and water factor (WF). In all, DOE has 

considered five TSLs. TSL 1 corresponds to the first candidate standard level from each 

equipment class and represents the efficiency level for each class with the least significant design 

change. TSL 2 represents the second candidate standard level for front-loading washers while 

keeping top-loading washers at its first candidate standard level. Over 95 percent of the frontloading washer market either meets or exceeds the second candidate standard level for frontloading washers. In contrast, the second candidate standard level for top-loading washers 

corresponds to the maximum efficiency level for this class and represents approximately one 

percent of the top-loading washer market. Therefore, TSL 2 corresponds to the candidate 

standard levels for each equipment class that still represent a significant share of the market. TSL 

3 represents the second candidate standard level for top-loading washers (the maximum 

efficiency level for this class) while keeping front-loading washers at its second candidate 

standard level. For TSL 3, front-loading washers were held to the second candidate standard 

level in order to minimize the equipment price difference between the two equipment classes. 

For TSL 4, top-loading washers are retained at their maximum efficiency level while frontloading washers are incremented to their third candidate standard level. Finally, TSL 5 

corresponds to the maximum technologically feasible level for each equipment class. In 

progressing from TSL 1 to TSL 5, the LCC savings, NES, and NPV all increase. TSL 5 

represents the level with the minimum LCC and maximum NES and NPV. 

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EERE-2006-STD-0127 COMMENT 69.1
Table 9.2.1 Trial Standard Levels for Commercial Clothes Washers 

Trial Standard Levels 

TSL 1 TSL 2 TSL 3 TSL 4 TSL 5 

Top-Loading 

MEF 1.42 1.42 1.60 1.60 1.60 

WF 9.5 9.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 

Front-Loading 

MEF 1.80 2.00 2.00 2.20 2.35 

WF 7.5 5.5 5.5 5.1 4.4 

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REFERENCES 

1	 U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy 

Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Certain Consumer Products 

(Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, Electric and Gas Kitchen Ranges and Ovens, and Microwave 

Ovens) and for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Commercial Clothes 

Washers); Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Public Meeting. Federal 

Register, 2007. 72(220): pp. 64432-64515. 

2	 U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy 

Conservation Standards for Certain Consumer Products (Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, 

Microwave Ovens, and Electric and Gas Kitchen Ranges and Ovens) and for Certain 

Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Commercial Clothes Washers); Final Rule. Federal 

Register, 2009. 74(66): pp. 16040-16096. 

3	 U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Technical 

Support Document: Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial and 

Industrial Equipment: Residential Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, Cooking Products, and 

Commercial Clothes Washers, March, 2009. Washington, DC. 

<http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/cooking_products_final_rul 

e_tsd.html> 

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