1 

I

         GE Appliances  

David N. Baker             David N. Baker

Counsel – Government Relations &

Regulatory Compliance  

Appliance Park, AP2‐225

Louisville, KY 40225

T 502 452 5168

F 502 452 0347

david.baker2@ge.com  

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE VERSION 

February 17, 2012

Dr. Henry Kelly

Acting Assistant Secretary

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585

Re:  Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver

DOE Test Procedures for Automatic and Semi‐Automatic Clothes Washers

   

Dear Assistant Secretary Kelly:

GE Appliances, a business unit of General Electric Company, (‘‘GE’’) respectfully submits this

Petition for Waiver (“Petition”) and Application for Interim Waiver (“Application”) to the

Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’ or the “Department’’) from test procedures for residential

automatic and semi‐automatic clothes washers that are manufactured by GE.

Authority

10 CFR 430.27 (a)(1) allows a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements for

a particular basic model for a covered consumer product when (1) The petitioner’s basic model

contains one or more design characteristics that prevents testing according to the prescribed

test procedure, or (2) when prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a

manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics as to provide

materially inaccurate comparative data.  

10 CFR 430.27 (a)(2) also provides for a petitioner to file an application for Interim Waiver of

the applicable test procedure requirements.  Petitioners make such request on the grounds

that they will experience economic hardship if the interim waiver is denied, as competitive

disadvantage will otherwise likely result.  Additional and/or alternative grounds for the

Assistant Secretary to grant an interim waiver are if it appears likely that the petitioned‐for
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waiver will be granted and/or it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate

relief pending a determination on the petition for waiver.  10 CFR 430.27 (g).

Reasoning  

The current test procedure prescribed in 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix J1 (‘‘Appendix J1’’)

does not adequately provide a way for GE to accurately represent the energy consumption of

its large‐capacity clothes washers.  DOE has acknowledged this in previous grants of similar

Petitions for Waiver and Applications for Interim Waiver filed by GE and other manufacturers.1  

The current test procedure for calculating energy consumption defines the relationship

between basket volume and test load mass for basket volumes between 0 and 3.8 cubic feet.

Market trends, however, have led manufacturers to design clothes washers with volumes

greater than 3.8 cubic feet. Therefore, the existing test procedure is not applicable for units GE

will be manufacturing.  

Since Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 currently defines test load sizes used during the test procedure

as linear functions of the basket volume, but only up to 3.8 cubic feet, the basket sizes of GE's

new models are currently not defined.  Furthermore, if GE were to test its new clothes washers

as if the basket size were 3.8 cubic feet, i.e., with an average load size of 9.4 pounds (4.27 kg),

the results of the energy test so conducted would understate the energy used by the new

models.

GE is planning to launch in the first quarter of 2012 21 new models of high‐capacity clothes

washers with basket capacities larger than 3.8 cubic feet.  It must, therefore, seek a waiver

from current test procedures from the Department.  GE believes that a grant of Interim Waiver

and Waiver is warranted.    Without an Interim Waiver, GE will face economic hardship due to

the inability to market products that were designed and manufactured with a $21.1 million

investment.  Moreover, unless GE is able to market and sell clothes washers that compete with

high‐capacity models of other manufacturers, GE will lose market share and revenue and

consumers’ purchasing options will be limited.  

Alternate Test Procedure

10 CFR 430.27 (b)(1)(iii) requires petitioners to propose an alternate test procedure to evaluate

in a representative manner the energy consumption characteristics of the basic model.  GE

therefore submits that the appropriate alternate test procedure be based on the attached

table, previously provided by AHAM to the Department in AHAM Comments on the Framework

Document for Residential Clothes Washers; EERE‐2008‐BT‐STD‐0019; RIN 1904‐AB90, dated

October 2, 2009. Since there is a linear relationship between container volume and test load

size, AHAM provided calculations to extend Table 5.1 in these comments (attached).

 

1 See 71 FR 48913, Publication of the Petition for Waiver and Granting of the Application for Interim Waiver of

Whirlpool Corporation From the DOE Residential Automatic and Semi‐Automatic Clothes Washer Test Procedures,

August 22, 2006; 75 FR 57915, Notice of Petition for Waiver of the General Electric Company From the Department

of Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure and Grant of Interim Waiver [Case No. CW‐013], September

13, 2010.
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GE’s Petition and Application cover the following basic models2:   

 

2 Asterisks, or wild cards, denote color or other features that do not affect energy performance.

GTWN5950*** 

GTWN5750*** 

GTWN5650*** 

GLWN5550*** 

GTWN5550*** 

GTWN5450*** 

GTWN5350*** 

GLWN5250*** 

GHWN5250*** 

GTWN5250*** 

GCWN4950*** 

GTWN4950*** 

GHWN4250*** 

GTWN4250*** 

GCWN2800*** 

GLWN2800*** 

GTWN2800*** 

GFWH1300D*** 

GFWN1300D*** 

GFWH140*D*** 

GFWS150*D***

Conclusion

Based on the above, GE requests that the Assistant Secretary expeditiously grant GE’s Petition

for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver.  Relief is warranted to enable GE to market its

new products and to compete with manufacturers that have been granted the same relief for

similar products.   

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this Petition for Waiver and

Application for Interim Waiver.  

Sincerely,

David N. Baker

Counsel, Government Relations

& Regulatory Compliance

GE Appliances
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Table 5.1‐‐Test Load Sizes

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 

Container volume Minimum load Maximum load Average load 

cu. ft. ≥ < (liter) ≥ < lb (kg) lb (kg) lb (kg) 

0–0.8 ............................................................................ 0–22.7 3.00 1.36 3.00 1.36 3.00 1.36 

0.80–0.90 ..................................................................... 22.7–25.5 3.00 1.36 3.50 1.59 3.25 1.47 

0.90–1.00 ..................................................................... 25.5–28.3 3.00 1.36 3.90 1.77 3.45 1.56 

1.00–1.10 ..................................................................... 28.3–31.1 3.00 1.36 4.30 1.95 3.65 1.66 

1.10–1.20 ..................................................................... 31.1–34.0 3.00 1.36 4.70 2.13 3.85 1.75 

1.20–1.30 ..................................................................... 34.0–36.8 3.00 1.36 5.10 2.31 4.05 1.84 

1.30–1.40 ..................................................................... 36.8–39.6 3.00 1.36 5.50 2.49 4.25 1.93 

1.40–1.50 ..................................................................... 39.6–42.5 3.00 1.36 5.90 2.68 4.45 2.02 

1.50–1.60 ..................................................................... 42.5–45.3 3.00 1.36 6.40 2.90 4.70 2.13 

1.60–1.70 ..................................................................... 45.3–48.1 3.00 1.36 6.80 3.08 4.90 2.22 

1.70–1.80 ..................................................................... 48.1–51.0 3.00 1.36 7.20 3.27 5.10 2.31 

1.80–1.90 ..................................................................... 51.0–53.8 3.00 1.36 7.60 3.45 5.30 2.40 

1.90–2.00 ..................................................................... 53.8–56.6 3.00 1.36 8.00 3.63 5.50 2.49 

2.00–2.10 ..................................................................... 56.6–59.5 3.00 1.36 8.40 3.81 5.70 2.59 

2.10–2.20 ..................................................................... 59.5–62.3 3.00 1.36 8.80 3.99 5.90 2.68 

2.20–2.30 ..................................................................... 62.3–65.1 3.00 1.36 9.20 4.17 6.10 2.77 

2.30–2.40 ..................................................................... 65.1–68.0 3.00 1.36 9.60 4.35 6.30 2.86 

2.40–2.50 ..................................................................... 68.0–70.8 3.00 1.36 10.00 4.54 6.50 2.95

2.50–2.60 ..................................................................... 70.8–73.6 3.00 1.36 10.50 4.76 6.75 3.06

2.60–2.70 ..................................................................... 73.6–76.5 3.00 1.36 10.90 4.94 6.95 3.15

2.70–2.80 ..................................................................... 76.5–79.3 3.00 1.36 11.30 5.13 7.15 3.24

2.80–2.90 ..................................................................... 79.3–82.1 3.00 1.36 11.70 5.31 7.35 3.33

2.90–3.00 ..................................................................... 82.1–85.0 3.00 1.36 12.10 5.49 7.55 3.42

3.00–3.10 ..................................................................... 85.0–87.8 3.00 1.36 12.50 5.67 7.75 3.52

3.10–3.20 ..................................................................... 87.8–90.6 3.00 1.36 12.90 5.85 7.95 3.61

3.20–3.30 ..................................................................... 90.6–93.4 3.00 1.36 13.30 6.03 8.15 3.70

3.30–3.40 ..................................................................... 93.4–96.3 3.00 1.36 13.70 6.21 8.35 3.79

3.40–3.50 ..................................................................... 96.3–99.1 3.00 1.36 14.10 6.40 8.55 3.88

3.50–3.60 ..................................................................... 99.1–101.9 3.00 1.36 14.60 6.62 8.80 3.99 

3.60–3.70 ..................................................................... 101.9–104.8 3.00 1.36 15.00 6.80 9.00 4.08 

3.70–3.80 ..................................................................... 104.8–107.6 3.00 1.36 15.40 6.99 9.20 4.17 

3.80–3.90 ..................................................................... 107.6–110.4 3.00 1.36 15.80 7.18 9.40 4.27 

3.90–4.00 ..................................................................... 110.4–113.3 3.00 1.36 16.20 7.36 9.60 4.36 

4.00–4.10 ..................................................................... 113.3–116.1 3.00 1.36 16.60 7.55 9.80 4.45 

4.10–4.20 ..................................................................... 116.1–118.9 3.00 1.36 17.00 7.73 10.00 4.55 

4.20–4.30 ..................................................................... 118.9–121.8 3.00 1.36 17.40 7.91 10.20 4.64 

4.30–4.40 ..................................................................... 121.8–124.6 3.00 1.36 17.80 8.09 10.40 4.73 

4.40–4.50 ..................................................................... 124.6–127.4 3.00 1.36 18.20 8.27 10.60 4.82 

4.50–4.60 ..................................................................... 127.4–130.3 3.00 1.36 18.70 8.50 10.85 4.93 

4.60–4.70 ..................................................................... 130.3–133.1 3.00 1.36 19.1 8.65 11.03 5.00 

4.70–4.80 ..................................................................... 133.1–135.9 3.00 1.36 19.5 8.83 11.24 5.10 

4.80–4.90 ..................................................................... 135.9–138.8 3.00 1.36 19.9 9.02 11.44 5.19 

4.90–5.00 ..................................................................... 138.8–141.6 3.00 1.36 20.3 9.21 11.65 5.28 

5.00–5.10 ..................................................................... 141.6–144.4 3.00 1.36 20.7 9.39 11.85 5.38 

5.10–5.20 ..................................................................... 144.4–147.3 3.00 1.36 21.1 9.58 12.06 5.47 

5.20–5.30 ..................................................................... 147.3–150.1 3.00 1.36 21.5 9.76 12.26 5.56 

5.30–5.40 ..................................................................... 150.1–152.9 3.00 1.36 21.9 9.95 12.46 5.65 

5.40–5.50 ..................................................................... 152.9–155.8 3.00 1.36 22.3 10.13 12.67 5.75 

5.50–5.60 ..................................................................... 155.8–158.6 3.00 1.36 22.7 10.32 12.87 5.84 

5.60–5.70 ..................................................................... 158.6–161.4 3.00 1.36 23.2 10.51 13.08 5.93 

5.70–5.80 ..................................................................... 161.4–164.3 3.00 1.36 23.6 10.69 13.29 6.03 

5.80–5.90 ..................................................................... 164.3–167.1 3.00 1.36 24.0 10.88 13.49 6.12 

5.90–6.00 ..................................................................... 167.1–169.9 3.00 1.36 24.4 11.06 13.70 6.21