9042 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 26 / Thursday, February 7, 2013 / Notices 

equipped with a water softener under the 

current DOE test procedure may lead to 

information that could be considered 

misleading to consumers. 

1. Identification of Basic Models 

The Dishwasher models manufactured by 

BSH which contain an integrated water 

softener and were not included in previous 

Waiver applications is as follows: 

Bosch brand: 

• Basic Model—SHE43T5### 

• Basic Model—SHX43T5### 

• Basic Model—SHE33T5### 

Kenmore brand: 

• Basic Model—S38KML4### 

• Basic Model—S48KML2### 

• Basic Model—S48KML3### 

• Basic Model—S38KML5### 

• Basic Model—S37KMK2### 

Gaggenau brand: 

• Basic Model—DF261761 

• Basic Model—DF260761 

2. Background 

The design characteristic that is unique 

among the above listed models is an 

integrated water softener. The primary 

function of a water softener is to reduce the 

high mineral content of ‘‘hard’’ water. Hard 

water reduces the effectiveness of detergents 

leading to additional detergent usage. Hard 

water also causes increased water spots on 

dishware, resulting in the need to use more 

rinse aid to counterbalance this effect. 

‘‘Hard’’ water can reduce customer 

satisfaction with Dishwasher performance 

resulting in increased pre-rinsing and/or 

hand washing as well as increased detergent 

and rinse agent usage. 

The water softening process requires water 

usage for both the regeneration process and 

to flush the system. For purposes of this 

Waiver request, the term ‘‘regeneration’’ will 

include the water and energy used in both 

the flushing and regeneration process of the 

water softener. The water used in the 

regeneration process is in addition to the 

water used in the dish washing process. The 

water used in the regeneration process does 

not occur with each use of the Dishwasher. 

The frequency of the regeneration process is 

dependent upon an adjustable water softener 

setting that is controlled by the end user, and 

based on the home water hardness. 

Regeneration frequency will vary greatly 

depending upon the customer setting of the 

water softener. Data from the U.S. Geological 

Survey shows considerable variation in the 

water hardness within the U.S. and for many 

locations the use of a water softener is not 

necessary. Water hardness varies throughout 

the U.S. with the mean hardness of 217 mg/ 

liter or 12.6 grains/gallon (based on 

information provided by the U.S. Geological 

Survey located at http://water.usgs.gov/owq/ 

hardness-alkalinity.html). 

Calculations 

Water Use 

• Based on the DOE Energy Test for 

Dishwashers, the BSH Dishwashers listed in 

this waiver with an internal water softener 

use an average of approximately 9 liters of 

water per dish cleaning cycle. 

• Based on an average U.S. water hardness 

of 12.6 grains/gallon, the internal BSH 

Dishwasher water softener system would be 

set on ‘‘3’’. 

• Based on a BSH Dishwasher internal 

water softening system setting of ‘‘3’’ and the 

dishwasher using 9 liters of water per run, 

the water regeneration process would occur 

every 6th cycle. 

• When using the Dishwasher 215 times 

per year (per DOE test procedure), the 

regeneration process would occur 35.8 times 

(36). 

• The internal BSH water softening system 

uses approximately 5.0 per regeneration 

cycle. 

• Water usage calculation based on above 

data. 

Æ 36 × 5 = 180 liters per year (47.6 gallons) 

or .84 liters (.22 gallons) each time the 

dishwasher is used. 

Energy Used in kWh 

• Formula W = V × T × K 

Æ V = Weighted Average Water Usage per 

DOE 

Æ T = Nominal water heater temperature 

rise of 39° C 

Æ K = Specific heat of water 0.00115 

• Calculated Energy use—180 × 39 × 

.00115 = 8.0 kWh/yr 

Summary 

• A Dishwasher built by BSH with an 

integrated water softener in a home with a 

12.6 grain per gallon water hardness would 

be cycled through the water softening 

regeneration process approximately every 6 

dish cleaning cycles. When the water used in 

the water softener regeneration process is 

apportioned evenly over all dishwasher runs, 

the amount of energy and water usage per 

cycle is very low. Based on the assumptions 

provided, BSH estimates the typical water 

used in the internal Dishwasher water 

softener regeneration process at .84 liters (.22 

gallons) per use; furthermore, using about 8.0 

kWh per year to heat this water in the home 

hot water heater. 

3. Requirements Sought To Be Waived 

Dishwashers are subjected to test methods 

outlined in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, App. 

C, Section 4.3, which specifies the method 

for the water energy calculation. 

• BSH is requesting approval to estimate 

the water and energy used in the water 

softening process based on the design of the 

BSH Dishwasher and the calculations and 

assumptions outlined above. 

4. Grounds for Waiver and Interim Waiver 

10 CFR 430.27(a)(1) provides that a 

Petition to waive a requirement of 430.23 

may be submitted upon grounds that the 

basic model contains one or more design 

characteristics which either prevent testing of 

the basic model according to the prescribed 

test procedures, or the 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. 

If a water softener regeneration process was 

to occur while running an energy test, the 

water usage would be overstated. In this case, 

the water energy usage would be 

unrepresentative of the product providing 

inaccurate data resulting in a competitive 

disadvantage to BSH. 

Granting of an Interim Waiver in this case 

is justified since the prescribed test 

procedures would potentially evaluate the 

basic model in a manner so unrepresentative 

of its true energy consumption characteristics 

as to provide materially inaccurate 

comparative data. In addition, a similar 

Interim Waiver and Waiver have previously 

been granted to BSH. 

5. Manufacturers of Similar Products and 

Affected Manufacturers 

Web based research shows that at least two 

other manufacturers are currently selling 

dishwashers with an integrated water 

softener, Miele Inc. and Whirlpool 

Corporation (Waiver Granted). 

Manufacturers selling dishwashers in the 

United States include AGA Marvel, Arcelik 

A.S., ASKO Appliances, Inc., Electrolux 

North America, Inc., Fagor America, Inc., 

Fisher & Paykel Appliances, GE Appliances 

and Lighting, Haier America, Indesit 

Company Sa, Teka USA, Inc., LG Electronics 

USA, Miele, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., 

Viking Range Corporation and Whirlpool 

Corporation. 

BSH will notify all companies listed above 

(as well as AHAM), as required by the 

Department’s rules, providing them with a 

copy of this Petition for Waiver and Interim 

Waiver. 

6. Conclusion 

BSH Home Appliances Corporation hereby 

requests approval of the Waiver petition and 

Interim Waiver. By granting said Waivers the 

Department of Energy will further ensure that 

water energy is measured in the same way by 

all Dishwasher Manufacturer’s that have a 

integrated water softener. Further, BSH 

would request that these Waivers be in good 

standing until such time that the test 

procedure can be formally modified to 

account for integrated water softeners. 

BSH Home Appliances certifies that all 

manufacturers of domestic Dishwashers as 

listed above have been notified by letter. 

With Best Regards, 

Mike Edwards 

Senior Engineer, Performance and 

Consumption 

BSH Home Appliances Corporation (FNbG) 

100 Bosch Blvd., Building 102 

New Bern, NC 28562–6924 

mike.edwards@bshg.com 

Phone (252) 672–9161 

Fax (949) 809 6177 

[FR Doc. 2013–02751 Filed 2–6–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

Request for Information (RFI) for 

Commercial Building Energy Asset 

Score 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 26 / Thursday, February 7, 2013 / Notices 9043 

ACTION: Notice for Request for 

Information. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) has developed a 

preliminary commercial building energy 

asset score (hereinafter ‘‘score’’). The 

score provides information regarding 

the efficiency of a building’s major 

energy consuming systems and is 

intended to enable greater 

understanding of building performance 

and potential savings. DOE is 

developing this voluntary program as 

part of its effort to achieve a 20 percent 

improvement in the energy efficiency of 

commercial buildings by 2020. 

DATES: Comments may be submitted on 

or before March 11, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments via email 

to asset.score@ee.doe.gov or send mail 

to: Joan Glickman, Attn: Commercial 

Building Asset Score RFI, EE–2J, 1000 

Independence Ave., SW., Washington, 

DC 20585. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan 

Glickman, asset.score@ee.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

methodology used to score buildings 

and generate other relevant information 

is described in detail in the document 

entitled ‘‘Commercial Building Energy 

Asset Score: Program Overview and 

Technical Protocol Version 1.0’’ 

(hereinafter ‘‘the Protocol’’). This 

request for information (RFI) seeks input 

on the following three components of 

the Protocol: 

1. Data collection and validation; 

2. The asset score report; and 

3. Score durability. 

This RFI provides an overview of the 

three program components. Additional 

detail on each of the three topics is 

provided in the Protocol. Stakeholders 

are encouraged to download the 

Protocol, which is available at the 

following link: http://www1.eere.energy.

gov/buildings/commercial_initiative/

pdfs/energy_asset_score_technical_

protocol_phase1.pdf 

This is the second RFI that DOE has 

issued related to the score. On August 

8, 2011, DOE issued an RFI seeking 

input to inform overall development of 

the voluntary program. In addition, DOE 

conducted market research and outreach 

to better understand the perspective of 

industry and other interested groups. 

These efforts, along with initial pilot 

testing of the score with commercial 

building owners and operators in 2012, 

informed the development of the 

current score. More information on the 

asset score development process can be 

found at this site: http://www1.eere.

energy.gov/buildings/commercial/

assetscore.html. 

DOE plans to continue to work with 

commercial building owners and 

operators to pilot test the score in 2013, 

including application of the score to 

additional building types. During this 

testing period, DOE will continue to 

refine the program as well as conduct 

additional analysis to inform future 

program development. Future 

development of the program will 

continue to be guided by previously 

established principles, as described in 

Section 2.2 of the Protocol. In brief, the 

system must produce credible scores 

and useful information at an affordable 

cost. 

1. Data Collection and Validation 

To obtain an energy asset score using 

the tool, building owners must input at 

least the minimum required set of 

information about a building. This 

‘‘simple-level’’ use of the tool requires 

filling in approximately 20–30 data 

fields. Based on this information, the 

tool produces a preliminary report not 

intended to be used for official purposes 

such as public display or a real estate 

transaction. DOE recommends that 

building owners who want to display a 

report publicly or use the score for 

transactional purposes obtain an 

advanced report, which requires 

completion of approximately 60–80 

fields of data and will likely also require 

that the data is validated and submitted 

by a person qualified to collect this 

information. When a user leaves a nonrequired data entry field blank, the tool 

uses a default value (an estimate based 

on the building type, location, and age) 

to complete the energy model. 

A preliminary data input list for the 

simple and the advanced use levels can 

be found in Appendix C of the Protocol. 

DOE is collecting feedback on the data 

collection process through pilot testing. 

The full list will not be finalized until 

after a pilot period, during which users 

can respond to the usefulness of the 

results and the difficulty of data 

collection. The total time required for 

the simple-level score is estimated to be 

6–8 hours; the total time required for the 

advanced-level data collection is 

estimated to be less than 20 hours. The 

simple-level time estimate was tested 

during the first pilot project in 2012 and 

will be further tested during the second 

pilot project in 2013. DOE invites 

comments from respondents on the 

preliminary data classification, data 

collection time, and method that can be 

used to maintain a balance between 

reasonable cost of data collection and 

acceptable accuracy of results. 

In addition to seeking input on data 

required for the simple and advanced 

scores, DOE also invites input on 

methods that can be used to validate 

scores in cases where a score is being 

used for official purposes (e.g., 

marketing to lessees, real estate sales). 

Considerations might include assessor 

qualification requirements, methods for 

verifying or testing assessor 

qualifications, as well as quality 

assurance requirements and 

implementation options. 

2. Energy Asset Score Report 

The energy asset scoring tool 

produces a report that includes four 

sections: A whole-building score, a 

system evaluation, identified 

opportunities for improvement, and a 

description of building assets. The 

primary modeling output of the energy 

asset scoring tool is the energy use 

intensity (EUI), which is used to 

generate the energy asset score. No 

baseline buildings are needed because 

the calculated EUI is placed on a fixed 

scale. Two sets of scores and associated 

modeled EUIs are presented on the same 

energy asset score scale: Current score 

and potential score. 

System evaluations are provided for 

building components, including 

envelope (roof, wall, window), lighting, 

heating, cooling, and service hot water 

systems. This information can help 

users identify parts of the building in 

need of attention. Two buildings with 

the same energy asset score may have 

different system evaluations. These 

evaluations can give users insight into 

their building’s strengths and 

weaknesses. Based on the entered 

building information, the energy asset 

scoring tool also identifies potential 

improvement opportunities in each 

system evaluated. 

Section 5 of the Protocol provides 

detailed descriptions of the score 

calculations, system evaluations 

methods, and the generation of a costeffective upgrade package. DOE 

welcomes comments on critical 

information to be included in the energy 

asset score report and the methodology 

used to evaluate systems and generate 

recommendations. 

3. Durability of Energy Asset Score 

DOE expects that a building’s score 

will remain current for at least 10 years, 

as long as the building does not undergo 

significant infrastructure changes 

including replacement of asset-related 

energy systems. If DOE makes any 

significant changes to the scoring 

methodology or tool, users will be 

notified and can receive an updated 

energy asset score report based on the 

latest version of the scoring tool. 

After establishing 100-point scales for 

all relevant building types, DOE expects 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

9044 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 26 / Thursday, February 7, 2013 / Notices 

that the scales can remain static for at 

least 10 years. The overall efficiency of 

the U.S. building stock is not expected 

to change dramatically enough to 

warrant scale revisions within 10 years. 

Although building equipment will 

degrade over time, equipment 

performance is affected by multiple 

factors, most of which are related to 

operation and maintenance. Given this 

combination of influences, equipment 

degradation is not accounted for in the 

score and will not affect the durability 

of the score. 

DOE will incorporate new software 

releases of EnergyPlus as they are 

developed. However, DOE expects that 

most new features that extend modeling 

capability or increase simulation speed 

will have little effect on the energy asset 

score. If a software update of EnergyPlus 

or other updates to the scoring tool 

result in a change of the modeling 

results, prior users of the tool will 

receive an updated score report. 

More information about the score 

durability is described in Section 3.2.4 

of the Protocol. DOE welcomes 

stakeholder comments on the durability 

of the energy asset score scale and the 

period for which a building should be 

able to maintain its score. 

Submitting Comments to DOE 

DOE invites comments on all 

elements discussed above, as well as 

additional issues that respondents deem 

important. Specifically, DOE requests 

comments on (1) Data classification for 

the simple and advanced levels of tool 

use as well as score validation methods; 

(2) critical information to be included in 

the energy asset score report; and (3) 

durability of the energy asset scores. 

Comments may be submitted in 

writing via direct mail or email within 

on or before March 11, 2013. Please 

limit comments to no more than 3 pages 

per program area, not to exceed a total 

of 8 pages. 

Disclaimer and Important Notes 

This is an RFI issued solely for 

information and program planning 

purposes; this RFI does not constitute a 

formal solicitation for proposals or 

abstracts. Your response to this notice 

will be treated as information only. DOE 

will not provide reimbursement for 

costs incurred in responding to this RFI. 

Respondents are advised that DOE is 

under no obligation to acknowledge 

receipt of the information received or 

provide feedback to respondents with 

respect to any information submitted 

under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do 

not bind DOE to any further actions 

related to this topic. 

Confidential Business Information 

According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 

person submitting information he or she 

believes to be confidential and exempt 

by law from public disclosure should 

submit via email, postal mail, or hand 

delivery/courier two well-marked 

copies: One copy of the document 

marked confidential including all the 

information believed to be confidential, 

and one copy of the document marked 

non-confidential with the information 

believed to be confidential deleted. 

Submit these documents via email or on 

a CD, if feasible. 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 

other sources; (4) whether the 

information has previously been made 

available to others without obligation 

concerning its confidentiality; (5) an 

explanation of the competitive injury to 

the submitting person which would 

result from public disclosure; (6) when 

such information might lose its 

confidential character due to the 

passage of time; and (7) why disclosure 

of the information would be contrary to 

the public interest. 

It is DOE’s policy that all comments 

may be included in the public docket, 

without change and as received, 

including any personal information 

provided in the comments (except 

information deemed to be exempt from 

public disclosure). 

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 1, 

2013. 

Kathleen B. Hogan, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2013–02753 Filed 2–6–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–9777–4] 

Adequacy Status of the Motor Vehicle 

Emission Budgets for Metropolitan 

Washington DC Area (DC–MD–VA) 

1997 8-Hour Ozone Non-Attainment 

Area’s 2009 Attainment Plan and 2010 

Contingency Plan 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice of adequacy. 

SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is 

notifying the public that the Motor 

Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) for 

volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 

nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the 2009 

Attainment Plan and 2010 Contingency 

Plan submitted as a State 

Implementation Plan (SIP) revision on 

June 4, 2007 by the Maryland 

Department of the Environment (MDE) 

and June 12, 2007 by both the Virginia 

Department of Environmental Quality 

(VADEQ) and the District of Columbia 

Department of Health (DCDOH) are 

adequate for transportation conformity 

purposes. As a result of EPA’s finding, 

the Washington DC–MD–VA 

Nonattainment Area for the 1997 8-Hour 

Ozone National Ambient Air Quality 

Standard (the Metropolitan Washington 

Area) must use the MVEBs from the 

June 4, 2007 and June 12, 2007 

Attainment Plan and Contingency Plan 

for future conformity determinations for 

the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. 

DATES: The adequacy finding for MVEBs 

for VOCs and NOX is effective February 

22, 2013. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Martin Kotsch, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 

Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

19103 at (215) 814–3335 or by email at: 

kotsch.martin@epa.gov. The finding is 

available at EPA’s conformity Web site: 

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/ 

stateresources/transconf/currsips.htm. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The word 

‘‘budgets’’ refers to the motor vehicle 

emission budgets for VOCs and NOX. 

The word ‘‘SIP’’ in this document refers 

to the Attainment Plan and Contingency 

Plan for the Metropolitan Washington 

Area, 1997 8-Hour Ozone 

Nonattainment Area submitted to EPA 

as a SIP revision on June 4, 2007 by 

MDE and June 12, 2007 by VADEQ and 

DCDOH. 

Today’s notice is simply an 

announcement of a finding that EPA has 

already made. In this notice, EPA is 

notifying the public that we have found 

that the MVEBs in the 2009 Attainment 

Plan and 2010 Contingency Plan, 

submitted on June 4, 2007 by MDE and 

June 12, 2007 by VADEQ and DCDOH, 

are adequate for transportation 

conformity purposes. As a result of 

EPA’s finding, the Metropolitan 

Washington Area must use the MVEBs 

from the 2009 Attainment Plan and 

2010 Contingency Plan for future 

conformity determinations for the 1997 

8-hour ozone standard. This finding has 

also been announced on EPA’s 

conformity Web site: http:// 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES