[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10379-10380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4607]



[[Page 10379]]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards: Evaluation 
Criteria for the Voluntary Program to Provide Energy Efficiency 
Information for Commercial Office Equipment

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires the Department of 
Energy (DOE or Department) to support a voluntary national testing and 
information program for those types of commercial office equipment that 
are widely used and show potential for significant energy savings. Not 
later than October 24, 1995, DOE must determine whether the voluntary 
program, thus created by an appropriate organization of interested 
persons, is consistent with the objectives set forth in the 
legislation. In order to assist the development of the voluntary 
program, the Department has developed a set of evaluation criteria that 
will be used as the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the 
commercial office equipment testing and information program. The 
Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 1995, to 
discuss the proposed criteria with persons interested in the 
development of the voluntary program. All persons are hereby given 
notice of the opportunity to submit written comments, and to attend the 
public meeting.

DATES: Written comments in quadruplicate must be received by March 31, 
1995. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be labeled ``Voluntary Program to 
Promote Energy Efficiency in Commercial Office Equipment'' and 
submitted to Ms. Barbara Twigg, Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 586-
8714; FAX: (202) 586-4617.
    The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m., and will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room GH-027, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC.
    Copies of the draft evaluation criteria may be requested from 
Barbara Twigg at the above address. Copies are available in the DOE 
Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC, (202) 586-6020 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Twigg, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-431, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-8714
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authority

    Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, 
Public Law 94-163, created the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products other than Automobiles. The most recent amendment, the Energy 
Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 102-486, 106 stat. 2776, identified 
several new categories of products and equipment beyond the existing 
residential appliances for inclusion in various required and voluntary 
testing and information programs to promote energy efficiency. 
Voluntary programs were specified for commercial office equipment, 
window rating and labeling, and luminaires.
    As described in Section 125 of EPACT, the Secretary of Energy, 
after consulting with industry associations and other interested 
organizations, is to provide technical and financial assistance to 
support a voluntary national testing and information program for those 
types of commercial office equipment that are widely used, and for 
which there is a potential for significant energy savings as a result 
of such programs. Such program will provide information that when 
conveyed to consumers, will enable purchasers of the equipment to make 
more informed decisions about the energy efficiency and costs of 
alternative products.
    The voluntary program should determine the types of commercial 
office equipment to be covered, include specifications for testing 
procedures, and include information which may be disseminated through 
catalogs, trade publications, labels, or other mechanisms that will 
allow consumers to assess the energy consumption and potential cost 
savings of alternative products. Such program shall be developed by an 
appropriate organization (composed of interested persons), according to 
commonly accepted procedures for the development of national testing 
procedures and labeling programs.
    Not later than three years after the date of enactment of EPACT 
(October 24, 1995), the Secretary shall make a determination as to 
whether the voluntary program is positioned to achieve the objectives 
established for the testing and rating of commercial office equipment. 
If the Secretary determines that the voluntary program is not 
consistent with the objectives of the legislation, the Secretary shall, 
after consultation with the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, develop test procedures for those types of commercial 
equipment designated as part of the program. One year later, the 
Federal Trade Commission would prescribe labeling rules.

2. Background

    Since the passage of EPACT, the Department of Energy has monitored 
the efforts of the commercial office equipment industry to develop a 
testing and information program through the Council on Office Products 
Energy Efficiency (COPEE), a working group composed of the Information 
Technology Industry Council, formerly the Computer and Business 
Equipment Manufacturers Association, office equipment manufacturers, 
environmental organizations, designers, national laboratories, and 
other office equipment professionals. On May 26, 1994, DOE held a 
public meeting, at which interested persons were invited to offer 
suggestions concerning methods of evaluation, and to obtain updates on 
the progress of COPEE's voluntary program. Comments were invited 
through June 15, 1994. Additional suggestions and information were 
supplied by the COPEE on July 15, 1994.

3. Discussion

    The purpose of the meeting is twofold: (1) To discuss the proposed 
evaluation criteria; and (2) to provide an opportunity to inform DOE of 
the progress of the voluntary program, and establish a timetable for 
the evaluation of the program. After the meeting and comment period, 
the Department will consider all comments and publish the evaluation 
criteria in the Federal Register.

4. Public Meeting Procedure

    The meeting will be informal. Participants are requested to review 
a [[Page 10380]] copy of the draft evaluation criteria before the 
meeting.

    Issued in Washington, DC, February 21, 1995.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-4607 Filed 2-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P