Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-398
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-02-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Alaska
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Colorado
Connecticut
Consumer affairs
Department of Energy
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
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Food industry and services
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Government information and archives
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Idaho
Illinois
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Lighting, heating, cooling
Maine
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New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York State
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Ohio
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Rhode Island
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Vermont
Washington State
Water use and supply
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-17
text: 
Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to set forth provisions concerning establishing standards for: (1) a minimum level of energy efficiency or a maximum quantity of water use for clothes washers and dishwashers; (2) the seasonal energy efficiency ratio of central air conditioners and central air conditioning heat pumps manufactured on or after January 1, 2015; (3) the annual fuel utilization efficiency of non-weatherized furnaces manufactured on or after May 1, 2013; (4) energy efficiency of GU-24 Base Lamps, high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamps, general service fluorescent lamps, general service incandescent lamps, intermediate base incandescent lamps, candelabra base incandescent lamps, and incandescent reflector lamps; (5) energy efficiency of bottle-type water dispensers and compartment bottle-type water dispensers, commercial hot food holding cabinets, and portable electric spas; (6) energy conservation of refrigerators and freezers manufactured on or after January 1, 2014; (7) minimum energy efficiency ratios of room air conditioners manufactured on or after June 1, 2014; (8) minimum energy efficiency of clothes dryers manufactured on or after January 1, 2015; (9) energy conservation of certain incandescent reflector lamps; (10) energy efficiency of warm air furnaces with an input rating of 225,000 Btu per hour or more and manufactured on or after the date that is one year after this Act's enactment; (11) daily energy consumption of service over the counter, self-contained, medium temperature commercial refrigerators; and (12) nominal full load efficiency of specified electric motors.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to publish rules that determine whether the Secretary should: (1) establish or amend standards for through-the-wall central air conditioners, through-the-wall central air conditioning heat pumps, and small duct, high velocity systems; (2) amend standards for weatherized furnaces; and (3) initiate a process for establishing minimum energy efficiency standards for video game console energy use.
 
 
Amends the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles to: (1) revise exceptions from preemption requirements for certain building code requirements; and (2) revise labeling rules for &quot;covered products.&quot;
 
Prohibits the manufacture of general purpose mercury vapor lamps on or after January 1, 2016. Provides that state energy conservation standards that are adopted by January 1, 2015, pursuant to statutory requirements to adopt efficiency standards for reducing outdoor lighting energy use enacted prior to January 31, 2008, will not be preempted by federal standards. Provides that California and Nevada are not precluded from adopting, effective beginning on or after January 1, 2018, standards for general service lamps.
 
Requires the Administrator to determine whether to update the Energy Star criteria for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, and room air conditioners to incorporate smart grid and demand response features.
 
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a program concerning increasing awareness of higher efficiency electric motors.

action_date: 2011-05-18
text: 
 Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to expand the definition of &quot;energy conservation standard&quot; under such Act to mean one or more performance or design requirements relating to energy and water efficiency. 
 
Establishes energy conservation standards for: (1) central air conditioners and heat pumps; (2) through-the-wall central air conditioners; (3) through-the-wall central air conditiioning heat pumps; (4) small duct, high velocity systems; and (5) non-weatherized furnaces.
 
(Sec. 3) Establishes energy conservation standards for: (1) heat pump pool heaters, and (2) GU-24 lamps, lamp sockets, and adaptors.
 
(Sec. 5) Establishes energy conservation standards and test procedures for bottle-type water dispensers, commercial hot food holding cabinets, and portable electric spas. 
 
(Sec. 6) Allows any person to petition the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to prescribe or amend test procedures for covered products and equipment. Establishes deadlines for responding to such petitions. 
 
(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to publish amended test procedures for refrigerators and freezers, residential clothes washers, and clothes dryers.
 
(Sec. 8) Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine whether to update the Energy Star criteria for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, and room air conditioners to incorporate smart grid and demand response features. 
 
(Sec. 9) Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct a study of video game console energy use and opportunities for energy savings for such use, (2) determine whether to establish minimum energy efficiency standards for such use after completing such study, and (3) conduct a follow-up study if an energy efficiency standard is not established.
 
(Sec. 10) Revises energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers manufactured as of January 1, 2014. 
 
(Sec. 11) Establishes energy conservation standards for room air conditioners manufactured on or after June 1, 2014.
 
(Sec. 12) Requires the Secretary to publish a final rule that establishes a uniform energy descriptor and test methods for covered water heaters (i.e., a water heater, a storage water heater, an instantaneous water heater, or an unfired water storage tank). 
 
(Sec. 13) Establishes energy conservation standards for: (1) clothes dryers manufactured on or after January 1, 2015; (2) clothes washers manufactured on or after January 1, 2015, and on or after January 1, 2018; and (3) residential dishwashers manufactured on or after January 1, 2013. 
 
(Sec. 16) Requires the Secretary, in conducting rulemakings for reflector lamps after January 1, 2014, to consider incandescent and nonincandescent technologies and a new energy-related measure other than lumens per watt.
 
(Sec. 17) Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register a notice of, and explanation for, any DOE decision to grant or deny a petition for a new or amended energy standard and to publish, within three years after granting a petition, a final rule that contains the new or amended standards or a determination that no new or amended standards are necessary.
 
(Sec. 18) Amends EPCA to extend provisions of that Act relating to prohibited acts to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, or private labelers.
 
(Sec. 19) Defines and establishes energy conservation standards for: (1) high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamps and general purpose mercury vapor lamps; (2) gas-fired and oil-fired warm air furnaces; and (3) service over the counter, self-contained, medium temperature commercial refrigerators.
 
(Sec. 22) Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct an assessment of electric motors and the electric motor market in the United States and develop recommendations for improving the efficiency of motor systems; and (2) establish a proactive, national program targeted at motor end-users to increase awareness of the energy and cost-saving opportunities in commercial and industrial facilities using higher efficiency electric motors, improvements in motor system procurement and management procedures, and criteria for making decisions for new, replacement, or repair motor and motor system components.
 
(Sec. 23) Directs the Secretary to study and report on: (1) the degree of compliance with energy standards for appliances; and (2) the costs and benefits of requiring high-quality, direct current electricity supply in buildings and the role of the federal government in imposing such requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 54.
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 112-18.
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 112-18.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-03-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-10.
action_date: 2011-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S891-904)
action_date: 2011-02-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S890-891)
action_date: 2011-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate