[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 250 (Friday, December 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32114]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 30, 1994]


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U.S. 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 Luminaires

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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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 luminaires 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 parties is 
consistent with the objectives set forth in the legislation. In order 
to clarify the objectives of the legislation, and thereby assist the 
development of the voluntary program by the appropriate organization, 
the Department has developed a set of evaluation criteria that will be 
used as the basis for assessing the effectiveness of the luminaire 
testing and information program. The Department will hold a public 
meeting on Thursday, January 5, 1995, to discuss the proposed criteria 
with parties 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 January 
27, 1995. The public meeting will be held on Thursday, January 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be labeled ``Voluntary Program to 
Promote Energy Efficiency in Luminaires'' 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 3E-077, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC. There will also be a video 
conference link at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, 
California.
    Copies of the draft evaluation criteria may be requested from 
Barbara Twigg at the above address. Copies will also be 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 (Program). The most recent amendment, 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 102-486, 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 126 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 luminaires 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 luminaires 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 parties) 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 luminaires. 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 luminaires. 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 luminaire industry to develop a testing and 
information program through the National Lighting Collaborative (NLC or 
Collaborative), a working group composed of the National Electrical 
Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the American Lighting Association, 
lighting manufacturers, environmental organizations, designers, 
national laboratories, and other lighting professionals. On May 24, 
1994, DOE held a public meeting to invite interested parties to offer 
suggestions concerning methods of evaluation and to obtain updates on 
the progress of the Collaborative's voluntary program. Subsequent 
comments were invited through June 15, 1994. Additional suggestions and 
information were supplied by the Collaborative on July 28, 1994.

3. Discussion

    The purpose of the meeting is twofold: (1) to discuss comments on 
the proposed evaluation criteria; and (2) to provide an opportunity to 
inform DOE on 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 copy of the draft evaluation criteria before the meeting.

    Issued in Washington, DC, December 20, 1994.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 94-32114 Filed 12-27-94; 4:26 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P