[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 14 (Friday, January 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3492-3493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1455]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Availability of Product Energy Efficiency Recommendations

AGENCY: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, Federal Energy 
Management Program, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of seven new Product 
Energy Efficiency Recommendations, covering distribution transformers, 
electric motors, residential windows, clothes washers, fluorescent 
luminaires, unitary air conditioners, and commercial heat pumps, and 
the revision of one existing Recommendation on room air conditioners. 
These Recommendations, along with 21 others previously released, have 
been published by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Federal Energy 
Management Program (FEMP) to help agencies comply with Executive Order 
12902, which directs each Federal agency to increase, to the extent 
practicable and cost-effective, the purchase of products that are in 
the upper 25 percent of energy efficiency for all similar products, or 
products that are at least 10 percent more efficient than the minimum 
level that meets national standards.

ADDRESSES: The Recommendations are available on the internet at http://
www.eren.doe.gov/femp/procurement. Paper copies of the Recommendations 
may be obtained by calling 1-800-363-

[[Page 3493]]

3732 and requesting the Buying Energy Efficient Products binder.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Kroehle McGervey, Federal Energy 
Management Program, U.S. Department of Energy, EE-90, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, 202-586-4858, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
8262g) directed Federal supply agencies, along with DOE and the 
Department of Defense, to include energy-efficient products in their 
procurement and supply functions. On March 8, 1994, Executive Order 
12902, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation at Federal Facilities 
(59 FR 11463, 3 CFR 1994 Comp. p 869), defined energy-efficient 
products as those that are in the upper 25 percent of energy efficiency 
for all similar products or that are at least 10 percent more efficient 
than national standards. Executive Order 12902 directed federal 
agencies to purchase these higher-efficiency products whenever they are 
cost-effective and meet agencies' functional requirements. The Federal 
Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR 23.704) mirrors the Executive Order, 
requiring agencies to implement cost-effective contracting preference 
programs favoring the acquisition of environmentally preferable and 
energy efficient products and services, with products that are in the 
upper 25 percent of energy-efficiency for all similar products, or 
products that are at least 10 percent more efficient than the minimum 
level that meets Federal standards.
    Recommendations currently exist for the following products: room 
air conditioners, refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, 
residential central air conditioners, residential air-source heat 
pumps, residential furnaces, residential electric and gas water 
heaters, faucets, showerheads, toilets, urinals, exit signs, 
fluorescent tube lamps, fluorescent ballasts, computer monitors, 
personal computers, computer printers, copiers, fax machines, 
commercial ice cube machines, and large electric chillers. 
Recommendations continue to be developed at the rate of about ten per 
year and will include other commercial building equipment and 
construction materials.
    Each of the two-page Recommendations describes where to find 
energy-efficient models through Federal supply sources (General 
Services Administration and Defense Logistics Agency), includes 
guidance on cost-effectiveness, and offers other energy-saving tips for 
selecting and using these products. In all cases the recommended 
efficiency levels have been set to be consistent with those of the 
Environmental Protection Agency/DOE Energy Star  labeling 
program. Purchasing products that carry an Energy Star  label 
will ensure that Federal purchasers are meeting the requirements of 
Executive Order 12902.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 15, 1999.
Dan W. Reicher,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 99-1455 Filed 1-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P