[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40689-40691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19437]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of 
the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for 
Waiver of Electrolux Home Products from the DOE Refrigerator and 
Refrigerator-Freezer Test Procedure (Case No. RF-005)

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Today's notice grants an Interim Waiver to Electrolux Home 
Products (Electrolux) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE or 
Department) refrigerator test procedure regarding long-time automatic 
defrost for the company's variable defrost control products.

[[Page 40690]]

    Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from 
Electrolux. Electrolux's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to modify the 
DOE refrigerator test procedure relating to the long-time automatic 
defrost calculation. Electrolux seeks to change the time used for the 
beginning of the defrost period in the long-time automatic defrost 
calculation for refrigerators having a variable defrost control 
function.
    The Department is soliciting comments, data, and information 
respecting the Petition for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than 
September 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department 
of Energy, Office of Building Research and Standards, Case No. RF-005, 
Mail Stop EE-41, Room 1J-018, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
Mail Station EE-41, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9611, or Mr. Eugene Margolis, 
Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail 
Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, (EPCA) which requires 
DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy 
consumption of certain consumer products, including refrigerators and 
refrigerator freezers.
    The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable 
measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making 
purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at 10 CFR part 430, 
Subpart B.
    The Department amended the test procedure rules to provide for a 
waiver process by adding Section 430.27 to 10 CFR part 430. 45 FR 
64108, September 26, 1980. Subsequently, DOE amended the waiver process 
to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test 
procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a 
waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 10 CFR part 430, Section 
430.27(a)(2).
    The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive 
temporarily test procedures for a particular basic model when a 
petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design 
characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test 
procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the 
basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy 
consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 
Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure 
amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject 
of the waiver.
    An Interim Waiver will be granted if it is determined that the 
applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for 
Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for 
Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that 
it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate 
relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. 10 CFR part 
430, Section 430.27 (g). An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a 
period of 180 days or until DOE issues its determination on the 
Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an 
additional 180 days, if necessary.
    On November 21, 2000, Electrolux filed an Application for Interim 
Waiver and a Petition for Waiver regarding variable defrost control 
timing. Electrolux's Application seeks an Interim Waiver for the 
variable defrost control calculation in section 4.1.2.1: ``* * * The 
second part would start when the defrost period is initiated during a 
compressor `on' cycle and terminate at the second turn `on' of the 
compressor motor or after four hours, whichever comes first.''
    This Interim Waiver asks that the above portion of the test 
procedure section 4.1.2.1 be redefined as follows: ``The second part 
would start when a defrost is initiated when the compressor `on' cycle 
is terminated prior to start of the defrost heater and terminate at the 
second turn `on' of the compressor or after four hours, whichever comes 
first.''
    This change in the test procedure allows for the existence of a 
control that is capable of timing defrost to occur other than during a 
compressor ``on'' cycle, thereby taking advantage of the natural 
warming of the evaporator during an off cycle, and saving additional 
energy. Technology has advanced sufficiently that it is feasible to 
design and build a system that no longer has to initiate defrost during 
a compressor run period, as did the old mechanical defrost timers. 
Electrolux is asking to have the time before the heaters turn on be 
included in the defrost period. The evaporator is warming up during 
this time, with no use of electrical energy.
    The current test procedures do not properly account for the energy 
savings produced by Electrolux's timing of the defrost heater 
activation, and therefore ``may evaluate the basic model in a manner so 
unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics, as to 
provide materially inaccurate comparative data.'' Thus, it appears 
likely that this Petition for Waiver will be granted.
    Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Electrolux an 
Interim Waiver for its variable defrost control refrigerator-freezer 
products. Electrolux shall be permitted to test its variable defrost 
control refrigerator-freezer products on the basis of the test 
procedures specified in 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B, Appendix A1, with 
the modification set forth below:
    Section 4.1.2.1 currently reads:
    ``4.1.2.1 Long-time Automatic Defrost. If the model being tested 
has a long-time automatic defrost system, the test time period may 
consist of two parts. A first part would be the same as the test for a 
unit having no defrost provisions (section 4.1.1). The second part 
would start when a defrost period is initiated during a compressor `on' 
cycle and terminate at the second turn `on' of the compressor motor or 
after four hours, whichever comes first.''
    Section 4.1.2.1 will be modified to read:
    ``4.1.2.1 Long-time Automatic Defrost. If the model being tested 
has a long-time automatic defrost system, the test time period may 
consist of two parts. A first part would be the same as the test for a 
unit having no defrost provisions (section 4.1.1). The second part 
would start when a defrost is initiated when the compressor `on' cycle 
is terminated prior to start of the defrost heater and terminate at the 
second turn ``on'' of the compressor or after four hours, whichever 
comes first.''
    This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of 
statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This Interim 
Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a determination that 
the factual basis underlying the Application is incorrect.
    The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days 
or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and 
may be extended for an additional 180-day period, if necessary.
    Electrolux's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to modify the DOE

[[Page 40691]]

refrigerator test procedure relating to the blower time delay 
specification. Electrolux seeks to test its variable defrost control 
products using the modified calculation of Section 4.1.2.1 quoted 
above. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR part 430.27, DOE is hereby 
publishing the ``Petition for Waiver'' in its entirety. The Petition 
contains no confidential information. The Department solicits comments, 
data, and information respecting the Petition.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 30, 2001.
David K. Garman,
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Electrolux

November 21, 2000.
Mr. Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy, United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585

    Petition for Waiver for Test Procedure in Appendix Al to Subpart B 
of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption 
of Electric Refrigerators and Electric Refrigerator-Freezers.
    On behalf of Electrolux Home Products Co., a Division of White 
Consolidated Industries Inc., I wish to submit a petition for waiver 
under 10 CRF 430.27 for the existing test procedures for Para. 4.1.2.1: 
Long-time Automatic Defrost. This petition for waiver involves 
refrigerator-freezer products having the variable defrost control 
function.
    Para. 4.1.2.2  Variable defrost control: Currently indicates, ``If 
the model being tested has a variable defrost control system, the test 
shall consist of three parts. Two parts shall be the same as the test 
for long-time automatic defrost (section 4.1.2.1 ).''
    Para. 4.1.2.1  Long-time Automatic Defrost currently says: ``If the 
model being tested has a long-time automatic defrost system, the test 
time period may consist of two parts. A first part would be the same as 
the test for a unit having no defrost provisions (section 4.1.1). The 
second part would start when a defrost period is initiated during a 
compressor ``on'' cycle and terminate at the second turn ``on'' of the 
compressor motor or after four hours, whichever comes first.''
    The current understanding of Para. 4.1.2.1 is that the ``start'' of 
a defrost period is the activation of the defrost heater.
    Para. 4.1.2.1, when written, did not conceive of the practicality 
of a control system that would be capable of utilizing the natural 
``warming'' of an evaporator during the compressor ``off'' cycle as a 
means of reducing the energy input required for a defrost period. Hence 
it was written: ``The second part would start when a defrost period is 
initiated during a compressor ``on'' cycle, etc''.
    The ability to time a defrost period after a normal compressor 
``off'' period offers an improvement in energy efficiency in that the 
defrost heater is not required to heat the evaporator from its coldest 
running position to its warmest defrost position which sheds ice from 
the evaporator.
    Our petition requests that Para. 4.1.2.1 be changed to allow the 
initiation of the defrost period to begin at the end of compressor 
``run'' cycle rather than the initiation of the defrost heater.
    The following wording is proposed for Para. ``4.1.2.1. Long-time 
Automatic Defrost: If the model being tested has a long-time automatic 
defrost system, the test time period may consist of two parts. A first 
part would be the same as the test for a unit having no defrost 
provisions (section 4.1.1 ). The second part would start when a defrost 
period is initiated when the compressor ``on'' cycle is terminated 
prior to start of the defrost heater and terminate at the second turn 
``on'' of the compressor or after four hours, whichever comes first.''
    This change is clearly within the intent of the test procedure in 
attempting to recognize all possible ways to improve overall energy 
efficiency.
    We believe that all major domestic manufacturers have utilized, are 
presently utilizing, or are investigating variable defrost control 
technology.
    The optional variable defrost control test method described in 
4.1.2.3 remains a valid procedure. However, it continues to have no 
change in its deficiencies, requiring excessive amounts of time to 
reach stabilized door opening conditions, and yet additional time to 
establish statistical mean time between defrost data. It is expected 
that the technique described in 4.1.2.1 and 4.1.2.2 will continue to be 
favored.
    Respectfully submitted,

Robert L. Cushman,
Manager Product Development, Electrolux Home Products.

[FR Doc. 01-19437 Filed 8-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P