[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14368-14372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6595]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-STD-0006]
RIN 1904-AB47


Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air 
Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Public Meeting and Availability of the 
Preliminary Technical Support Document

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of preliminary 
technical support document.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting 
to discuss and receive comments on the product classes that DOE plans 
to analyze for purposes of establishing energy conservation standards 
for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps; the analytical 
framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate amended 
standards for these products; the results of preliminary analyses 
performed by DOE for these products; and potential energy conservation 
standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for 
these products. DOE also encourages written comments on these subjects. 
DOE has prepared a preliminary technical support document (TSD), which 
is available at:
    http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/central_ac_hp.html.

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person requesting to speak at the 
public meeting should submit such request, along with an electronic 
copy of the statement to be given at the public meeting, before 4 p.m., 
Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Written comments are welcome, especially 
following the public meeting, and should be submitted by May 10, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Forrestal Building, Room GE-086, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals 
participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security 
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in 
the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible 
by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the 
necessary procedures can be completed. Interested persons may submit 
comments, identified by docket number EERE-2008-BT-STD-0006, by any of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected] Include EERE-2008-BT-
STD-0006 in the subject line of the message.
     Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Public Meeting 
for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, EERE-2008-BT-
STD-0006, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. 
Telephone (202) 586-2945. Please submit one signed paper original.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant 
Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Telephone (202) 586-2945. Please 
submit one signed paper original.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or a 
copy of the transcript of the public meeting or comments received, go 
to the U.S. Department of Energy, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards 
at (202) 586-2945 for additional information regarding visiting the 
Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information to Mr. Wes Anderson, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-2J, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-
7335. E-mail: [email protected]. In the Office of General 
Counsel, contact Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 
of General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20585, (202) 586-7796. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Statutory Authority

    Part A of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6291 et seq.) (EPCA) established the Energy Conservation Program 
for Consumer Products Other than Automobiles. Amendments expanded Title 
III of

[[Page 14369]]

EPCA to include certain commercial and industrial equipment, including 
residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. (42 U.S.C. 
6292(3)) In particular, the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486 
amended EPCA to direct DOE to prescribe energy conservation standards 
for those residential central air conditioners and heat pumps for which 
the Secretary determines that standards ``would be technologically 
feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant 
energy savings.'' (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A), (o)(3))
    DOE must design each standard for these products to: (1) Achieve 
the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically 
feasible and economically justified, and (2) result in significant 
conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) To determine whether 
a proposed standard is economically justified, DOE must, after 
receiving comments on the proposed standard, determine whether the 
benefits of the standard exceed its burdens to the greatest extent 
practicable, considering the following seven factors:
    1. The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and 
consumers of products subject to the standard;
    2. The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average 
life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any 
increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the 
covered products which are likely to result from the imposition of the 
standard;
    3. The total projected amount of energy savings likely to result 
directly from the imposition of the standard;
    4. Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered 
products likely to result from the imposition of the standard;
    5. The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in 
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the 
imposition of the standard;
    6. The need for national energy conservation; and
    7. Other factors the Secretary [of Energy] considers relevant.

(42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i))

    Prior to proposing a standard, DOE typically seeks public input on 
the analytical framework, models, and tools that will be used to 
evaluate standards; the results of preliminary analyses; and potential 
energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses. DOE is 
publishing this document to announce the availability of the 
preliminary TSD, which details the preliminary analyses, discusses the 
comments on the framework document, and summarizes the preliminary 
results. In addition, DOE is announcing a public meeting to solicit 
feedback from interested parties on its analytical framework, models, 
and preliminary results.

B. History of Standards Rulemaking for Residential Central Air 
Conditioners and Heat Pumps

1. Background

    Part A of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 
1975 (EPCA), Pub. L. 94163, as amended, created the ``Energy 
Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.'' 
(42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) This program includes residential central air 
conditioners and central air-conditioning heat pumps (hereafter 
referred to as central air conditioners and heat pumps). (42 U.S.C. 
6292(3))
    The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), 
Pub. L. 100-12, established energy conservation standards for central 
air conditioners and heat pumps as well as requirements for determining 
whether these standards should be amended. Specifically, NAECA 
established energy conservation standards for central air conditioners 
and heat pumps in the form of minimum limits on the seasonal energy 
efficiency ratio (SEER) for air conditioners and for heat pumps 
operating in the cooling mode, and on the heating seasonal performance 
factor (HSPF) for heat pumps operating in the heating mode. (42 U.S.C. 
6291(22)(C), 6295(d)) NAECA established the following standards for 
central air conditioners and heat pumps: 10.0 SEER/6.8 HSPF for split 
systems, and 9.7 SEER/6.6 HSPF for single-package systems. ``Split 
systems'' consist of outdoor and indoor units which are ``split'' from 
each other and connected via refrigerant tubing. The outdoor unit 
resides outdoors and consists of a compressor, heat exchanger coil, 
fan, and fan motor. The indoor unit, consisting of a heat exchanger 
coil, resides either within a furnace or blower-coil unit, and 
conditioned air is conveyed to the home via ducts. In ``single-package 
systems,'' all the components that comprise a split system, including 
the air circulation products, are placed in a single cabinet. The 
single-package system resides outdoors, and conditioned air is conveyed 
to the home via ducts. These standards became effective January 1, 1992 
for split systems; standards for single-package systems came into 
effect one year later. (42 U.S.C. 6295(d)(1), (d)(2)). NAECA also 
required that DOE conduct two cycles of rulemakings to determine if 
more stringent standards are economically justified and technologically 
feasible. (42 U.S.C. 6295(d)(3))
    Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(d)(3)(A), DOE published a final rule in 
the Federal Register on January 22, 2001 (2001 final rule), amending 
the energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat 
pumps. 66 FR 7170. The amended standards would have increased the 
minimum SEER to 13 for all central air conditioners and heat pumps, 
with a corresponding HSPF of 7.7. Id.
    Shortly after the publication of the 2001 final rule, DOE postponed 
the effective date of the rule to reconsider the amended standards for 
central air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE then promulgated a 12 SEER 
and 7.4 HSPF standard in a final rule published May 23, 2002, 67 FR 
36368. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, however, ruled 
that DOE had promulgated the 2002 final rule improperly. Natural 
Resources Defense Council v. Abraham, 355 F.3d 179 (2d Cir. 2004). As a 
result, DOE published a final rule on August 17, 2004, which 
established a 13 SEER standard for all central air conditioners and 
heat pumps, excluding through-the-wall and space-constrained systems. 
69 FR 50997. This final rule constituted the first cycle of revised 
standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps.
    In separate court proceedings (New York versus Bodman, No. 05 Civ. 
7807 (S.D.N.Y. filed Sept. 7, 2005) and Natural Resources Defense 
Council versus Bodman, No. 05 Civ. 7808 (S.D.N.Y. filed Sept. 7, 2005) 
the resulting consent decree (filed November 6, 2006) adopted the 
schedule for central air conditioners and heat pumps that DOE published 
in its January 2006 report to Congress, requiring DOE to publish a 
final rule by June 30, 2011, with a compliance date of June 30, 2016. 
This final rule would constitute the second cycle of revised standards 
for central air conditioners and heat pumps.
    More recently, EPCA was amended by the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Pub. L. 110140. In Section 306 of 
EISA 2007, Congress directed DOE to: (1) Amend test procedures for all 
covered products (including central air conditioners and heat pumps) to 
include standby-mode and off-mode energy consumption unless current 
test procedures already fully account for an incorporate standby mode 
and off mode energy consumption

[[Page 14370]]

or an integrated test procedure is technically infeasible, in which 
case DOE must prescribe a separate standby mode and off mode energy use 
test procedure, if technically feasible (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2); and (2) 
incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use into any new or 
amended standard published after July 1, 2010. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)) 
Because this energy conservation standards rulemaking for central air 
conditioners and heat pumps will be completed in 2011, the requirement 
to incorporate standby-mode and off-mode energy use into the energy 
conservation standards analysis applies.

2. Current Rulemaking Process

    DOE prepared and published a notice announcing the availability of 
the framework document, ``Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking 
Framework Document for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat 
Pumps,'' and a public meeting to discuss the proposed analytical 
framework for the rulemaking. 73 FR 32243 (June 6, 2008). DOE also 
posted the framework document on its Web site describing the procedural 
and analytical approaches DOE anticipated using to evaluate the 
establishment of energy conservation standards for central air 
conditioners and heat pumps. This document is available at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/pdfs/cac_framework.pdf. DOE held a public meeting on June 12, 2008, to 
describe the various rulemaking analyses DOE would conduct, such as the 
engineering analysis, the life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period 
(PBP) analyses, and the national impact analysis (NIA); the methods for 
conducting them; and the relationship among the various analyses. 
Manufacturers, trade associations, and environmental advocates attended 
the meeting. The participants discussed nine major issues: the scope of 
covered product classes, definitions, test procedures, DOE's 
engineering analysis, life-cycle costs, efficiency levels, regional 
standards, efficiency metrics, and energy savings.
    DOE developed two spreadsheets for analyzing the economic impacts 
of standard levels--one that calculates LCC and PBP, and one that 
calculates national impacts.\1\ DOE prepared an LCC and PBP spreadsheet 
that calculates results for each of the representative units analyzed.
    This spreadsheet includes product efficiency data that allows users 
to determine LCC savings and PBPs based on average values, and can also 
be combined with Crystal Ball (a commercially available software 
program) to generate a Monte Carlo simulation, incorporating 
uncertainty and variability considerations. The second economic 
spreadsheet calculates the impacts of candidate standard levels on 
shipments and the national energy savings (NES) and net present value 
(NPV) at various standard levels. There is one national impact analysis 
spreadsheet for all central air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE has 
posted both economic spreadsheets on its Web site for review and 
comment by interested parties.
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    \1\ For the notice of proposed rulemaking, DOE will also develop 
an economic spreadsheet that will evaluate the financial impacts on 
central air conditioners and heat pump manufacturers that may result 
from a standard level.
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    Comments received since publication of the framework document have 
helped DOE identify and resolve issues involved in the preliminary 
analyses. Chapter 2 of the preliminary TSD, available at the Web link 
provided in the SUMMARY section of this notice, summarizes and 
addresses the comments received in response to the framework document.

C. Specific Issues for Which DOE Is Seeking Comment

    DOE is specifically presenting two issues regarding the energy 
conservation standards rulemaking for residential central air 
conditioners and heat pumps in today's notice. There are additional 
issues presented throughout the preliminary TSD for which DOE is also 
seeking comment. DOE presents the analysis methodologies throughout the 
preliminary TSD and summarizes the issues for which DOE seeks comment 
at the end of the executive summary of the preliminary TSD.

1. Consensus Agreement

    On January 26, 2010, the Air-Conditioning, Heating and 
Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), American Council for an Energy 
Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), Appliance 
Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), Natural Resources Defense Council 
(NRDC), and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) submitted a 
joint comment (hereafter referred to as Joint Comment 5) to DOE 
recommending minimum energy conservation standards for residential 
central air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces. (AHRI, ACEEE, ASE, 
ASAP, NRDC, and NEEP, Joint Comment 5, No. 47 at pp. 1-33) The 
Joint Comment 5 stated the original consensus agreement was completed 
on October 13, 2009 and had 15 signatories, including AHRI, ACEEE, ASE, 
NRDC, ASAP, NEEP, Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC), 
California Energy Commission (CEC), Bard Manufacturing Company Inc., 
Carrier Residential and Light Commercial Systems, Goodman Global Inc., 
Lennox Residential, Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, National 
Comfort Products, and Trane Residential.
    The Joint Comment 5 recommends standards that divide the nation 
into three regions for residential central air conditioners and two 
regions for residential furnaces based on the population-weighted 
number of heating degree days (HDD) of each State. States with 5000 HDD 
or more are considered as part of the northern region, while States 
with less than 5000 HDD are considered part of the southern region. For 
residential central air conditioners, the Joint Comment 5 establishes a 
third region--the ``southwest'' region--which is comprised of 
California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. For furnaces, the 
southwest region States are included in the southern region. The 
compliance date specified in the agreement is May 1, 2013 for non-
weatherized furnaces and January 1, 2015 for weatherized furnaces.
    In addition to the preliminary TSD, DOE is making available on its 
Web site the Joint comment 5, which can be found: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/furnaces_boilers.html.
    DOE specifically invites comment from interested parties on the 
Joint Comment 5. In particular, DOE is interested in comments relating 
to the proposed SEER, HSPF, and EER requirements, the proposed regional 
divisions, and the proposed compliance dates for residential central 
air conditioners and heat pumps.

2. Combined Rulemaking Approach

    DOE is currently conducting or planning separate standards 
rulemakings for three interrelated products: (1) Central air 
conditioners and heat pumps; (2) gas furnaces; and (3) furnace fans. 
These rulemakings are subject to the following deadlines: (1) June 30, 
2011 for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, required 
by consent decree; (2) May 1, 2011 for furnaces, required as a 
condition of the remand of a November 2007 final rule amending the 
minimum energy conservation standards for gas furnaces; and (3) January 
1, 2013 for furnace fans, required by amendments to EPCA in EISA 2007. 
(42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(4)(D))

[[Page 14371]]

    Rather than analyze each set of products separately, DOE is 
considering combining the analyses to examine how the interaction 
between the three products impacts the cost to consumers and the energy 
savings resulting from potential amended standards. If DOE conducts 
such an analysis and the results indicate that a combined approach 
yields additional savings beyond what can be achieved by considering 
each product separately, DOE may decide to pursue a combined standards 
rulemaking that addresses all three products, or two of the three 
products (i.e., central air conditioners and heat pumps and furnaces), 
simultaneously. If such a combined rulemaking is pursued, DOE would be 
required to publish the combined final rule by May 1, 2011 in order to 
comply with the conditions of the remand agreement for residential 
furnaces. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties relating to a 
combined rulemaking regarding energy conservation standards for 
residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, residential 
furnaces, and furnace fans.

D. Summary of the Analyses Performed by DOE

    For central air conditioners and heat pumps currently under 
consideration, DOE conducted in-depth technical analyses in the 
following areas: (1) Engineering, (2) energy-use characterization, (3) 
markups to determine product price, (4) life-cycle cost and payback 
period, and (5) national impacts. These analyses resulted in a 
preliminary TSD that presents the methodology and results of each of 
these analyses. The preliminary TSD is available at the Web address 
given in the SUMMARY section of this notice. The analyses are described 
in more detail below.
    DOE also conducted several other analyses that either support the 
five major analyses or are preliminary analyses that will be expanded 
in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR).\2\ These analyses include 
the market and technology assessment, the screening analysis, which 
contributes to the engineering analysis, and the shipments analysis, 
which contributes to the NIA. In addition to these analyses, DOE has 
begun some preliminary work on the manufacturer impact analysis and 
identified the methods to be used for the LCC subgroup analysis, the 
environmental assessment, the employment analysis, the regulatory 
impact analysis, and the utility impact analysis. DOE will expand on 
these analyses in the NOPR.
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    \2\ For past rulemakings under EPCA section 325, DOE was 
required to issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANOPR) 
following publication of the framework document. EISA 2007 
eliminated this requirement. Given EISA 2007's revisions to EPCA, 
DOE is now using an alternative process to provide the same 
information and ability for public comment as the ANOPR, but without 
publication of analyses in the Federal Register.
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Engineering Analysis

    The engineering analysis establishes the relationship between the 
manufacturer selling price and efficiency of a product DOE is 
evaluating for energy conservation standards. This relationship serves 
as the basis for cost-benefit calculations for individual consumers, 
manufacturers, and the nation. The engineering analysis identifies a 
representative baseline product, which is the starting point for 
analyzing technologies that provide energy efficiency improvements. 
Baseline product refers to a model or models having features and 
technologies typically found in the minimum efficiency products 
currently offered for sale. The baseline model in each product class 
represents the characteristics of certain central air conditioners and 
heat pumps. After identifying the baseline models, DOE estimated 
manufacturer selling prices by using a consistent methodology and 
pricing scheme including material and labor costs, and manufacturer's 
markups. In this way, DOE developed ``manufacturer selling prices'' for 
the baseline and more efficient motor designs. Later, in its Markups to 
Determine Installed Price analysis, DOE converts these manufacturer 
selling prices into installed prices. In the preliminary TSD, section 
2.4 of chapter 2 and chapter 5 each provide detail on the engineering 
analysis and the derivation of the manufacturer selling prices.

Markups To Determine Installed Price

    DOE derives the installed prices for products based on manufacturer 
markups, retailer markups, distributor markups, contractor markups, 
builder markups, and sales taxes. In deriving these markups, DOE has 
determined the distribution channels for product sales, the markup 
associated with each party in the distribution channels, and the 
existence and magnitude of differences between markups for baseline 
products (baseline markups) and for more-efficient products 
(incremental markups). DOE calculates both overall baseline and overall 
incremental markups based on the product markups at each step in the 
distribution channel. The overall incremental markup relates the change 
in the manufacturer sales price of higher efficiency models (the 
incremental cost increase) to the change in the retailer or distributor 
sales price. In the preliminary TSD, section 2.5 of chapter 2 and 
chapter 6 each provide detail on the estimation of markups.

Energy Use Characterization

    The energy use characterization provides estimates of annual energy 
consumption for central air conditioners and heat pumps, which DOE uses 
in the LCC and PBP analyses and the NIA. DOE developed energy 
consumption estimates for all of the product classes analyzed in the 
engineering analysis, as the basis for its energy use estimates. In the 
preliminary TSD, section 2.6 of chapter 2 and chapter 7 each provide 
detail on the energy use characterization.

Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses

    The LCC and PBP analyses determine the economic impact of potential 
standards on individual consumers. The LCC is the total consumer 
expense for a product over the life of the product. The LCC analysis 
compares the LCCs of products designed to meet possible energy 
conservation standards with the LCCs of the products likely to be 
installed in the absence of standards. DOE determines LCCs by 
considering (1) total installed cost to the purchaser (which consists 
of manufacturer selling price, sales taxes, distribution chain markups, 
and installation cost); (2) the operating expenses of the products 
(energy use and maintenance); (3) product lifetime; and (4) a discount 
rate that reflects the real consumer cost of capital and puts the LCC 
in present-value terms. The PBP represents the number of years needed 
to recover the increase in purchase price (including installation cost) 
of more efficient products through savings in the operating cost of the 
product. It is the change in total installed cost due to increased 
efficiency divided by the change in annual operating cost from 
increased efficiency. In the preliminary TSD, section 2.7 of chapter 2 
and chapter 8 each provide detail on the LCC and PBP analyses.

National Impact Analysis

    The NIA estimates the NES and the NPV of total consumer costs and 
savings expected to result from new standards at specific efficiency 
levels (referred to as candidate standard levels). DOE calculated NES 
and NPV for each level for each candidate standard for central air 
conditioners and heat pumps as the difference between a base-case 
forecast (without new standards) and the

[[Page 14372]]

standards case forecast (with standards). DOE determined national 
annual energy consumption by multiplying the number of units in use (by 
vintage) by the average unit energy consumption (also by vintage). 
Cumulative energy savings are the sum of the annual NES determined over 
a specified time period. The national NPV is the sum over time of the 
discounted net savings each year, which consists of the difference 
between total operating cost savings and increases in total installed 
costs. Critical inputs to this analysis include shipments projections, 
retirement rates (based on estimated product lifetimes), and estimates 
of changes in shipments and retirement rates in response to changes in 
product costs due to standards. In the preliminary TSD, section 2.8 of 
chapter 2 and chapter 10 each provide detail on the NIA.
    DOE consulted with interested parties as part of its process for 
conducting all of the analyses and invites further input from the 
public on these topics. The preliminary analytical results are subject 
to revision following review and input from the public. A complete and 
revised TSD will be made available upon issuance of a NOPR. The final 
rule will contain the final analysis results and be accompanied by a 
final rule TSD.
    DOE encourages those who wish to participate in the public meeting 
to obtain the preliminary TSD from DOE's Web site and to be prepared to 
discuss its contents. A copy of the preliminary TSD is available at the 
Web address given in the SUMMARY section of this notice. However, 
public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the topics 
identified in the preliminary TSD. DOE is also interested in receiving 
views concerning other relevant issues that participants believe would 
affect energy conservation standards for these products or that DOE 
should address in the NOPR.
    Furthermore, DOE welcomes all interested parties, regardless of 
whether they participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by 
May 10, 2010, comments and information on matters addressed in the 
preliminary TSD and on other matters relevant to consideration of 
standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps.
    The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, conference 
style. A court reporter will be present to record the minutes of the 
meeting. There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs 
or prices, market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by 
United States antitrust laws.
    After the public meeting and the expiration of the period for 
submitting written statements, DOE will consider all comments and 
additional information that is obtained from interested parties or 
through further analyses, and it will prepare a NOPR. The NOPR will 
include proposed energy conservation standards for the products covered 
by the rulemaking, and members of the public will be given an 
opportunity to submit written and oral comments on the proposed 
standards.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-6595 Filed 3-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P