[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 219 (Monday, November 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69653-69655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28646]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Case No. CW-015]


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Decision and 
Order Granting a Waiver to Whirlpool From the Department of Energy 
Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure

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

ACTION: Decision and order.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the 
decision and order (Case No. CW-015) that grants to Whirlpool 
Corporation (Whirlpool) a waiver from the DOE clothes washer test 
procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers. 
Under today's decision and order, Whirlpool shall be required to test 
and rate its clothes washers with larger clothes containers using an 
alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when 
measuring energy consumption.

DATES: This Decision and Order is effective November 15, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 586-9611, E-mail: [email protected].
    Jennifer Tiedeman, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, Mail Stop GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0103. Telephone: (202) 287-6111, E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR 430.27(l)), DOE gives notice of the 
issuance of its decision and order as set forth below. The decision and 
order grants Whirlpool a waiver from the applicable clothes washer test 
procedure in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1 for certain basic 
models of clothes washers with capacities greater than 3.8 cubic feet, 
provided that Whirlpool tests and rates such products using the 
alternate test procedure described in this notice. Today's decision 
prohibits Whirlpool from making representations concerning the energy 
efficiency of these products unless the product has been tested 
consistent with the provisions and restrictions in the alternate test 
procedure set forth in the decision and order below, and the 
representations fairly disclose the test results. Distributors, 
retailers, and private labelers are held to the same standard when 
making representations regarding the energy efficiency of these 
products. 42 U.S.C. 6293(c).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 4, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Decision and Order

    In the Matter of: Whirlpool Corporation (Case No. CW-015).

I. Background and Authority

    Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) sets 
forth a variety of provisions concerning energy efficiency. Part A of 
Title III provides for the ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products Other Than Automobiles.'' 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309. Part A includes 
definitions, test procedures, labeling provisions, energy conservation 
standards, and the authority to require information and reports from 
manufacturers. Further, Part A authorizes the Secretary of Energy to 
prescribe test procedures that are reasonably designed to produce 
results that measure energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated 
operating costs, and that are not unduly burdensome to conduct. 42 
U.S.C. 6293(b)(3). The test procedure for residential clothes washers, 
the subject of today's notice, is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart 
B, appendix J1.
    DOE's regulations for covered products contain provisions allowing 
a person to seek a waiver for a particular basic model from the test 
procedure requirements for covered consumer products when (1) the 
petitioner's basic model for which the petition for waiver was 
submitted contains one or more design characteristics that prevent 
testing according to the prescribed test procedure, or (2) when 
prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so 
unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics as to 
provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 430.27(a)(1). 
Petitioners must include in their petition any alternate test 
procedures known to the petitioner to evaluate the basic model in a 
manner representative of its energy consumption characteristics. 10 CFR 
430.27(b)(1)(iii).
    The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
(the Assistant Secretary) may grant a waiver subject to conditions, 
including adherence to alternate test procedures. 10 CFR 430.27(l). 
Waivers remain in effect pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 
430.27(m).
    Any interested person who has submitted a petition for waiver may 
also file an application for interim waiver of the applicable test 
procedure requirements. 10 CFR 430.27(a)(2). The Assistant Secretary 
will grant an interim waiver request if it is determined that the 
applicant will experience economic hardship if the 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 430.27(g).

II. Whirlpool's Petition for Waiver: Assertions and Determinations

    On November 21, 2005, Whirlpool filed a petition for waiver from 
the test procedure applicable to automatic and semi-automatic clothes 
washers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1. In 
particular, Whirlpool requested a waiver to test its clothes washers on 
the basis of the residential test procedures contained in 10 CFR part 
430, Subpart B, Appendix J1, with a revised Table 5.1 extended to 
larger container volumes. Whirlpool's petition was published in the 
Federal Register on August 22, 2006. 71 FR 48913. DOE received one 
comment on the Whirlpool petition, from a private citizen who opined 
that the purpose of waivers is to evade regulations.
    In its petition, Whirlpool pointed out that the required mass of 
the test load used in DOE's test procedure is based on the basket 
volume of the test specimen. However, the test procedure does not 
define required test load masses for the basket sizes of Whirlpool's 
basic models cited in its

[[Page 69654]]

waiver application, which are larger than those contemplated by the 
test procedure. Specifically, in the DOE test procedure, the relation 
between basket volume and test load mass is only defined for basket 
volumes between 0 and 3.8 cubic feet. Whirlpool has designed a series 
of clothes washers that contain basket volumes of greater than 3.8 
cubic feet. On June 22, 2010 and July 20, 2010, General Electric 
Company (GE) and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung), 
respectively, filed very similar petitions for waiver and applications 
for interim waivers for their clothes washers with basket volumes 
greater than 3.8 cubic feet. DOE granted GE and Samsung's interim 
waivers on September 16, 2010. (75 FR 57915; 75 FR 57937).
    Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 defines the test load sizes used in the 
test procedure as linear functions of the basket volume. Whirlpool has 
submitted a proposed revised table to extend the maximum basket volume 
from 3.8 cubic feet to 5.1 cubic feet, a table similar to one developed 
by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and provided 
to DOE in comments on a proposed DOE residential clothes washer test 
procedure rulemaking. The notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) was 
published September 21, 2010 (75 FR 57556). When the residential 
clothes washer test procedure rulemaking process is complete, any 
amended test procedure will supersede the alternate test procedure 
described in this waiver. AHAM provided calculations to extrapolate 
Table 5.1 of the DOE test procedure to larger container volumes. DOE 
believes that this is a reasonable procedure because the DOE test 
procedure defines test load sizes as linear functions of the basket 
volume. AHAM's extrapolation was performed on the load weight in 
pounds, and AHAM appears to have used the conversion ratio of 1/2.2 (or 
0.45454545) to convert pounds to kilograms. Whirlpool used the more 
accurate conversion value of 0.45359237 (which Samsung also used in its 
similar petition), rounding the results in kilograms to two decimal 
places. The Table 5.1 in the clothes washer NOPR referenced above has 
some small differences with the Table 5.1 used by Whirlpool and 
Samsung. The differences are due to rounding which Samsung and 
Whirlpool applied too early. The largest difference is 0.5%. The Table 
5.1 values here are from DOE's NOPR. As DOE has stated in the past, it 
is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for 
energy consumption on a comparable basis.

III. Consultations With Other Agencies

    DOE consulted with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff 
concerning the Whirlpool petition for waiver. The FTC staff did not 
have any objections to granting a waiver to Whirlpool.

IV. Conclusion

    After careful consideration of all the material that was submitted 
by Whirlpool, the interim waivers granted to GE and Samsung, the 
clothes washer test procedure rulemaking, and consultation with the FTC 
staff, it is ordered that:
    (1) The petition for waiver submitted by the Whirlpool Corporation 
(Case No. CW-015) is hereby granted as set forth in the paragraphs 
below.
    (2) Whirlpool shall not be required to test or rate the following 
Whirlpool models on the basis of the current test procedure contained 
in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1. Instead, it shall be 
required to test and rate such products according to the alternate test 
procedure as set forth in paragraph (3) below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Brand                              Model No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amana...................................  NFW7600X*
Kenmore.................................  2803*
Kenmore.................................  2804*
Kenmore.................................  2803*
Kenmore.................................  2804*
Kenmore.................................  2706*
Kenmore.................................  2707*
Kenmore.................................  2708*
Kenmore.................................  2709*
Kenmore.................................  2808*
Kenmore.................................  n/a
Kenmore.................................  2806*
Kenmore.................................  2807*
Kenmore.................................  2808*
Kenmore.................................  2809*
Kenmore.................................  2808*
Kenmore.................................  2809*
Maytag..................................  MHWE950W*
Maytag..................................  MHWE550W*
Maytag..................................  MHWE400W*
Maytag..................................  MHWE450W*
Maytag..................................  MTW6300TQ1
Maytag..................................  MTW6500TQ1
Maytag..................................  MTW6600T*1
Maytag..................................  MTW6700TQ1
Maytag..................................  MVWB400VW0
Maytag..................................  MVWB700VW0
Maytag..................................  MVWB800VW0
Maytag..................................  MVWB300W*
Maytag..................................  MVWB450W*
Maytag..................................  MVWB750W*
Maytag..................................  MVW7000X*
Maytag..................................  MHW6000X*
Maytag..................................  MVWB850W*
Whirlpool...............................  WFW9750W*
Whirlpool...............................  WFW9470W*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW9451X*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6200S2
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6200V*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6400S2
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6600S2
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6700T0
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6300W*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6340W*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6700T*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW7300X*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW7340X*
Whirlpool...............................  WFW94HEX*
Whirlpool...............................  WFW95HEX*
Whirlpool...............................  WFW97HEX*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW7600X*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW7800X*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6500W*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW6800W*
Whirlpool...............................  WTW7990X*
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (3) Whirlpool shall be required to test the products listed in 
paragraph (2) above according to the test procedures for clothes 
washers prescribed by DOE at 10 CFR part 430, appendix J1, except that, 
for the Whirlpool products listed in paragraph (2) only, the expanded 
Table 5.1 below shall be substituted for Table 5.1 of appendix J1.

                                           Table 5.1--Test Load Sizes
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         Container volume                 Minimum load              Maximum load              Average load
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     cu. ft.            liter
-----------------------------------      lb           kg           lb           kg           lb           kg
      >= <              >= <
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   0-0.8            0-22.7                3.00         1.36         3.00         1.36         3.00         1.36
0.80-0.90         22.7-25.5               3.00         1.36         3.50         1.59         3.25         1.47
0.90-1.00         25.5-28.3               3.00         1.36         3.90         1.77         3.45         1.56
1.00-1.10         28.3-31.1               3.00         1.36         4.30         1.95         3.65         1.66
1.10-1.20         31.1-34.0               3.00         1.36         4.70         2.13         3.85         1.75
1.20-1.30         34.0-36.8               3.00         1.36         5.10         2.31         4.05         1.84
1.30-1.40         36.8-39.6               3.00         1.36         5.50         2.49         4.25         1.93

[[Page 69655]]

 
1.40-1.50         39.6-42.5               3.00         1.36         5.90         2.68         4.45         2.02
1.50-1.60         42.5-45.3               3.00         1.36         6.40         2.90         4.70         2.13
1.60-1.70         45.3-48.1               3.00         1.36         6.80         3.08         4.90         2.22
1.70-1.80         48.1-51.0               3.00         1.36         7.20         3.27         5.10         2.31
1.80-1.90         51.0-53.8               3.00         1.36         7.60         3.45         5.30         2.40
1.90-2.00         53.8-56.6               3.00         1.36         8.00         3.63         5.50         2.49
2.00-2.10         56.6-59.5               3.00         1.36         8.40         3.81         5.70         2.59
2.10-2.20         59.5-62.3               3.00         1.36         8.80         3.99         5.90         2.68
2.20-2.30         62.3-65.1               3.00         1.36         9.20         4.17         6.10         2.77
2.30-2.40         65.1-68.0               3.00         1.36         9.60         4.35         6.30         2.86
2.40-2.50         68.0-70.8               3.00         1.36        10.00         4.54         6.50         2.95
2.50-2.60         70.8-73.6               3.00         1.36        10.50         4.76         6.75         3.06
2.60-2.70         73.6-76.5               3.00         1.36        10.90         4.94         6.95         3.15
2.70-2.80         76.5-79.3               3.00         1.36        11.30         5.13         7.15         3.24
2.80-2.90         79.3-82.1               3.00         1.36        11.70         5.31         7.35         3.33
2.90-3.00         82.1-85.0               3.00         1.36        12.10         5.49         7.55         3.42
3.00-3.10         85.0-87.8               3.00         1.36        12.50         5.67         7.75         3.52
3.10-3.20         87.8-90.6               3.00         1.36        12.90         5.85         7.95         3.61
3.20-3.30         90.6-93.4               3.00         1.36        13.30         6.03         8.15         3.70
3.30-3.40         93.4-96.3               3.00         1.36        13.70         6.21         8.35         3.79
3.40-3.50         96.3-99.1               3.00         1.36        14.10         6.40         8.55         3.88
3.50-3.60         99.1-101.9              3.00         1.36        14.60         6.62         8.80         3.99
3.60-3.70         101.9-104.8             3.00         1.36        15.00         6.80         9.00         4.08
3.70-3.80         104.8-107.6             3.00         1.36        15.40         6.99         9.20         4.17
3.80-3.90         107.6-110.4             3.00         1.36        15.80         7.16         9.40         4.26
3.90-4.00         110.4-113.3             3.00         1.36        16.20         7.34         9.60         4.35
4.00-4.10         113.3-116.1             3.00         1.36        16.60         7.53         9.80         4.45
4.10-4.20         116.1-118.9             3.00         1.36        17.00         7.72        10.00         4.54
4.20-4.30         118.9-121.8             3.00         1.36        17.40         7.90        10.20         4.63
4.30-4.40         121.8-124.6             3.00         1.36        17.80         8.09        10.40         4.72
4.40-4.50         124.6-127.4             3.00         1.36        18.20         8.27        10.60         4.82
4.50-4.60         127.4-130.3             3.00         1.36        18.70         8.46        10.80         4.91
4.60-4.70         130.3-133.1             3.00         1.36        19.10         8.65        11.00         5.00
4.70-4.80         133.1-135.9             3.00         1.36        19.50         8.83        11.20         5.10
4.80-4.90         135.9-138.8             3.00         1.36        19.90         9.02        11.40         5.19
4.90-5.00         138.8-141.6             3.00         1.36        20.30         9.20        11.60         5.28
5.00-5.10         141.6-144.4             3.00         1.36        20.70         9.39        11.90         5.38
5.10-5.20         144.4-147.2             3.00         1.36        21.10         9.58        12.10         5.47
5.20-5.30         147.2-150.1             3.00         1.36        21.50         9.76        12.30         5.56
5.30-5.40         150.1-152.9             3.00         1.36        21.90         9.95        12.50         5.65
5.40-5.50         152.9-155.7             3.00         1.36        22.30        10.13        12.70         5.75
5.50-5.60         155.7-158.6             3.00         1.36        22.80        10.32        12.90         5.84
5.60-5.70         158.6-161.4             3.00         1.36        23.20        10.51        13.10         5.93
5.70-5.80         161.4-164.2             3.00         1.36        23.60        10.69        13.30         6.03
5.80-5.90         164.2-167.1             3.00         1.36        24.00        10.88        13.50         6.12
5.90-6.00         167.1-169.9             3.00         1.36        24.40        11.06        13.70         6.21
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Notes: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights.
(2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are 0.10 lbs (0.05 kg).

    (4) Representations. Whirlpool may make representations about the 
energy use of its clothes washer products for compliance, marketing, or 
other purposes only to the extent that such products have been tested 
in accordance with the provisions outlined above and such 
representations fairly disclose the results of such testing.
    (5) This waiver shall remain in effect consistent with the 
provisions of 10 CFR 430.27(m).
    (6) This waiver is issued on the condition that the statements, 
representations, and documentary materials provided by the petitioner 
are valid. DOE may revoke or modify this waiver at any time if it 
determines the factual basis underlying the petition for waiver is 
incorrect, or the results from the alternate test procedure are 
unrepresentative of the basic models' true energy consumption 
characteristics.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 4, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-28646 Filed 11-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P