[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47633-47634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19297]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-NOA-0016]


Physical Characterization of Grid-Connected Commercial and 
Residential Buildings End-Use Equipment and Appliances

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the 
availability of a Framework Document for the physical characterization 
of grid-connected building's end-use equipment and appliances. DOE 
welcomes written comments and relevant data from interested parties on 
any subject within the scope of this framework. A copy of the Framework 
Document is available at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-NOA-0016-0022.

DATES: DOE will accept written comments, data, and information 
regarding the Framework Document no later than September 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted must identify the request for comment 
for physical characterization of grid-connected buildings and provide 
docket number EERE-2014-BT-NOA-0016. Comments may be submitted by any 
of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected] Include 
the docket number EERE-2014-BT-NOA-0016 in the subject line of the 
message.
     Mail: Mr. Joseph Hagerman, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on 
a compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include 
printed copies. [Please note that comments and CDs sent by mail are 
often delayed and may be damaged by mail screening processes.]
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Mr. Joseph Hagerman, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza 
SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. If possible, please submit all 
items on CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed 
copies.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov, 
including Federal Register notices, framework documents, public meeting 
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Hagerman, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Building Technologies (EE-5B), 950 L'Enfant Plaza 
SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586-4549. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 5, 2014, the U.S. Department of 
Energy (DOE) published a request for comment and notice of a public 
meeting in the Federal Register (79 FR 32542). The public meeting was 
held on July 11, 2014, where the structure and content for the draft 
Framework Document were presented and discussed. At that meeting, DOE 
announced that it would make the Framework Document available for 
public comment within 2-3 weeks of the public meeting. This notice 
announces the availability of the Framework Document, which proposes a 
draft plan for development of characterization protocols for connected 
building's end-use appliances and equipment. A copy of the Framework 
Document is available at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-NOA-0016-0022. In addition, the 
Framework Document specifically seeks comment on the following issues:
    1. What reports, studies, activities or other documents are there 
that might be useful in the development of characterization protocols 
for connected equipment?
    2. How can these terms (in the document) be better defined?
    3. Should additional terms be defined?
    4. Are there other aspects of the experimental set-up that should 
be considered for connected equipment?
    5. Should there be a step to determine eligibility for 
characterization as connected equipment?
    6. If so, what are the minimum features in order to become 
eligible?
    7. What responses should be characterized for connected equipment?
    8. Should there be an approved list of responses available for 
characterization?
    9. How does characterization sequence depend on equipment type?
    10. What aspects should be included in a characterization sequence 
for connected equipment?
    11. What data should be collected for physical, informational, or 
other responses?

[[Page 47634]]

    12. What metrics should be computed for physical, informational, or 
other responses?
    13. Are there other aspects of the characterization execution that 
should be considered for connected equipment?
    14. Which of the two options for establishing the characterization 
protocols best addresses industry needs and minimizes industry burdens?
    15. Are there other options that DOE might pursue for establishing 
characterization protocols?
    16. Would it be useful to have illustrative examples like this in 
the framework document?
    17. After seeing this illustrative example, does the framework need 
additional steps or further revision?
    DOE will accept written comments, data, and information regarding 
the Framework Document no later than September 29, 2014.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2014.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2014-19297 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE XXXX-XX-P