Update on Recent Energy Efficiency Rulemakings

The U.S. Department of Energy is either considering or moving forward with separate energy conservation rulemakings of potential interest to Hong Kong and mainland Chinese exporters of metal halide lamp fixtures, showerheads, commercial unitary air conditioners, walk-in coolers and freezers, and commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers.

Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures. The DOE will hold a webinar on 5 August and will accept comments, data and information by 13 September on a proposal to amend the energy test procedures for metal halide lamp fixtures to (i) incorporate by reference the latest versions of relevant industry standards, (ii) clarify the selection of reference lamps used for testing, (iii) reorganise the content of the test procedure for better readability and clarity, and (iv) revise the standby mode test procedure for these products.

Commercial ACs. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including evaporatively-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (ECUACs) and water-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (WCUACs). The EPCA also requires the DOE to periodically determine whether more stringent amended standards would result in significant additional conservation of energy and be technologically feasible and economically justified. The DOE has determined that more stringent standards for small (cooling capacity less than 135,000 Btu/h), large (cooling capacity greater than or equal to 135,000 and less than 240,000 Btu/h) and very large (cooling capacity greater than or equal to 240,000 and less than 760,000 Btu/h) ECUACs and WCUACs would not result in significant additional conservation of energy, which means that the current standards for these products will not be amended at this time.

Walk-in Coolers and Freezers. The DOE is undertaking an early assessment review to evaluate whether to amend the energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. The agency will accept data and information through 16 August on whether amended standards would result in significant savings of energy and be technologically feasible and economically justified.

Commercial Fridges and Freezers. The DOE is undertaking an early assessment review to evaluate whether to amend the energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers. The agency will accept data and information through 30 August on whether amended standards would result in significant savings of energy and be technologically feasible and economically justified.

Showerheads. The DOE will hold a webinar on 31 August and will accept public input through 20 September on a proposal to revise the current definition of “showerhead” adopted in a 16 December 2020 final rule by reinstating the prior definition of “showerhead.” The DOE has also tentatively determined that, in reinstating the prior definition of “showerhead,” all showerheads within a product containing multiple showerheads will be considered part of a single showerhead for determining compliance with the 2.5 gallons per minute standard. In addition, the agency is proposing to remove the current definition of “body spray” adopted in the December 2020 final rule but is not proposing any changes to the definition of “safety shower showerhead”.