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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 193 / Friday, October 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
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dryer cycles would be consistent with the trend for the average number of annual clothes washer cycles, which based on RECS 2015 data, AHAM
asserted is 241. AHAM suggested that DOE update the number of annual clothes dryer cycles based on more recent national data. AHAM, No. 33 at pp. 45
To develop the estimate of 283 clothes dryer cycles per year previously specified in the test procedure, DOE
utilized the 2005 RECS data to estimate the average number of clothes dryer cycles per year based on clothes washer cycle data and a clothes dryer usage factor the percentage of washer loads dried in a clothes dryer.33 The 2015
RECS data, which included cycle data specific to clothes dryers, was first released in April 2017, and then subsequently updated multiple times with the most recent update, Version 4, released in December 2018.34 DOE
calculated the average number of clothes dryer cycles per year, using the reported number of laundry loads clothes dryer cycles dried per week for each sample home in the 2015 RECS
data set with a clothes dryer, which is the same methodology DOE used to develop the estimates of 283 clothes dryer cycles per year based on the 2005
RECS data set. Using this methodology, DOE calculated 236 cycles per year from the 2015 RECS data. Because this estimate is based on more recent consumer usage data than the previous estimate of 283 cycles pear year, DOE
concludes that the estimate of 236
cycles per year is a more representative estimate of the average number of annual clothes dryer cycles at this time.
DOE notes that its estimate of 236
clothes dryer cycles per year is very close to the estimate of 238 cycles per year presented by AHAM.
DOE is updating the estimate of the representative average annual number of clothes dryer cycles per year in section 4.5 of appendix D2. This update maintains the methodology used to establish the average number of clothes dryer cycles per year and updates the resulting average based on an update to the underlying data source i.e., RECS, as recommended by commenters. The updated estimate will impact the measured energy efficiency of clothes 33 The 2005 RECS provided data regarding how often a clothes dryer was used following a clothes washer cycle, with answers of every time you wash clothes, use it for some, but not all loads of wash, use it infrequently. Using that information and clothes washer usage data, the estimate of 283 annual clothes dryer cycles was developed.
34 The most recent RECS microdata can be accessed at www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/
data/2015/index.php?view=microdata.

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dryers by reducing the portion of annual hours in active mode, thereby increasing the per-cycle standby mode and off mode energy consumption as determined in section 4.5 of appendix D2. Also, DOE notes that the current energy conservation standards were developed based on the 283 cycles per year estimate. As such, the updated clothes dryer annual cycles per year estimate will be required beginning on the compliance date of amended energy conservation standards for clothes dryers, should standards be amended.
Prior to any such amendment to the energy conservation standards, the DOE
test procedure will continue to use the estimate of 283 clothes dryer cycles per year in the per-cycle standby mode and off mode energy consumption calculation.
2. Inactive and Off Mode Power Measurements Section 3.6 of appendix D1 and appendix D2 35 provides the instructions for measuring standby inactive mode 36 37 and off mode 38
power on the clothes dryer. The percycle combined total energy consumption of a clothes dryer includes the combined representative measures of inactive mode and off mode power in sections 4.5 and 4.6, respectively, of appendix D1 and appendix D2. The test procedure distinguishes between inactive mode and off mode. However, when only one of the low-power modes 35 In this final rule, section 3.6 of appendix D2
is being renumbered as section 3.5, as a result of removing obsolete provisions from the test procedures. See section III.E.5 of this final rule for additional details.
36 Section 1.17 of appendix D1 and section 1.18
of appendix D2 define standby mode as any mode in which the product is connected to a mains power source and offers one or more of the following user-oriented or protective functions that may persist for an indefinite period of time: 1 A
function that facilitates the activation of other modes including activation or deactivation of active mode by remote switch including remote control, internal sensor, or timer; or 2 continuous functions, including information or status displays including clocks or sensor-based functions. The definition also specifies that a timer is a continuous clock function which may or may not be associated with a display that provides regular, scheduled tasks e.g., switching and that operates on a continuous basis.
37 Section 1.12 of appendix D1 and section 1.13
of appendix D2 define inactive mode as a standby mode that facilitates the activation of active mode by remote switch including remote control, internal sensor, or timer, or that provides continuous status display.
38 Section 1.15 of appendix D1 and section 1.16
of appendix D2 define off mode as a mode in which the clothes dryer is connected to a mains power source and is not providing any active mode or standby function, and where the mode may persist for an indefinite period of time. The definition further states that an indicator that only shows the user that the product is in the off position is included within the classification of an off mode.

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is present, regardless of whether the low-power mode is considered inactive mode or off mode, the same measurement and calculation is performed.39
The prior test procedure for measuring inactive and/or off mode power is as follows. Section 3.6.1 of appendix D1 and appendix D2 instructs inactive mode to be measured, if the clothes dryer has an inactive mode, with the resulting measurement represented by the symbol PIA. Similarly, section 3.6.2 of both appendices instructs off mode power to be measured, if the clothes dryer has an off mode, with the resulting distinct power measurement represented by symbol POFF. In section 4.5 of both appendices, if a clothes dryer has either inactive mode or off mode but not both, the measured power is multiplied by 8,620, representing the combined annual hours that the clothes dryer is not in active mode i.e., idle.
Alternately, if a clothes dryer has both inactive mode and off mode e.g., an electronic control panel that also provides a hard off switch that can completely disconnect all power to the product, the power of each mode is measured and multiplied by one-half of 8,620 i.e., 4,310, and the results are summed.40 As these sections were structured, a determination first had to be made whether the low-power modes that exists on the clothes dryer meets the definition of inactive mode or off modeeven though the same calculation applies, yielding the same end result, regardless of the distinction.
As discussed in the July 2019 NOPR, the off state on some appliances is achieved through a software/firmware action i.e., through a soft switch rather than a hard on/off switch i.e., a switch that physically breaks the connection to the mains power supply, and it may not always be clear whether the product is providing any active mode or standby function while in the off state. 84 FR 35484, 35495. To address questions regarding the potential difficulty in determining whether the low-power mode is considered inactive mode or off mode without needing to remove a products console to access the electrical schematic and/or determine if the switch is a hard switch or soft 39 Distinguishing inactive mode from off mode is not an issue when both are present. When both modes are present, inactive mode and off mode can be distinguished from each other based on the measured energy use; i.e., inactive mode will result in a higher measured energy use than off mode.
40 This calculation represents an estimate that such a clothes dryer would spend half of its lowpower mode hours in inactive mode, and the other half of its low-power mode hours in off mode.

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