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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 29, 2021 / Proposed Rules amended energy conservation standards it adopts in the final rule.
Before proposing a standard, DOE
typically seeks public input on the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE intends to use to evaluate standards for the product at issue and the results of preliminary analyses DOE
performed for the product.
DOE is examining whether to amend the current standards pursuant to its obligations under EPCA. This notification announces the availability of the preliminary technical support document TSD, which details the preliminary analyses and summarizes the preliminary results of DOEs analyses. In addition, DOE is announcing a public meeting to solicit feedback from interested parties on its analytical framework, models, and preliminary results.

II. Background A. Current Standards The current energy conservation standards for RCWs were established in a direct final rule published on May 31, 2012. 77 FR 32308 May 2012 Final Rule.5 These standards are based on a joint proposal submitted to DOE by interested parties representing manufacturers, energy and environmental advocates, and consumer groups.6
The May 2012 Final Rule established two sets of amended standards, which are both based on a minimum allowable integrated modified energy factor IMEF, measured in cubic feet per kilowatt-hour per cycle ft3/kWh/
cycle, and maximum allowable integrated water factor IWF, measured in gallons per cycle per cubic foot gal/cycle/ft3. Id. The May 2012

Final Rule established four classes of RCW: Top-loading, compact less than 1.6 cubic feet ft3 capacity; toploading, standard 1.6 ft3 or greater capacity; front-loading, compact less than 1.6 ft3 capacity; and front-loading, standard 1.6 ft3 or greater capacity. 77
FR 32308, 3231632320. One set of amended standards applies to all RCWs manufactured on or after March 7, 2015.
77 FR 32308, 32380. The second set of amended standards applies to the two top-loading product classes manufactured on or after January 1, 2018. Id.
The current energy conservation standards for RCWs are provided at 10
CFR 430.32g4 and repeated in Table II.1. These standards are based on the current test procedure for RCWs at 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J2
Appendix J2.

TABLE II.1FEDERAL ENERGY CONSERVATION STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL CLOTHES WASHERS
Minimum integrated modified energy factor ft3/kWh/cycle
Product class
Top-loading, Compact less than 1.6 ft3 capacity
Top-loading, Standard 1.6 ft3 or greater capacity
Front-loading, Compact less than 1.6 ft3 capacity
Front-loading, Standard 1.6 ft3 or greater capacity

B. Current Process
that could enable the agency to determine whether DOE should propose a no new standard determination because a more stringent standard: 1
Would not result in a significant savings of energy; 2 is not technologically feasible; 3 is not economically justified; or 4 any combination of foregoing. Id. On August 26, 2019, DOE
extended the comment period for the August 2019 RFI and on October 3, 2019, reopened the comment period for an additional 14 days. 84 FR 44557 and 84 FR 52818, respectively.
Comments received to date as part of the current process have helped DOE
identify and resolve issues related to the preliminary analyses. Chapter 2 of the preliminary TSD summarizes and addresses the comments received.

On August 2, 2019, DOE published a request for information RFI to initiate an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for RCWs. 84 FR
37794 August 2019 RFI.
Specifically, through the August 2019
RFI, DOE sought data and information
C. Test Procedure DOE published a test procedure NOPR on September 1, 2021 proposing to establish a new test procedure at 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J
Appendix J, which would define new energy efficiency metrics: An energy efficiency ratio EER and a
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1

On December 16, 2020, DOE
published a final rule December 2020
Final Rule establishing separate product classes for top-loading, standard clothes washers with an average cycle time of less than 30
minutes and front-loading, standard clothes washers with an average cycle time of less than 45 minutes. 85 FR
81359. DOE is re-evaluating the analysis in the short-cycle product class determination in light of Executive Order 13990 and published a NOPR on August 11, 2021, proposing to revoke the December 2020 Final Rule and reinstate the prior product classes and applicable standards for RCWs. 86 FR
43970.

5 DOE published a confirmation of effective date and compliance date for the direct final rule on October 1, 2012. 77 FR 59719.

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water efficiency ratio WER. 86 FR
49140. As proposed, EER would be defined as the weighted-average load size in pounds lbs divided by the sum of 1 the per-cycle machine energy, 2 the per-cycle water heating energy, 3 the per-cycle drying energy, and 4
the per-cycle standby and off mode energy consumption, in kWh. Id. at 86
FR 49172. As proposed, WER would be defined as the weighted-average load size in lbs divided by the total weighted per-cycle water consumption for all wash cycles, in gallons. Id. at 86 FR
49173. For both EER and WER, a higher value would indicate more efficient performance. Id.
As the basis for this preliminary analysis, DOE used the per-cycle energy and water consumption values and resulting EER and WER metrics as determined using the proposed appendix J. In order to assist interested parties in understanding how the analysis based on the proposed appendix J metrics compares to performance as measured under the current appendix J2 test procedure i.e.,
6 Available at: www.regulations.gov/document/
EERE-2008-BT-STD-0019-0032.

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Maximum integrated water factor gal/cycle/ft3

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