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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 153 / Thursday, August 12, 2021 / Proposed Rules
a. Existing Product Classes For microwave ovens, the current energy conservation standards specified in 10 CFR 430.32j3 are based on two product classes determined according to the following performance-related features that provide utility to the consumer, in terms of locations where the product may be installed and availability of additional cooking functions: Intended installation i.e., countertop, built-in, or over-the-range and presence of convection heating components. The two existing product classes are listed below.
1 Microwave-Only Ovens and Countertop Convection Microwave Ovens 2 Built-In and Over-the-Range Convection Microwave Ovens b. Additional Product Classes AHAM stated that there is no need to merge existing product classes or create additional product classes for microwave ovens currently. AHAM, No. 6 at p. 3 DOE did not identify any additional product classes for microwave ovens based on 1 the type of energy used, 2 the capacity of the product, or 3 any other performancerelated feature that affects energy efficiency and justifies different standard levels. Further, DOE did not identify any rationale to merge the existing product classes. Accordingly, DOEs analysis is based on the two existing product classes.
c. Summary In summary, DOE assesses the product classes shown in the following list in its analysis.
1 Microwave-Only Ovens and Countertop Convection Microwave Ovens 2 Built-In and Over-the-Range Convection Microwave Ovens
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C. Engineering Analysis In the engineering analysis, DOE
establishes the relationship between the manufacturer production cost MPC
and improved microwave oven efficiency. There are two dimensions to consider in the engineering analysis; the selection of efficiency levels to analyze i.e., the efficiency analysis and the determination of product cost at each efficiency level i.e., the cost analysis. In determining the performance of microwave ovens that use less power, DOE considers technologies and design option combinations not eliminated by the screening analysis. For each product class, DOE estimates the baseline manufacturer cost, as well as the
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incremental cost for the product at efficiency levels above the baseline. The output of the engineering analysis is a set of cost-efficiency curves that are used in downstream analyses.
DOE typically uses one of two approaches to develop energy efficiency levels for the Engineering Analysis: 1
Relying on observed efficiency levels in the market i.e., the efficiency-level approach, or 2 determining the incremental efficiency improvements associated with incorporating specific design options to a baseline model i.e., the design-option approach. Using the efficiency-level approach, the efficiency levels established for the analysis are determined based on the market distribution of existing products in other words, based on the range of efficiencies and efficiency level clusters that already exist on the market. Using the design option approach, the efficiency levels established for the analysis are determined through detailed engineering calculations and/or computer simulations of the efficiency improvements from implementing specific design options that have been identified in the technology assessment.
DOE may also rely on a combination of these two approaches. For example, the efficiency-level approach based on actual products on the market may be extended using the design option approach to interpolate and define gapfill levels to bridge large gaps between other identified efficiency levels and/or to extrapolate to the max-tech level the level that DOE determines is the maximum achievable efficiency level, particularly in cases where the max-tech level exceeds the maximum efficiency level currently available on the market.
For this proposed determination, DOE
applied a combination of the efficiencylevel approach and the design level approach. For microwave-only ovens and countertop convection microwave ovens Product Class 1, the standby power consumption at each efficiency level were initially derived from review of the DOE Compliance Certification Database and comparison to the levels from the June 2013 Final Rule. 78 FR
36316, 36317. The baseline standby power level, EL 0, is equal to the current standard of 1.0 W. To develop EL 1, which is 0.84 W, DOE purchased and evaluated countertop microwave-only ovens with a more efficient power supply. DOE analyzed two representative units: One that just meets the current standard of 1.0 W and another that has a lower standby power consumption. The two units otherwise share similar design characteristics such as cooking mode power, cavity size and
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installation configuration i.e. both were countertop microwave-only ovens. In testing, DOE measured each of the internal power supply units no-load power consumption, which is the power consumption with all other components disconnected. The first representative unit that just meets DOEs current standards had a no-load power consumption of 0.3 W, while the second unit had a 0.14 W no-load power consumption. DOE estimated that the difference between these two units i.e., 0.16 W is the direct consequence of implementing an improved power supply. DOE, therefore, subtracted this value from the current 1.0 W standard to produce an EL 1 at 0.84 W that represents a microwave oven with an upgraded internal power supply. For Product Class 1, DOE determined that this EL 1 is also the max-tech level. DOE
had previously identified a max-tech efficiency level based on automatic power-down as the technology option in the June 2013 Final Rule, with a corresponding standby power consumption of 0.02 W. 78 FR 36316, 36325. In the analysis for this NOPD, however, this technology option was screened out for the reasons discussed in section IV.B.3.a of this document.
For the built-in and over-the-range convection microwave ovens product class Product Class 2, the baseline standby power consumption used for the analysis at EL 0 is the current DOE
standard of 2.2 W. This maximum allowable average standby power consumption is higher than that allowed for microwave-only ovens and countertop convection microwave ovens because, in the June 2013 Final Rule, DOE had concluded that built-in and over-the-range convection microwave ovens require a larger power supply to support additional features such as an exhaust fan, additional relays, and additional lights, and that the larger power supply contributes to a higher standby power consumption. 78 FR
36316, 36328. Nonetheless, because consumer utility of the microwave oven in standby mode is similar for both product classes, DOE expects that the available design options for reducing standby power consumption would be similar. From market data, DOE
observed a large percentage of built-in and over-the-range convection microwave oven models at or below the 1.0 W level. Given the prevalence of such products, DOE expects that all products in Product Class 2 could meet the 1.0 W level by using the same improved power supply design as in EL
1 for Product Class 1. Even though EL
1 for Product Class 1 is at 0.84 W, DOE

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