[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65631-65633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27406]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket Number EERE-2010-BT-TP-0023]
RIN 1904-AC26
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Microwave Ovens
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated a test
procedure rulemaking to develop active mode testing methodologies for
residential microwave ovens. DOE specifically is seeking information,
data, and comments regarding representative and repeatable methods for
measuring the energy use of microwave-only ovens and combination
microwave ovens, including: Food loads representative of consumer use;
the repeatability of energy use measurements using different food
loads; and consumer usage data on the hours of operation in active
mode, standby mode, and off mode for the development of an integrated
energy use metric.
DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before
November 23, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested
persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2010-BT-
TP-0023 and/or RIN 1904-AC26, by any of the following methods:
E-mail: MWO-2010-TP-0023@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number
EERE-2010-BT-TP-0023 and/or RIN 1904-AC26 in the subject line of the
message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word,
PDF, or ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters or
any form of encryption.
Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202)
586-2945. Please submit one signed original paper copy.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th
Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper
copy.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents, or
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wes Anderson, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 202-586-7335. E-mail:
Wes.Anderson@ee.doe.gov.
In the Office of the General Counsel, contact Mr. Ari Altman, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Room 6B-159,
Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 202-287-6307; E-mail:
Ari.Altman@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 22, 2010, DOE published in the
Federal Register a final rule for the microwave oven test procedure
rulemaking (July TP repeal final rule), in which it repealed the
regulatory provisions for establishing the cooking efficiency test
procedure for microwave ovens under the Energy Policy and Conservation
Act (EPCA). 75 FR 42579. In the July TP repeal final rule, DOE
determined that the existing microwave oven test procedure to measure
the cooking efficiency did not produce representative and repeatable
test results and was unaware of any test procedures that have been
developed that address DOE's concerns with the microwave oven cooking
efficiency test procedure. DOE was also unaware of any research or data
on consumer usage indicating what a representative food load would be,
or any data showing the repeatability of test results. 75 FR 42579,
42581.
On July 22, 2010, DOE also published in the Federal Register a
notice of public meeting to initiate a separate rulemaking process to
consider new provisions for measuring microwave oven energy efficiency
in active (cooking) mode. 75 FR 42611. DOE held the public meeting on
September 16, 2010 to discuss and receive comments on several issues
related to active mode test procedures for microwave ovens to consider
in developing a new test procedure. DOE received no data or comments at
or after the September 16, 2010 public meeting suggesting potential
methodologies for test procedures for microwave oven active mode.
In support of its test procedure rulemaking, DOE conducts in-depth
technical analyses of publicly available test standards and other
relevant
[[Page 65632]]
information. DOE continually seeks data and public input to improve its
testing methodologies to more accurately reflect consumer use and to
produce repeatable results. In general, DOE is requesting comment and
supporting data regarding representative and repeatable methods for
measuring the energy use of combination microwave ovens. Additionally,
DOE seeks comment and information on the specific topics below.
Food Test Load Characteristics
DOE's previous active mode test procedure incorporated portions of
the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard 705-1998
and Amendment 2-1993, ``Methods for Measuring the Performance of
Microwave Ovens for Households and Similar Purpose.'' The test methods
measured the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1
kilogram of water by 10 degrees Celsius ([deg]C) under controlled
conditions. The ratio of usable output power over input power described
the energy factor (EF), a measure of the cooking efficiency.\1\ In
comments received in response to a separate test procedure notice of
proposed rulemaking (NOPR) published in the Federal Register on October
17, 2008, which addressed provisions for measuring standby mode and off
mode energy use for microwave ovens (73 FR 62134), interested parties
commented that pure water has relatively low specific resistivity, and
actual food items that might be cooked in a microwave oven would have
more salts and thus absorb microwave energy more efficiently than pure
water. Interested parties stated that, as a result, testing with a
water load would likely result in lower efficiency measurements than
would be expected from using actual food products.
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\1\ The previous DOE microwave oven test procedure also provided
for the calculation of several other measures of energy consumption,
including cooking efficiency and annual energy consumption.
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DOE also notes that IEC is currently revising its test standard for
microwave ovens, IEC Standard 60705, ``Household microwave ovens--
Methods for measuring performance,'' but that this test procedure
continues to use a water load for testing. DOE is also unaware of any
industry or international test standards that address the active mode
cooking function of combination microwave ovens (i.e., microwave ovens
that incorporate convection features or possibly other means of
cooking) and what food loads would be appropriate for testing the
combination cooking function.
DOE is therefore interested in stakeholder feedback on what food
loads are most commonly cooked by consumers and should be used for
measuring the energy efficiency of microwave oven cooking, as well as
the methodology for testing such food loads. In particular, DOE is
requesting inputs on the following:
Consumer usage data on the characteristics of food loads
cooked by consumers in both microwave-only and combination cooking
modes. Please provide specific details on which food loads are cooked
with the microwave-only cooking function and which are cooked with the
combination cooking function;
The percentage of cooking cycles consumers use the
microwave-only and combination cooking modes;
Specific details on the food loads, including, but not
limited to, weights, composition, frequency of cooking, and initial and
final temperatures, as well as the racks or plates used to hold the
food load;
Food loads used by manufacturers to evaluate both
efficiency and cooking performance;
Testing methodology for measuring the cooking efficiency
using different food loads (Please provide specific details on
suggested testing methodologies, including, but not limited to, the
number and placement of temperature probes, required temperature
increases, and any procedures for preparing the load prior to heating);
and
Appropriate metrics to use for measuring energy use or
efficiency in both microwave-only ovens and combination microwave
ovens.
Food Load Repeatability
As discussed previously, interested parties commented in response
to the October 2008 test procedure NOPR that the previous DOE microwave
oven test procedure did not produce repeatable results. DOE is not
aware of any data on the repeatability of various food loads. DOE notes
that consumer product review organizations evaluate performance of
microwave ovens by testing loads such as: Potatoes, mashed potatoes,
whole chicken, cake, and other real-world food loads. DOE also notes
that one consumer product review organization in the UK uses a
solidifying gel, TX-151, to simulate a food load (in this case
lasagna).\2\ DOE specifically requests comment on:
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\2\ For more information, visit http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/kitchen/guides/how-we-test-microwaves/.
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Repeatability of various loads that may be used for
measuring the energy efficiency of microwave oven active mode cooking.
When providing data, please provide detailed description of the
characteristics of the cooking load under test;
Whether there are any artificial loads that accurately
simulate real food loads and the repeatability of test results using
those loads;
Methodologies for improving the repeatability of testing
using various food loads, for example, using multiple thermocouples to
determine an average temperature;
The number of identical tests that should be conducted for
various food loads (with results averaged) in order to produce accurate
and repeatable results; and
Any testing burdens associated with testing various food
loads.
Consumer Usage Data on Hours of Operation in Active Mode, Standby Mode,
and Off Mode Operation
EPCA requires that the energy consumption in standby mode and off
mode be integrated into the energy descriptor (which would include
active mode) for a covered product unless the current test procedures
already fully accounts for such consumption. If integration is
technically infeasible, DOE must prescribe a separate standby mode and
off mode energy use test procedure, if the latter is technically
feasible. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) DOE conducted a separate test
procedure rulemaking and published an interim final rule amending its
test procedures for microwave ovens to provide for the measurement of
standby mode and off mode power use by microwave ovens. 76 FR 12825
(Mar. 9, 2011). In the interim final rule, DOE determined that the
absence of active mode provisions results in a de facto separate energy
use descriptor for microwave oven standby mode and off mode energy use.
If DOE adopts amendments to the microwave oven test procedure to
include provisions for measuring active mode energy use, it will
consider adopting a single metric that integrates active mode, standby
mode, and off mode energy use.
DOE is therefore interested in stakeholder feedback on developing
such an integrated energy use metric. In particular, DOE is requesting
inputs on the following:
Consumer usage data on the number of hours microwave ovens
are operated in active mode, standby mode, and off mode; and
What metric should be used to describe the integrated
energy use (i.e., annual energy use, EF, or cooking efficiency);
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Public Participation
DOE invites all interested parties to submit in writing by November
23, 2011, comments and information on matters addressed in this notice
and on other matters relevant to DOE's consideration of a revised test
procedure for measuring the active mode energy consumption of
residential microwaves (both microwave-only and combination microwave
types).
After the close of the comment period, DOE will begin collecting
data, conducting relevant analyses, and reviewing the public comments.
These actions will be taken to aid in the development of a test
procedure NOPR for residential microwaves.
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for developing test procedures. DOE actively encourages the
participation of the public during the comment period in each stage of
the rulemaking process. Interactions with and between members of the
public provide a balanced discussion of the issues and assist DOE in
the rulemaking process. Anyone who wishes to be added to the DOE
mailing list to receive future notices and information about this
rulemaking should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945, or via
e-mail at Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 18, 2011.
Kathleen Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011-27406 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P