WASHINGTON - The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that, in response to concerns raised by industry, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), proposing to extend the compliance date of its certification, compliance, and enforcement regulations of certain commercial equipment covered under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). The NOPR proposes an 18-month delay in the compliance date (originally scheduled for July 5, 2011) for filing complete certification reports for manufacturers of commercial heating and air conditioning, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment; walk-in coolers and freezers; and automatic commercial ice makers.

The time extension is necessary to allow DOE to propose revisions to the existing Alternative Energy Determination Method (AEDM) provisions in a future rulemaking and assess ways to reduce the testing burden on manufacturers. DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the NOPR until May 18, 2011.

Any comments submitted must reference the Energy Conservation Program: Certification, Compliance, and Enforcement for Consumer Products and Commercial and Industrial Equipment, and provide docket number EERE–2010–BT–CE–0014 and/or RIN number 1904–AC23.

Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to CCE-2010-BT-CE-0014@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number EERE–2010–BT–CE–0014 and/or RIN 1904–AC23 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.

Publication date:05/02/2011