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Statement of Need: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act requires minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances, which has the effect of eliminating inefficient appliances from the market.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Title III of EPCA sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. Part A of title III (42 U.S.C. 6291 to 6309) provides for the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products other than Automobiles. EPCA covers consumer products and certain commercial equipment, including clothes dryers and room are conditioners that are the subject of the rulemaking (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(2)-(8)). EPCA prescribes energy conservation standards for room air conditioners (42 U.S.C. 6295(c)) and directs DOE to conduct two cycles of rulemaking to determine whether to adopt amended standards (42 U.S.C. 6295(c)(3)(A)). For clothes dryers, EPCA sets a prescriptive requirement (42 U.S.C. 6294(g)(3)) and directs DOE to conduct a cycle of rulemaking to determine whether to adopt amended standards (42 U.S.C. 6294(g)(4)). This rulemaking represents the second and first round of amendments to the standards for room air conditioners and dryers respectively.

Alternatives: The statute requires DOE to conduct rulemakings to review standards and to revise standards to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that the Secretary determines is a technologically feasible and economically justified. In making this determination, DOE conducts a thorough analysis of the alternative standard levels, including the existing standard, based on the criteria specified by the statute.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Because DOE has not yet proposed candidate standard levels for these products, DOE cannot provide an estimate of combine aggregate costs and benefits for these actions. DOE will, however, in compliance with all applicable law, issue standards that provide the maximum energy savings that are technologically feasibly and economically justified. Estimates of energy savings will be provided when DOE issues the notices of proposed rulemaking for this equipment.