1904-AE86 202010 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1904 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy EE 1900 Department of Energy DOE Product Class Rule for Short Cycle Clothes Washers and Clothes Dryers

To preserve consumer utility, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is considering a rule to establish separate product classes for top-loading residential clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers that offer a short cycle time as the normal cycle.  DOE would consider appropriate energy and water efficiency standards for such product classes, if adopted, in separate rulemakings.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No Deregulatory 10 CFR 430.32 42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq. Yes

In this action, DOE is considering separate product classes for residential clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers based on the cycle time required for a normal cycle to wash and dry clothing loads. DOE has determined that cycle time for residential clothes washers and clothes dryers is a performance-related feature under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) that could justify a higher or lower standard than what is applicable for other product classes of residential clothes washers and clothes dryers.  

This rule would allow manufacturers to innovate and provide products to consumers that can complete a wash or dry cycle quickly, to meet consumer demands for short clothes washer and dryer cycle time. The rule would establish separate product classes for residential clothes washers and clothes dryers with cycle times of less than 30 minutes (45 minutes for front-loading clothes washers).  

 

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This proposed rule would not establish any energy conservation standards for residential clothes washers or clothes dryers. Because this proposed rule would establish new product classes only for short-cycle clothes washers and clothes dryers, DOE does not anticipate that this rule would result in costs or benefits.

]]> Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 08/13/2020 85 FR 49297 NPRM Comment Period Extended; and Notice of Public Hearing/Webinar (09/30/2020) 09/11/2020 85 FR 56185 NPRM Comment Period Extended End 10/13/2020 Final Action 12/00/2020 No None No No No Elizabeth Kohl Supervisory Attorney 1900 Department of Energy DOE 202 586-7796 elizabeth.kohl@hq.doe.gov 1000 Independence Avenue NW., Washington DC 20585