The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is undertaking this rulemaking to satisfy the statutory requirement that, at least once every 7 years, DOE evaluate test procedures for each type of covered product, including central air conditioners and heat pumps, to determine whether amended test procedures would more accurately or fully comply with the requirements for the test procedures to not be unduly burdensome to conduct and be reasonably designed to produce test results that reflect energy efficiency, energy use, and estimated operating costs during a representative average use cycle or period of use.  (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A))