The Appliance and Equipment Standards Program established the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) in an effort to further improve the Department of Energy's (DOE) process of establishing energy efficiency standards for certain appliances and commercial equipment. ASRAC will allow DOE to use negotiated rulemaking as a means to engage all interested parties, gather data, and attempt to reach consensus on establishing energy efficiency standards. Rules drafted by negotiation may be more pragmatic and implemented at earlier dates than under a more traditional rulemaking process. To learn more about ASRAC's purpose and formation, please read the Committee's charter. To access the docket for ASRAC and all public files related to ASRAC, click here: EERE-2013-BT-NOC-0005. ASRAC has requested the most recent draft 5-year plan for test procedures and energy conservation standards.
The Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee was created as a discretionary advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations related to:
- Development of minimum efficiency standards for appliances and equipment;
- Development of product test procedures;
- Certification and enforcement of standards,
- Labeling for various appliances and equipment; and
- Specific issues of concern to the Energy Department as requested by the Secretary of Energy, the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the Building Technologies Office.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Federal Register notice announcing a meeting via webinar of the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC). The primary focus of this meeting will be the discussion and prioritization of topic areas on which ASRAC can assist the Appliance and Equipment Standards Program. DOE plans to hold this webinar to gather advice and recommendations on the development of standards and test procedures for consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment.
-Meeting has been postponed.
DOE held a public meeting of the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee on January 10, 2018. You can view the transcript from that meeting here.
ASRAC is expected to meet twice per year, but may meet more often, as needed. It is expected that working groups or subcommittees for specific residential appliances or commercial equipment will meet more frequently. Meetings will be open to the public and will be announced in the Federal Register no later than 15 calendar days before the meetings, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Members of the public interested in attending meetings are required to email there full name, affiliation, and there citizenship to asrac@ee.doe.gov. If meetings are held in a DOE facility, non-US citizens will have to submit additional information well in advance, so early notification of DOE is essential.
Federal Register Notices Regarding ASRAC Meetings
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with the committee are included in Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-NOC-0005.
- To attend the public meeting, please notify the Appliance and Equipment Standards staff at Appliance_Standards_Public_Meetings@ee.doe.gov or (202) 287-1445.
- Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group
- Circulator Pumps Working Group
- Dedicated Pool Pumps Working Group
- Walk-in Coolers and Freezers Working Group
- Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group
- Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products Working Group
- Fans and Blowers Working Group
- Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Working Group
- Regional Enforcement Standards Working Group
- Manufactured Housing Working Group
- Commercial/Industrial Pumps Working Group
- Commercial HVAC, Water Heating, and Refrigeration Certification Working Group
Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group
On April 11th 2018 DOE published a notice of intent to establish a working group for VRF multi-split systems to negotiate a notice of proposed rulemaking for test procedures and energy conservations standards. All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2018-BT-STD-0003. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps rulemaking webpage. The following is a complete list of the VRF Working Group members:
- Michael Adams; GLUMAC, Tetra Tech
- Ronald Balneg; California Energy Commission
- Bob Whitwell; United Technologies Corporation
- Mikelann Screbo; Alliance to Save Energy
- James Broughel; George Mason University
- John Cymbalsky; U.S. Department of Energy
- Tom Eckman; NW Power and Conservation Council
- Jill Hootman; Trane Commercial HVAC/Unitary
- Marshall Hunt; California Investor Owned Utilities
- Diane Jakobs; Rheem Manufacturing Co.
- Marc Neufcourt; Midea America Research Center
- Christopher Perry; American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
- Laura Petrillo-Groh; Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute
- Louis Starr; Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
- Rusty Tharp; Goodman Manufacturing Company
- Arturo Thur de Koos; Fujitsu General American, Inc.
- Douglas Tucker; Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating
- Joe Vukovich; Natural Resources Defense Council
- Wei Wang; GE Appliances, a Haier Company
- David Winningham; Lennox International, Allied Air Enterprises Division
| Activity | Date | Webinar Registration | In Person Registration |
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Circulator Pumps Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2016-BT-STD-0004. Public meeting dates and information will be located on the Circulator Pumps rulemaking webpage.
Dedicated Pool Pumps Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2015-BT-STD-0008. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Pool Pumps rulemaking webpage.
Walk-in Coolers
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in the Docket No. EERE-2015-BT-STD-0016. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Walk-in Coolers and Freezers rulemaking webpage.
Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in the Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-STD-0048. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps rulemaking webpage.
Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products rulemaking webpage.
Fans and Blowers Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Fans and Blowers rulemaking webpage.
Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket Nos. EERE-2013-BT-STD-0007 and EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces rulemaking webpages.
Regional Standards Enforcement Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-CE-0077. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Enforcement of Regional Standards for Residential Furnaces, Central Air Conditioners, and Heat Pumps rulemaking webpage.
Manufactured Housing Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2009-BT-BC-0021. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Manufactured Housing rulemaking webpage.
Commercial/Industrial Pumps Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-NOC-0039. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Commercial and Industrial Pumps rulemaking website.
Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning, Water Heating, and Refrigeration Certification Working Group
All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this working group are included in Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-NOC-0023. Public meeting dates and information are located on the Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning, Water Heating, and Refrigeration Certification rulemaking webpage.
Committee members have been appointed with staggered term limits to ensure continuity in the functioning of the Committee. As reflected in the charter, Committee members shall be experts in their respective fields including, but not limited to: energy efficiency and appliance and commercial equipment standards; or as representatives of industry (including manufacturers and trade associations representing manufacturers, component manufacturers and related suppliers, and retailers), utilities, energy efficiency/environmental advocacy groups and consumers. At least one Energy Department employee will be appointed to the Committee to represent the interests of the Department.
- Mr. Chris Boryca; Refrigeration Design Technologies
- Ms. Michelle Britt; International Code Council
- Mr. James Broughel; Mercatus Center at George Mason University
- Mr. Peter Cochran; U.S. Department of Energy
- Chair - Mr. David Gatto; Westinghouse Lighting
- Mr. Danny Manning; Sevier County Utility District
- Mr. Kevin Messner; Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
For more information concerning the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee, please email: asrac@ee.doe.gov. Sign-up to receive email updates regarding ASRAC.