The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) has published a final rule in the Federal Register pertaining to Test Procedures for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pumps. On September 20, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to establish a new metric, as well as new definitions, test procedures, certification requirements, enforcement testing procedures, and labeling provisions for dedicated-purpose pool pumps (DPPPs). That proposed rulemaking serves as the basis for the final rule. DOE is adopting a test procedure for measuring the weighted energy factor (WEF) for certain varieties of dedicated-purpose pool pumps.

• The effective date of this rule is September 6, 2017.
• Compliance with the final rule will be mandatory for representations of WEF and other metrics addressed by the adopted test procedure made on or after February 5, 2018.

Find more information on the rulemaking here.

On January 18, 2017, the DOE published in the Federal Register a direct final rule (DFR) to establish new energy conservation standards (ECS) for dedicated purpose pool pumps (DPPPs).  DOE determined that the comments received in response to the DFR did not provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing it.  Therefore, the ECS published on January 18, 2017 became effective May 18, 2017.  Compliance with the DFR is required on July 19, 2021.

The DOE Notice of compliance for DPPPs can be accessed here

Amendment 15 establishes energy efficiency standards, labeling, reporting and importing requirements for a number of prescribed energy-using products including pumps, both stand alone and pumps incorporated into another products.  Dealers of prescribed products must ensure that:

• Product meets energy efficiency standards
• An Energy Efficiency Report is be filed with NRCan
• All regulated products bear an energy efficiency verification mark
• Import information is provided to Canada Border Services Agency
• Product must bear an EnerGuide label (if applicable)

Compliance will be monitored by Natural resources Canada (NRCan).

Click here to view NRCan’s Technical bulletin on developing standards for pumps

Click here to view NRCan’s public presentation

On November 30, 2016 HI Staff along with representatives of members of the Hydraulic Institute from Armstrong Fluid Technology, Grundfos, Taco Inc., WILO USA, and Xylem AWS, reached consensus on a term sheet as part of a 15 member ASRAC working group for circulator pumps. The working group recommended that the U.S. DOE make every effort to issue a final rule by the end of 2017 and a four year implementation period from the date of publication of the final rule (around January of 2022).  The term sheets can be downloaded here:

Circulator Pump Test Procedure & Scope Term Sheet
Circulator Pump Standard level Term Sheet

On August 25, 2016 the DOE announced a pre-publication Notice of Proposed Rule (NOPR) and public meeting pertaining to the test procedures for dedicated-purpose pool pumps (DPPP).  A public meeting pertaining to the NOPR has been scheduled for September 26, 2016 at the DOE’s Forrestal Building, and comments on the NOPR will be accepted up to 60 days following publication in the Federal Register as outlined in the NOPR.  The DPPP NOPR is the second rulemaking test procedure that DOE has released pertaining to pumps as DPPP’s were separated from the January 2016 general pumps energy conservation standard (ECS) final rule and test procedure because of DPPP’s different and specific equipment characteristics and applications.   The test procedure proposes measurement of flow rate and input power per HI 40.6-2014 “Methods for Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Testing” (incorporated by reference) in a wire to water configuration to calculate a Weighted Energy Factor (WEF).  The WEF is a measurement of the average kilogallons per kilowatt-hour (kgpm/kWh).  The WEF is very specific to pool pump systems and is a different type of metric than the Pump Energy Index (PEI) which was incorporated into law in the January 2016 general pumps ECS final rule and test procedure.  Anyone with specific interest in the DPPP NOPR should review it, attend the public meeting and comment per the instructions outlined. 

Contact Peter Gaydon (pgaydon@pumps.org) with any additional questions. The pre-publication NOPR can be viewed here.

On February 3, 2016, the DOE issued a notice of intent to establish a working group for Circulator Pumps to negotiate a notice of proposed rulemaking for energy conservation standards. The following members have been accepted to the working group:

• Gary Fernstrom - California Investor-Owned Utilities
• Joanna Mauer - Appliance Standards Awareness Project
• Charles White - Plumbinf-Heating-Cooling COntractors Association
• Mark Chaffee - TACO, Inc.
• Laura Petrillo-Groh - Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Rerigeration Institute
• Gabor Lechner - Armstrong Pumps, Inc.
• Richard Miller - WILO USA
• Mark Handzel - Xylem, Inc.
• Rich Gussert - Grundfos Americas Corporation
• Peter Gaydon - Hydraulic Institute
• Russell Pate - Rheem Manufacturing Company
• Lauren Urbanek - Natural Resources Defense Council
• Scott Durfee - Nidec Motor Corporation
• Tom Eckman - ASRAC
• Joseph Hagerman - U.S. Department of Energy
  
  

Working group meetings have been scheduled with a goal of completing a term sheet by September 30, 2016.  To stay current on the negotiating process for circulator pumps material can be reviewed at the following link. https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2016-BT-STD-0004.

On January 25 & 26, 2016 respectively, the DOE published the Test Procedure & Energy Conservation Standard for pumps in the Federal Register.  Compliance to the standard is slated for four years following publication in the federal register. Review the documents now: 

Energy Conservation Standard:  https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/26/2016-00324/energy-conservation-program-energy-conservation-standards-for-pumps

 

Test Procedure: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/25/2016-00039/energy-conservation-program-test-procedure-for-pumps

The Department of Energy has issued a pre-publication Federal Register final rule pertaining to energy conservation standards for commercial and industrial pumps. 

In this final rule, the DOE adopts new energy conservation standards for pumps. DOE has determined that the new energy conservation standards for pumps would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

The Department of Energy has issued a pre-publication Federal Register final rule pertaining to a test procedure for commercial and industrial pumps.

The DOE is now authorized to prescribe energy conservation standards and corresponding test procedures for statutorily covered equipment such as pumps. Under 42 U.S.C. 6314, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures DOE must follow when prescribing or amending test procedures for covered equipment. EPCA provides that any test procedures prescribed or amended under this section shall be reasonably designed to produce test results that measure energy efficiency, energy use or estimated annual operating cost of a covered product during a representative average use cycle or period of use, and shall not be unduly burdensome to conduct.

Members of the Pump Working group include:

• Jeff Farlow, Pentair Aquatic Systems
• Patrizio Fumagalli, Bestway, USA, Inc.
• Paul Lin, Regal Beloit Corporation
• Ray Mirzaei, Waterway
• Doug Philhower, Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Gary Fernstrom, California Investor-Owned Utilities
• Joanna Mauer, Appliance Standards Awareness Project
• Meg Waltner, Natural Resources Defense Council;
• Kristen Driskell, California Energy Commission;
• John Cymbalsky, U.S. DOE
• John Caskey, ASRAC/National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 

To attend the public meetings please email asrac@ee.doe.gov and visit the following links for more information: 

https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx/ruleid/14

 

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) lead the effort to organize the pump industry and facilitated the data gathering and standards development required for the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) negotiated energy conservation standard and test procedure for Commercial and Industrial Pumps (CIP).  The proposed CIP rule will eliminate the least efficient 25% of CIPs and includes performance metrics for constant speed equipment with no controls and for variable speed equipment with controls, acknowledging the benefits of the system approach to reducing energy.

As a result of the CIP ASRAC negotiations certain pump types were excluded from the proposed rule.  One of the excluded pump types is circulator pumps, which are relatively small centrifugal pumps designed for hydronic systems where only pipe friction head must be overcome.

The ASRAC negotiation recommended that the HI circulator committee and the energy advocates enter an informal negotiation process to develop a framework that could be presented to the DOE for a separate rulemaking suitable for circulator pumps.

Currently the HI circulator committee and advocates are working on defining the following recommendations:

• Definition of a circulator pump (Scope)
• Performance metric to rate circulators
• Circulator performance data & sales survey
• Test procedure for circulators
• Standard performance levels for circulator pumps

Circulator pump manufacturers and other interested parties should be involved with this informal negotiation which will lead to a separate rule focused on circulator pumps.  Please contact Peter Gaydon with any questions and to get involved with the Hydraulic Institute.

On May 8, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a Request for Information (RFI) that requests information regarding the potential energy efficiency standards for pool pumps established under the Energy Policy & Conservation Act.

HI staff organized a review of the RFI by interested HI members, and HI comments were developed to select questions and submitted to federal register on 08/17/15.  Comments on the RFI can be viewed at the following link: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2015-BT-STD-0008

The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) represents the vast majority of pool pump and motor manufacturers.  APSP convened a committee to review and comment on the RFI.  HI Staff participated on the APSP committee and educated the committee on the previous Commercial & Industrial Pump (CIP) rulemaking, performance metrics and test procedure (HI 40.6 Methods for Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Testing) and advocated for the committee to recommend similar performance metrics used in the CIP rulemaking and for the test procedure to remain consistent between the rulemakings.

APSP requested an Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) negotiation for the rulemaking process and it was granted by the ASRAC committee.  A pre-publication federal register notices was issued by the DOE on 08/2015 notifying the intent to develop an ASRAC negotiating working group for the proposed rulemaking.  If you are an interested party and would like to participate on the ASRAC negotiating committee, you can view the pre-publication notice at the following link: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/issuance-2015-08-19-appliance-standards-and-rulemaking-federal-advisory.

DOE will host a public meeting and webinar on September 30, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room IE-245 and October 1, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Room 8E-089 Washington, DC. Written comments and applications (i.e., cover letter and resume) to be appointed as members of the working group are welcome and should be submitted within 14 days of publication in the federal register.

Please contact Peter Gaydon with any questions.

The Hydraulic Institute and its Members have worked closely with the Department of Energy (DOE) throughout the rule-making process for the Energy Conservation Standard on Commercials Industrial Pumps.  As part of that process, HI’s Pump System Performance Metric (PSPM) committee supported the industry by working with the DOE to develop a tool to evaluate the PEI of pumps.  This tool will help pump manufacturers evaluate how their pump efficiencies stack up to the proposed minimum efficiency levels which will be set in the Energy Conservation Standard.  The effort of the committee and HI members at large was rewarded today, June 12, 2015, when the DOE released the PEI calculation tool to the public. Click Here to Download PEI Calculation Tool.

For more information please contact Peter Gaydon at the Hydraulic Institute.

This was the second year of HI delegates joining together for an exclusive group meeting with the Senate and House Oversight Committees regarding the Department of Energy's pump efficiency rulemaking.  The delegates provided Congressional representatives with HI's most recent position paper ("HI's Leave Behind document").

On April 29, 2015, HI delegates met with DOE representatives.  See the following for more information:

• Click here to see the DOE's presentation. 


• Life Cycle-Cost (LCC) Analysis – The LCC is an analysis conducted by the Department of Energy in support of the new energy conservation standard for commercial and industrial pumps.  The analysis provides the Department of Energy’s economic evaluation from the consumer’s perspective, identifying the total consumer cost over the life of the equipment (Life-Cycle Cost (LCC)) and the payback period required to recover the increased purchase price of more energy efficient equipment. Click here to view the LCC. 


• National Impact Analysis (NIA) – The NIA is an analysis developed by the Department of Energy in support of the new energy conservation standard for commercial and industrial pumps.  Using the LCC analysis and shipment models the NIA provides the Department of Energy’s projected national energy savings and consumer national net present value for the years 2020  - 2049. Click here to view the NIA.


• Technical Support Document (TSD) – The TSD is a standalone document developed by Department of Energy in support of the new energy conservation standard for commercial and industrial pumps.  The TSD presents the technical analyses conducted for evaluating the new energy conservation standards for commercial and industrial pumps. Click here to view the TSD. 


• Government Regulatory Impact Model (GRIM) -  The GRIM is a model developed by the Department of Energy in support of the new energy conservation standard.  The GRIM inputs include information on industry cost structure, shipments, and pricing strategies. The GRIM’s key output is the industry net present value (INPV). The model estimates the financial impact of more stringent energy conservation standards for each product by comparing changes in INPV between a base case and the various trial standard levels (TSLs) in the standards case. The qualitative part of the MIA addresses product characteristics, manufacturer characteristics, market and product trends, as well as the impact of standards on subgroups of manufacturers.  Click here to view the GRIM.

Energy.Gov/ Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy/ Building Technologies Office announced on April 2nd, that the Department of Energy had published Federal Register notice of proposed rulemakings and public meetings regarding energy conservation standards (80 FR 17826 April 2, 2015) and test procedures (80 FR 17586 April 1, 2015) for commercial and industrial pumps.  The notice which was sent out by the DOE provided the following:

• Find more information on the test procedure rulemaking or energy conservation standards rulemaking, including milestones, statutory authority, rulemaking documents, and any other related rulemakings.


• All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this rulemaking are included in the test documents docket number: EERE-2013-BT-RP-0055.


• All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this rulemaking are included in the energy conservation standard docket number: EERE-2011-BT-STD-0031.


• Learn how to participate in the public meeting/webinar for both test procedures and energy conservation standards scheduled for April 29, 2015.


• Find information about how to comment on the rulemaking.  The public comment period closes June 15, 2015 for test procedures and June 1, 2015 for energy conservation standards.


• Find product information about current standards and test procedures; recent product updates, waivers, exceptions, the statutory authority; historical information; and contact information.

If you are interested in participating in a meeting please contact meetings@pumps.org or by telephone: 973-267-9700

The U.S. Department of Energy yesterday released its anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for Energy Conservation Standards for Pumps. This 257 page document is now available for public review and comment. HI intends to respond on behalf of its members, both in writing and at the April 29th Public Hearing.

DOE also announced its plans to hold a public hearing on the NOPR on April 29, 2015 in Washington, DC which will be supported by webinar access as well. All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this rulemaking are included in Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-TP-0055. DOE’s website gives guidance on how to comment on the rulemaking. The public comment period closes 75 days after publication in the Federal Register. 

HI intends, as it has done in the past, to organize pump industry input with and through HI members and to submit a summary of consolidated and consensus-based comments to the U.S. DOE. This DOE Rulemaking section of the HI website provides background and a history of HI’s efforts to represent its members throughout the DOE rulemaking process [see below]. To find more information on the DOE rulemaking, including milestones, statutory authority, rulemaking documents, and any other related rulemakings from the DOE, you can also click here.

A copy of the 257 page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Energy Conservation Standards for Pumps can be found here.

HI members who have been actively involved in this issue including the HI members on the ASRAC Pump Working Group, along with all HI members who are interested in being involved, are invited to participate in the review of the proposed rulemaking. Any HI member who is interested in actively participating in this review should contact membership@pumps.org

Any interested company can obtain a copy of the referenced HI 40.6 Efficiency Testing for Rotodynamic Pumps standard at the eStore.

The U.S. Department of Energy today released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for the Test Procedures for Commercial and Industrial Pumps. This 270-page document is now available for public review and comment.

DOE also announced its plans to hold a public hearing on the NOPR on April 29, 2015 in Washington, DC which will be supported by webinar access as well. All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents associated with this rulemaking are included in Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-TP-0055. DOE's website gives guidance on how to comment on the rulemaking. The public comments period closes 75 days after publication in the Federal Register.

A copy of the 270-page NOPR for the Test Procedures for Commercial and Industrial Pumps can be found here.

HI members that have been actively involved in the creation of HI 40.6 Efficiency Testing for Rotodynamic Pumps, cited and referenced in the NOPR, along with members of the ASRAC Pump Working Group and other HI members involved in Pump Efficiency Rating (PER) metric analysis will work to review the NOPR and be prepared to submit comments to DOE during the hearing on April 29, 2015. Any HI member who is interested in actively participating in this review should contact membership@pumps.org

Any interested company can obtain a copy of the referenced HI 40.6 standard at the eStore.

Over 250 members of the Hydraulic Institute met in St. Petersburg, Florida during HI's 98th Annual meeting, anticipating release of the U.S. Department of Energy rulemaking on industrial and commercial pumps. However, at the time of the meeting, the NOPR was not yet released by the DOE. It is the understanding of the Hydraulic Institute that the draft NOPR was submitted on November 3, 2014 to the White House OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for internal departmental review.

The session devoted to review of the NOPR was then changed to provide for a briefing from a senior staff member of NEMA who reviewed their experiences in dealing with this stage of DOE regulatory review, from the perspective of the motor industry, which is new to the pump industry. The insights gained were helpful to HI members in better understanding the regulatory and enforcement process within DOE and will help them prepare for the release of the anticipated NOPR.

HI Member Briefing during HI Fall Meeting in St. Louis: HI members were briefed at the recent Fall meeting in St. Louis, MO on the DOE rulemaking progress. Participating in the briefing were the following HI delegates to the ASRAC Pump Working Group: Greg Case, Senior VP of Research & New Product Development, TACO, Inc., Greg Towsley, LEED AP BD+C, Director, Regulatory & Technical Affairs, Grundfos USA, Mark Handzel, V.P. Regulatory Affairs, Xylem Inc. - Applied Water Systems, and Bob Barbour, VP of New Business Development, TACO, Inc. The next key milestone, anticipated at the end of 2014 or early 2015, is the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR). HI members are urged to remain alert to the short comment period once the NOPR is published. The presentation may be found below to help keep HI members and other pump OEMs informed on the DOE rulemaking.

DOE Pump Efficiency Rulemaking Update Presentation - Fall 2014 Meeting (PDF)

Consensus Reached, But Subject to Approval:  The U.S. DOE pump rulemaking negotiations through ASRAC Pump Working Group reached a consensus agreement on June 19, 2014, wrapping up the latest three-day negotiating session. Consensus is defined in a Term Sheet, documenting all of the negotiated positions which includes a summary of the votes for each position  that the DOE documented as part of the rulemaking. The next step in the process is for DOE staff to present the Terms Sheet to the next ASRAC meeting, which may be held later in July.

With regard to next steps, and according to a U.S. DOE representative, “ASRAC will vote on whether to the approve the negotiated or positions or they could seek additional clarity from the working group.  From there, it goes to DOE for inclusion in a 2014 June DOE Term Sheet notice of proposed rulemaking.  Even though the positions were negotiated, DOE still has to go through its typical notice-and-comment rulemaking, which typically includes a proposal, comment period, and final rule.   DOE fully intends to honor any negotiated positions that are approved by ASRAC, but it needs to meet its statutory obligations for following the correct process when implementing them.”

The Hydraulic Institute, and its members on the ASRAC Pump Working Group, will continue to monitor progress as the Terms Sheet moves to ASRAC for approval and then into the statutory process later in 2014.

HI Members Updated at June Technical Meeting:  A panel session of five (5) HI members who have served on the ASRAC Pump Working Group briefed nearly 130 members of the Hydraulic Institute during the recent HI Technical Meeting held in Charlotte, NC.  A copy of the Powerpoint presentation is available that provides insights into the negotiated positions, term sheets and next steps in the DOE pump rulemaking process.  An EU update was also provided by Frank Ennenbach, Sulzer Pumps, on the evolving state of pump efficiency regulations in Europe.  Members present had an opportunity to ask questions and learn, first hand, of details of the negotiations and final Term Sheet that was agreed upon during the negotiations.

Pump Test Procedure to Support DOE Rulemaking:  On May 15, 2014 the Hydraulic Institute submitted HI 40.6, “Methods for Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Testing Standard” to the U.S. DOE for eventual adoption as part of the pump rulemaking process.  This standard, a year in the making, has been supported by a team of pump experts within the Hydraulic Institute and was reviewed and approved by HI Standards Voting Representatives (SVRs) leading up to its release to DOE.  This standard will be available for sale, in its current “draft” form, beginning no later than July 31st, 2014 on the HI website.  Details will be announced to members and to non-members once the standard is ready for publication and sale.

According the a U.S. DOE representative, “The rulemaking process for the test procedure is typically conducted one step ahead of the accompanying standards rule, meaning that a formal proposal is published in advance of proposed standards. The ASRAC pump working group has been operating under a schedule that would permit publication of proposed standards before the end of this year, which means a test procedure proposal would be published probably by this fall. DOE would collect comments from the public on that proposal and, provided no amendments to the proposal are needed based on any comments received, DOE would publish the adopted test method in a final rule.”

HI will continue to track this issue closely, and will develop a process for reviewing any proposed changes to the current draft version of the standard leading to its eventual final publication later in 2014 or early 2015.

Pump Systems Performance Metric (PSPM) Task Force: The Hydraulic Institute's Extended Product Committee has formed the Pump Systems Performance Metric (PSPM) Task Force to support the ASRAC pump working group members in their negotiations with the DOE. This task force has provided immediate technical advice and counsel to the ASRAC PWG members regarding pump system performance metrics, and has focused its attention on reviewing the DOE's PEI Calculator, which will be used by HI Members and the pump industry at large to help determine compliance with pending DOE regulations.

This task force has held weekly WebEx meetings and continues to review updates to the PEI Calculator as new versions are released. The task force members have been working closely with Pacific Northwest Laboratory's Research Engineer, Sarah Widder, to ensure the technical accuracy of the PEI Calculator and to offer suggestions for its future use. This task force will also provide content for the Extended Product guideline on how to use the calculator and to describe how it functions. PSPM Task Force meetings are currently held as needed, but no longer on a recurring basis.

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Special Information regarding the May 28th and 29th ASRAC Working Group Meeting in Washington DC:

At the May 28th and 29th ASRAC Pump Working Group meeting DOE consultants presented extensive material on subjects critical to the next steps and negotiations associated with the evolving pump efficiency rules. These subjects, which involve significant financial analysis, are detailed in the slides that are linked below. The five PowerPoint slide decks in PDF format include:

• LCC Impact on Consumers, Shipments Model, and National Impact Analysis
• Engineering Analysis Updates
• Manufacturers Impact Analysis
• US vs. EU MEI "C" Values
• PER "C" Value Update

Download a copy of the HI Position Paper to be shared with members of Congress

During the June 10th-11th HI-NAM Manufacturing Summit, in Washington DC, a delegation of HI members will meet with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to discuss the DOE rulemaking on pumps. This four-page position paper was developed to help inform members of Congress and the pump industry about the DOE rulemaking...and to address key issues. Download a Copy of The HI Position Paper on the DOE rulemaking to share with members of your staff.

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DOE Rulemaking on Pump Efficiency for Industrial/Commercial Pumps:

Since January 2011, when the first notice appeared in the Federal Register, the Hydraulic Institute (HI) and its members have been closely tracking the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) plans to regulate efficiency of industrial and commercial pumps. 
HI has also been advocating for addressing the efficiency of the package of the pump, motor, driver and controls which has been defined by Europump and HI as an “Extended Product.”  Energy savings with optimizing “Extended Products” far exceeds what can be obtained by eliminating the least efficient pump products in the market. A summary of HI's positions appear in the January, February, and March issues of Pumps and Systems magazine. For more information, click here.

This section of the HI website is designed to share the history of DOE’s regulatory efforts associated with the commercial and industrial pump rulemaking, and provide HI’s testimony, positions and educational materials that have been provided since the beginning of the rulemaking.  HI members will continue to benefit from direct engagement in the process, and regular updates during the course of HI meetings.

Finally, important standards and guideline writing work is underway within HI’s technical committees associated with the DOE pump efficiency rulemaking. To learn more about HI's extensive initiatives regarding the DOE Pump Efficiency Rulemaking process, click here. For more information regarding HI's Test Lab Approval program, click here. Additional participation is welcome from HI members. If your company is eligible for membership, we invite your inquiry to Mary Silver, Director, Membership and Technology at msilver@Pumps.org or (973) 267-9700 x117.

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DOE Rulemaking Timeline

The DOE rulemaking is currently following two paths.  The first is the “traditional” rulemaking, which is based on a significant amount of data gathering, published positions of DOE (such as the “Request for Information,” “Framework,” and “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” documents) and public meetings allowing comments on their findings, recommendations or positions. The second path, which began on December 18-19, 2013 is a “negotiated rulemaking,” whereby a group of DOE appointed individuals meet on a regular monthly basis in Washington, DC in public meetings to work to reach a consensus on a rulemaking under rules established by the DOE’s Appliance Standards Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ASRAC).  A group of HI members has been appointed to the ASRAC Working Group on Pumps, and a schedule of meetings is planned through July 2014 to reach a consensus agreement.

ASRAC Pumps Working Group Roster
 
Schedule of ASRAC Meetings
 
How to Participate in ASRAC Meetings

March 26-27, 2014: ASRAC Pumps Working Group Meeting Presentation "Scope"

March 27-28, 2014: ASRAC Pumps Working Group Meeting Presentation "Calculations and Standard Setting"

March 4-5, 2014: ASRAC Pumps Working Group Meeting Presentation "Scope"

March 4-5, 2014: The U.S. DOE legal staff was asked to comment on the issue of preemption of pumps with regard to state regulations. This document provides a position statement from the DOE in this regard. Read the Preemptive Document Here.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Registernotice of open teleconference/webinar regarding the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee’s (ASRAC) Commercial and Industrial Pumps Working Group.

 

January 30-31, 2014:

• ASRAC Pumps Working Group Meeting Presentation
• ACEEE Extended Product Labeling    
• HI Board's Position on Federal Preemption of Pumps:

January 14, 2014: DOE Notice of Open Meeting of ASRAC Pumps Working Group   

January 2014: DOE Issues Notice of Open Webinar for the ASRAC Commercial and Industrial Pumps Working Group 

The Hydraulic Institute Board of Directors, in a special meeting on February 28, voted overwhelmingly in favor of preserving the current language in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, whereby pumps are encompassed by Section  6311(1)(A) of EPCA and state regulation of pumps is preempted by the Federal Statute. The HI Board is opposed to any changes in the current preemption status for pumps.

WebEx Breifing on NAM Summit & HI Government Affairs Committee:

In case you missed the March 5th briefing for HI members, above is the link to help you understand the role of HI's new Government Affairs Committee and reasons that HI members should attend the NAM Manufacturing Summit in Washington, DC on June 10th-11th, 2014. 

HI's Government Affairs Initiatives:

Understand the multi-faceted approach that HI is taking to support pump OEMs and other HI members in improving their ability to comply with forthcoming DOE pump efficiency regulations. HI is also taking a pro-active lead in developing new test procedures for DOE's rigorous efficiency rating requirements for pumps, developing a new pump test lab approval program and working on Extended Product and Minimum Efficiency Index (MEI) issues.

Briefing on DOE Rulemaking:

On March 20th HI members received an update on the most recent ASRAC Pump Working Group meeting, held March 4th - 5th in Washington, DC. The Hydraulic Institute continues its efforts to keep members informed on progress with the negotiations to establish a pump efficiency rulemaking. Powerpoint slides and other information can be found here, dealing with: Metrics, Scope, and Preemption issues dicussed at the latest meeting. The next ASRAC meeting will be held March 26th - 27th in Washington, DC, which is open to the public by attending in person or via web conference. 

For more information please visit: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201310&RIN=1904-AC54.

December 18-19, 2013: ASRAC Pumps Working Group Meeting in DC

• Agenda
• Presentation

 

November 12, 2013: DOE Notice of First ASRAC Commerical and Industrial PumpsWorking Group Meeting

 

October 24, 2013: DOE Presents at HI Fall Meeting

July 16, 2013: DOE Notice of Intent to Establish ASRAC Negotiated Rulemaking Working Group  

 

May 17, 2013: HI Requests to Pursue Negotiated Rulemaking 

May 2, 2013: HI Provides Formal Response to DOE Framework Document

February 26, 2013: DOE Convenes First ASRAC Meeting:  Discusses Pumps

• Agenda
• Presentation Overview
• Presentation
• Updated Agenda
• Transcript

February 20, 2013: DOE Framework Hearing in Washington, DC

• Purpose and Agenda
• Presentation
• Transcript

January 25, 2013: DOE Framework Document

March 30, 2012: HI Request to Meet with DOE

June 13, 2011: DOE Request for Information

July 11, 2011: HI Response Letter 1

September 16, 2011: HI Response Letter 2

September 16, 2011: HI Response Letter 3

A number of HI committees were formed over the past two years to work on different aspects of the DOE rulemaking.  Experts from HI member companies have collaborated, beginning with the HI Pump Efficiency Expert Team (PEET), to advance work that will be fundamental to both the DOE rulemaking and end-user understanding of optimizing pumping systems.  Most of the committees regularly teleconference but will meet in person during the HI Annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ in early February 2014.  Following is a brief summary of the work of the different HI committees that are working on topics that are related to the DOE rulemaking:  

Government Affairs Committee (NEW): The HI Board of Directors, in February 2014, approved establishing a new government affairs committee whose purpose is to develop a strategy to engage the pump industry in public policy, legislative and regulatory oversight issues, ensuring that pump and supplier OEMs are properly represented on such matters that have a direct, positive, impact on the business interests of member companies. HI members that have interest in participating should contact HI Executive Director: Robert K. Asdal, rasdal@Pumps.org. (Purpose/Scope)

HI Pump Test Standard: HI 40.6:  While HI pump test standards, particularly ANSI/HI 14.6, are well known among pump end users, EC firms, pump OEMs and distributors, the DOE would have to reference its own specific pump test procedure as the foundation of its rulemaking. HI offered to write that standard for the DOE and invited DOE experts as part of the standards-writing team. Unlike the 14.6 standard, the standard that DOE will adopt will be based on only one test tolerance known as 2B.  Documentation created by the HI committee was submitted to the DOE for introduction into their Test Procedure Rulemaking process.  A formal public hearing is scheduled for the summer of 2014, according to the latest schedule published by the DOE. (Purpose/Scope)

Minimum Efficiency Index (MEI) Standard:  The purpose of the MEI is to develop a methodology for reducing the energy consumption of pumping systems.  The MEI concept takes into account the factors of pump type, size (flow rate @ BEP), head, and specific speed to predict the efficiency cut-off level.  The MEI provides a decimal index value (<1) indicating an efficiency class. (Purpose/Scope)

Pump Test Lab Approval Program:  This committee is developing a pump test laboratory audit and inspection program to approve a pump test laboratory’s ability to test the performance of certain products to applicable HI and other performance test standard(s) as well as to adhere to the requirements of an international test lab accreditation standard (ISO 17025).  The scope of the committee’ work encompasses all pump test laboratories testing pumps and extended products. (Purpose/Scope)

Extended Product Standard:  The Extended Product Committee is working on a publication to identify and verify optimized energy usage of extended products, defined as the pump-motor-drive assembly and control.  Working collaboratively with its European counterpart, Europump, HI intends to create a standard for the pump/motor assembly and motor control from the perspective of a sub-systems approach (European Extended Product Approach).  Focusing on optimizing energy efficiency use of the extended product, the standard will likely recommend metrics and minimum standards.   Such a standard will help support HI and the pump industry’s advocacy for optimizing pumping systems extended products to achieve higher energy savings, rather than by addressing pump-end efficiency alone.  Improving the efficiency of extended products can significantly benefit end-user economics and the environment.  The HI Extended Product document will address rotodynamic pump systems extended products that only cover designs for clean water, and most likely, will be consistent with the anticipated DOE rulemaking.  (Purpose/Scope)

Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Prediction Guideline:  The HI Pump Efficiency Prediction Committee has begun to gather new pump performance data to update this important guideline that relates pump efficiency to pump type, specific speed, and pump size.  Considerations such as surface roughness, internal clearances, mechanical losses, pumpage, impeller design and diameter trim, and thrust balancing techniques are just a few of the factors that are included in this guideline. (Purpose/Scope)

Pump Systems Energy Optimization Standard:  This committee is creating a standard for the evaluation of energy usage in pump systems that provide the user or system designer with a collection of tools and metrics for the development of energy efficient pump systems.  This standard is intended to facilitate the optimization of pumping systems to achieve higher energy savings rather than address pump efficiency alone.  The scope of the standard is intended to be used as a tool in the design and retrofitting of pump systems to optimize energy efficiency and reduce life cycle costs. (Purpose/Scope)

Extended Product & Pump Labeling Initiatives:  HI recently joined a collaborative effort on Extended Product Labeling, organized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), to work with electric power utilities, energy efficiency advocates and other trade allies to develop new concepts for pump and extended product labeling to recognize higher efficiency products or extended products.  Other trade organizations involved include the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA), the Compressed Air and Gas Institute (CAGI), the Fluid Sealing Association (FSA) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).  Other members of the consortium including leading energy efficiency advocates and electric power utilities who have interest in supporting rebate and incentive programs to transform markets toward more energy efficient products. (Purpose/Scope)