Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers

On July 10, 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to amend the test procedures for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. That proposed rulemaking serves as the basis for this action. This final rule amends the test procedure that will be required for the testing of these products starting on September 15, 2014. The amendments include test procedures for products with multiple compressors and an alternative method for measuring and calculating energy consumption for refrigerator-freezers and refrigerators with freezer compartments. DOE is also amending certain aspects of the test procedure in order to ensure better test accuracy and repeatability. This final rule does not address the proposal's approach regarding the measurement of energy use associated with ice making, nor does it address the proposed treatment of built-in products, as DOE plans to address these topics in a future rule.