   
  
G/TBT/N/USA/1655/Add.5  
 
6 January 2022  
(22-0101) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  6 January 2022 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States of America . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Title: Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
[  ] Comment period changed - date:   
[  ] Notified measure adopted - date:  
[X] Notified measure published - date: 29 December 2021  
[X] Notified measure enters into force - date: 29 December 2021  
[X] Text of final measure available from1:  
https:// www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-12-29/html/2021 -28007.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-12-29/pdf/2021 -28007.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/USA/final_measure/22_0122_00_
e.pdf  
[  ] Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date:  
Relevant symbol if measure re -notified:   
[  ] Content or scope of notified measure changed  and text available from1:  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):   
[  ] Interpretive guidance issued and text available from1:  
[  ] Other:  
 
Description:  TITLE: Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Energy  Conservation 
Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water  Heaters  
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of  Energy  
ACTION: Notification of final in terpretive rule  
SUMMARY: On 27 August 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or  Department) published in 
the Federal Register for public comment a  proposed interpretive rule to reinstate a  long-standing 
interpretation  under which, in the context of resid ential furnaces, commercial water  heaters, and 
similarly -situated products or equipment, the heat  exchanger technology (and associated venting) 
used to supply heated air  or hot water is not a   performance -related "feature" that provides a  distinct 
 
1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final /modified  measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.  G/TBT/N/USA/1655/Add.5  
 
- 2 - 
 
  consumer  utility under the Energy Policy and   Conservation Act,  as amended (EPCA). The 27 August 
2021 proposed interpretive rule set  forth the basis and rationale for this final interpretive rule, 
in which DOE responds to public comments and ultimately reinstates its long-standing interpretation 
as proposed.  
This final interpretive rule is effective 29 December 2021.  
This notification of final interpretive rule and previous actions notified under the 
symbol  G/TBT/N/ USA/1655  are identified by Docket Number EERE -2018-BT-STD-0018. The Docket 
Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE -2018-BT-STD-
0018/document  and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments 
received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching the Docket Number.  
__________  
 
 