2021 -- S 0339 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC001650/SUB A/3 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- APPLIANCE AND EQUIPMENT | |
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS ACT OF 2021 | |
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Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Valverde, and Coyne | |
Date Introduced: February 25, 2021 | |
Referred To: Senate Commerce | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Legislative findings |
2 | The general assembly finds that: |
3 | (1) Efficiency standards for certain products sold or installed in the state assure consumers |
4 | and businesses that such products meet minimum efficiency performance levels, thus reducing |
5 | energy and water waste and saving consumers and businesses money on utility bills. |
6 | (2) Such efficiency standards save energy and thus reduce climate-changing emissions and |
7 | other environmental impacts associated with the production, distribution, and use of electricity, |
8 | natural gas, and other fuels. |
9 | (3) Such efficiency standards save water, mitigating the effects of short- and long-term |
10 | droughts and helping to conserve fresh water supplies. |
11 | (4) Bill savings resulting from more-efficient products benefit all consumers but are |
12 | especially important to low-income families, who spend a disproportionate share of their income |
13 | on utilities. Efficiency standards also help the state and local economies because bill savings can |
14 | be spent on local goods and services. |
15 | (5) Energy and water savings help reduce or delay the need for expensive investments in |
16 | new power plants, transmission lines, and distribution system upgrades, new and expanded gas |
17 | pipelines, and water and sewer infrastructure improvements. |
18 | SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND |
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1 | CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
2 | CHAPTER 27.1 |
3 | APPLIANCE AND EQUIPMENT ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS ACT |
4 | OF 2021 |
5 | 39-27.1-1. General purpose. |
6 | This chapter establishes minimum efficiency standards for certain products sold or installed |
7 | in the state. This chapter shall, upon enactment, be construed to supersede any conflicting |
8 | provisions of chapter 27 of title 39, "The Energy and Consumer Savings Act of 2005." |
9 | 39-27.1-2. Definitions. |
10 | (a) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: |
11 | (1) "Commercial dishwasher" means a machine designed to clean and sanitize plates, pots, |
12 | pans, glasses, cups, bowls, utensils, and trays by applying sprays of detergent solution (with or |
13 | without blasting media granules) and a sanitizing rinse. |
14 | (2) "Commercial fryer" means an appliance, including a cooking vessel, in which oil is |
15 | placed to such a depth that the cooking food is essentially supported by displacement of the cooking |
16 | fluid rather than by the bottom of the vessel. Heat is delivered to the cooking fluid by means of an |
17 | immersed electric element of band-wrapped vessel (electric fryers) or by heat transfer from gas |
18 | burners through either the walls of the fryer or through tubes passing through the cooking fluid (gas |
19 | fryers). |
20 | (3) "Commercial hot-food holding cabinet" means a heated, fully enclosed compartment |
21 | with one or more solid or transparent doors designed to maintain the temperature of hot food that |
22 | has been cooked using a separate appliance. "Commercial hot-food holding cabinet" does not |
23 | include heated glass merchandizing cabinets, drawer warmers, or cook-and-hold appliances. |
24 | (4) "Commercial oven" means a chamber designed for heating, roasting, or baking food by |
25 | conduction, convection, radiation, and/or electromagnetic energy. |
26 | (5) "Commercial steam cooker," also known as "compartment steamer," means a device |
27 | with one or more food-steaming compartments in which the energy in the steam is transferred to |
28 | the food by direct contact. Models may include countertop models, wall-mounted models, and floor |
29 | models mounted on a stand, pedestal, or cabinet-style base. |
30 | (6) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of energy resources at the Rhode Island |
31 | office of energy resources, appointed pursuant to § 42-140-4. |
32 | (7) "Compensation" means money or any other valuable thing, regardless of form, received |
33 | or to be received by a person for services rendered. |
34 | (8) "Electric vehicle supply equipment" means the conductors, including the ungrounded, |
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1 | grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, the electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, |
2 | and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, or apparatuses installed specifically for the purpose of |
3 | delivering energy from the premises wiring to the electric vehicle. Excludes conductors, |
4 | connectors, and fittings that are part of a vehicle. |
5 | (9) The following definitions refer to "faucets": |
6 | (i) "Faucet" means a private lavatory faucet, residential kitchen faucet, metering faucet, |
7 | public lavatory faucet, or replacement aerator for a private lavatory, public lavatory or residential |
8 | kitchen faucet. |
9 | (ii) "Public lavatory faucet" means a fitting designed to be installed in nonresidential |
10 | bathrooms that are exposed to walk-in traffic. |
11 | (iii) "Metering faucet" means a fitting that, when turned on, will gradually shut itself off |
12 | over a period of several seconds. |
13 | (iv) "Replacement aerator" means an aerator sold as a replacement, separate from the faucet |
14 | to which it is intended to be attached. |
15 | (10) The following definitions refer to "gas fireplaces": |
16 | (i) "Decorative gas fireplace" means a vented fireplace, including appliances that are |
17 | freestanding, recessed, zero clearance, or a gas fireplace insert, that is fueled by natural gas or |
18 | propane, is marked for decorative use only, and is not equipped with a thermostat or intended for |
19 | use as a heater. |
20 | (ii) "Gas fireplace" means a decorative gas fireplace or a heating gas fireplace. |
21 | (iii) "Heating gas fireplace" means a vented fireplace, including appliances that are |
22 | freestanding, recessed, zero clearance, or a gas fireplace insert, that is fueled by natural gas or |
23 | propane and is not a decorative fireplace. |
24 | (11) "Portable electric spa" means a factory-built electric spa or hot tub which may or may |
25 | not include any combination of integral controls, water heating or water circulating equipment. |
26 | (12) "Residential ventilating fan" means a ceiling or wall-mounted fan, or remotely |
27 | mounted in-line fan, designed to be used in a bathroom or utility room for the purpose of moving |
28 | air from inside the building to the outdoors. |
29 | (13) The following definitions refer to "showerheads": |
30 | (i) "Showerhead" means an accessory to a supply fitting for spraying water onto a bather, |
31 | typically from an overhead position and includes a hand-held showerhead, but does not include a |
32 | safety showerhead. |
33 | (ii) "Hand-held showerhead" means a showerhead that can be held or fixed in place for the |
34 | purpose of spraying water onto a bather and that is connected to a flexible hose. |
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1 | (14) The following definitions refer to "spray sprinkler bodies": |
2 | (i) "Pressure regulator" means a device that maintains constant operating pressure |
3 | immediately downstream from the device, given higher pressure upstream. |
4 | (ii) "Spray sprinkler body" means the exterior case or shell of a sprinkler incorporating a |
5 | means of connection to the piping system designed to convey water to a nozzle or orifice. |
6 | (15) The following definitions refer to "urinals" and "water closets": |
7 | (i) "Dual-flush effective flush volume" means the average flush volume of two (2) reduced |
8 | flushes and one full flush. |
9 | (ii) "Dual-flush water closet" means a water closet incorporating a feature that allows the |
10 | user to flush the water closet with either a reduced or a full volume of water. |
11 | (iii) "Plumbing fixture" means an exchangeable device, which connects to a plumbing |
12 | system to deliver and drain away water and waste. |
13 | (iv) "Trough-type urinal" means a urinal designed for simultaneous use by two (2) or more |
14 | persons. |
15 | (v) "Urinal" means a plumbing fixture that receives only liquid body waste and conveys |
16 | the waste through a trap into a drainage system. |
17 | (vi) "Water closet" means a plumbing fixture having a water-containing receptor that |
18 | receives liquid and solid body waste through an exposed integral trap into a drainage system. |
19 | (16) The following definitions refer to "water coolers": |
20 | (i) "Cold only units" dispense cold water only. |
21 | (ii) "Cook and cold units" dispense both cold and room-temperature water. |
22 | (iii) "Hot and cold units" dispense both hot and cold water. Provided further that certain |
23 | units also offer room-temperature water. |
24 | (iv) "On demand" means the water cooler heats water as it is requested, which typically |
25 | takes a few minutes to deliver. |
26 | (v) "Storage-type" means thermally conditioned water is stored in a tank in the water cooler |
27 | and is available instantaneously. Point-of-use, dry storage compartment, and bottled water coolers |
28 | are included in this category. |
29 | (vi) "Water cooler" means a freestanding device that consumes energy to cool and/or heat |
30 | potable water. |
31 | 39-27.1-3. Scope. |
32 | (a) The provisions of this chapter apply to: |
33 | (1) Commercial dishwashers; |
34 | (2) Commercial fryers; |
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1 | (3) Commercial hot-food holding cabinets; |
2 | (4) Commercial ovens; |
3 | (5) Commercial steam cookers; |
4 | (6) Electric vehicle supply equipment; |
5 | (7) Faucets |
6 | (8) Gas fireplaces; |
7 | (9) Portable electric spas; |
8 | (10) Residential ventilating fans; |
9 | (11) Showerheads; |
10 | (12) Spray sprinkler bodies; |
11 | (13) Urinals; |
12 | (14) Water closets; and |
13 | (15) Water coolers. |
14 | (b) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to: |
15 | (1) New products manufactured in the state and sold outside the state; |
16 | (2) New products manufactured outside the state and sold at wholesale inside the state for |
17 | final retail sale and installation outside the state; |
18 | (3) Products installed in mobile manufactured homes at the time of construction; or |
19 | (4) Products designed expressly for installation and use in recreational vehicles. |
20 | 39-27.1-4. Standards. |
21 | (a) Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this chapter, the commissioner |
22 | shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42, establishing |
23 | minimum efficiency standards for the types of new products set forth in § 39-27.1-3. |
24 | (b) The regulations shall provide for the following minimum efficiency standards: |
25 | (1) Commercial dishwashers included in the scope of the ENERGY STAR Program |
26 | Requirements Product Specification for Commercial Dishwashers, Version 2.0, shall meet the |
27 | qualification criteria of that specification. |
28 | (2) Commercial fryers included in the scope of the ENERGY STAR Program |
29 | Requirements Product Specification for Commercial Fryers, Version 2.0, shall meet the |
30 | qualification criteria of that specification. |
31 | (3) Commercial hot-food holding cabinets shall meet the qualification criteria of the |
32 | ENERGY STAR Program Requirements Product Specification for Commercial Hot Food Holding |
33 | Cabinets, Version 2.0. |
34 | (4) Commercial ovens included in the scope of the ENERGY STAR Program |
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1 | Requirements Product Specification for Commercial Ovens, Version 2.2, shall meet the |
2 | qualification criteria of that specification. |
3 | (5) Commercial steam cookers shall meet the requirements of the ENERGY STAR |
4 | Program Requirements Product Specification for Commercial Steam Cookers, Version 1.2. |
5 | (6) Electric vehicle supply equipment included in the scope of the ENERGY STAR |
6 | Program Requirements Product Specification for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, Version 1.0 |
7 | (Rev. Apr-2017), shall meet the qualification criteria of that specification. |
8 | (7) Faucets, except for metering faucets, shall meet the standards shown in this subsection |
9 | when tested in accordance with Appendix S to Subpart B of Part 430 of Title 10 of the Code of |
10 | Federal Regulations and compliance with those requirements shall be -- "Uniform Test Method for |
11 | Measuring the Water Consumption of Faucets and Showerheads" -- as in effect on January 1, 2020. |
12 | (i) Lavatory faucets and replacement aerators shall not exceed a maximum flow rate of one |
13 | and five-tenths gallons per minute (1.5 gpm) at sixty pounds per square inch (60 psi). |
14 | (ii) Residential kitchen faucets and replacement aerators shall not exceed a maximum flow |
15 | rate of one and eight-tenths gallons per minute (1.8 gpm) at sixty pounds per square inch (60 psi), |
16 | with optional temporary flow of two and two-tenths gallons per minute (2.2 gpm), provided they |
17 | default to a maximum flow rate of one and eight-tenths gallons per minute (1.8 gpm) at sixty pounds |
18 | per square inch (60 psi) after each use. |
19 | (iii) Public lavatory faucets and replacement aerators shall not exceed a maximum flow |
20 | rate of five-tenths gallons per minute (0.5 gpm) at sixty pounds per square inch (60 psi). |
21 | (8) Gas fireplaces shall comply with the following requirements: |
22 | (i) Gas fireplaces shall be capable of automatically extinguishing any pilot flame when the |
23 | main gas burner flame is established and when it is extinguished; |
24 | (ii) Gas fireplaces must prevent any ignition source for the main gas burner flame from |
25 | operating continuously for more than seven (7) days; |
26 | (iii) Decorative gas fireplaces must have a direct vent configuration, unless marked for |
27 | replacement use only; and, |
28 | (iv) Heating gas fireplaces shall have a fireplace efficiency greater than or equal to fifty |
29 | percent (50%) when tested in accordance with CSA P.4.1-15, "Testing Method for Measuring |
30 | Annual Fireplace Efficiency." |
31 | (9) Portable electric spas shall meet the requirements of the "American National Standard |
32 | for Portable Electric Spa Energy Efficiency" (ANSI/APSP/ICC 14-2019). |
33 | (10) In-line residential ventilating fans shall have a fan motor efficacy of no less than two |
34 | and eight-tenths (2.8) cubic feet per minute per watt. All other residential ventilating fans shall have |
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1 | a fan motor efficacy of no less than one and four-tenths (1.4) cubic feet per minute per watt for |
2 | airflows less than ninety (90) cubic feet per minute and no less than two and eight-tenths (2.8) cubic |
3 | feet per minute per watt for other airflows when tested in accordance with Home Ventilation |
4 | Institute Publication 916 "HVI Airflow Test Procedure." |
5 | (11) Showerheads shall not exceed a maximum flow rate of two gallons per minute (2.0 |
6 | gpm) at eighty pounds per square inch (80 psi) when tested in accordance with Appendix S to |
7 | Subpart B of Part 430 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations and compliance with those |
8 | requirements shall be -- "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Water Consumption of Faucets |
9 | and Showerheads" -- as in effect on January 1, 2020. |
10 | (12) Spray sprinkler bodies that are not specifically excluded from the scope of the |
11 | WaterSense Specification for Spray Sprinkler Bodies, Version 1.0, shall include an integral |
12 | pressure regulator and shall meet the water efficiency and performance criteria and other |
13 | requirements of that specification. |
14 | (13) Urinals and water closets, other than those designed and marketed exclusively for use |
15 | at prisons or mental health facilities, shall meet the standards shown in subsections (b)(1) through |
16 | (b)(4) of this section when tested in accordance with Appendix T to Subpart B of Part 430 of Title |
17 | 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations -- "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Water |
18 | Consumption of Water Closets and Urinals"-- as in effect on January 1, 2020, and water closets |
19 | shall pass the waste extraction test for water closets (Section 7.9) of the American Society of |
20 | Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A112.19.2/CSA B45.1-2018. |
21 | (i) Wall-mounted urinals, except for trough-type urinals, shall have a maximum flush |
22 | volume of five-tenths (0.5) gallons per flush. |
23 | (ii) Floor-mounted urinals, except for trough-type urinals, shall have a maximum flush |
24 | volume of five-tenths (0.5) gallons per flush. |
25 | (iii) Water closets, except for dual-flush tank-type water closets, shall have a maximum |
26 | flush volume of one and twenty-eight hundredths (1.28) gallons per flush. |
27 | (iv) Dual-flush tank-type water closets shall have a maximum dual flush effective flush |
28 | volume of one and twenty-eight hundredths (1.28) gallons per flush. |
29 | (14) Water coolers included in the scope of the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements |
30 | Product Specification for Water Coolers, Version 2.0, shall have on mode with no water draw |
31 | energy consumption less than or equal the following values as measured in accordance with the |
32 | test requirements of that program: |
33 | (i) Sixteen hundredths kilowatt hours (0.16 KWh) per day for cold-only units and cook and |
34 | cold units; |
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1 | (ii) Eighty-seven hundredths kilowatt hours (0.87 KWh) per day for storage type hot and |
2 | cold units; and |
3 | (iii) Eighteen hundredths kilowatt hours (0.18 KWh) per day for on demand hot and cold |
4 | units. |
5 | 39-27.1-5. Implementation. |
6 | (a) No commercial dishwasher, commercial fryer, commercial hot-food holding cabinet, |
7 | commercial oven, commercial steam cooker, electric vehicle supply equipment, faucet, gas |
8 | fireplace, portable electric spa, residential ventilating fan, showerhead, spray sprinkler body, urinal, |
9 | water closet, or water cooler manufactured on or after January 1, 2023, may be sold or offered for |
10 | sale, lease, or rent in the state unless the new product meets the requirements of the standards |
11 | provided in this chapter. |
12 | (b) One year after the date upon which the sale or offering for sale of certain products |
13 | becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, no such products may be |
14 | installed for compensation in the state unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds |
15 | the efficiency standards provided in § 39-27.1-4. |
16 | 39-27.1-6. New and revised standards. |
17 | The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 35 |
18 | of title 42, to establish increased efficiency standards for the products listed or incorporated in § |
19 | 39-27.1-3. In considering such new or amended standards, the commissioner shall set efficiency |
20 | standards upon a determination that increased efficiency standards would serve to promote energy |
21 | or water conservation in the state and would be cost effective for consumers who purchase and use |
22 | such new products; provided that, no new or increased efficiency standards shall become effective |
23 | within one year following the adoption of any amended regulations establishing such increased |
24 | efficiency standards. |
25 | 39-27.1-7. Testing; Certification; Labeling; Enforcement. |
26 | (a) The manufacturers of products covered by this chapter shall test samples of their |
27 | products in accordance with the test procedures adopted pursuant to this chapter. The commissioner |
28 | may adopt updated test methods when new versions of test procedures become available. |
29 | (b) Manufacturers of new products covered by § 39-27.1-3 shall certify to the |
30 | commissioner that such products are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Such |
31 | certifications shall be based on test results. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations |
32 | governing the certification of such products and shall coordinate with the certification programs of |
33 | other states and federal agencies with similar standards. |
34 | (c) Manufacturers of new products covered by § 39-27.1-3 shall identify each product |
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1 | offered for sale or installation in the state as in compliance with the provisions of this chapter by |
2 | means of a mark, label, or tag on the product and packaging at the time of sale or installation. The |
3 | commissioner shall promulgate regulations governing the identification of such products and |
4 | packaging, which shall be coordinated to the greatest practical extent with the labeling programs |
5 | of other states and federal agencies with equivalent efficiency standards. The commissioner shall |
6 | allow the use of existing marks, labels, or tags, which connote compliance with the efficiency |
7 | requirements of this chapter. |
8 | (d) The commissioner may test products covered by § 39-27.1-3. If products so tested are |
9 | found not to be in compliance with the minimum efficiency standards established under § 39-27.1- |
10 | 4, the commissioner shall: |
11 | (1) Charge the manufacturer of such product for the cost of product purchase and testing; |
12 | and |
13 | (2) Make information available to the attorney general and the public on products found |
14 | not to be in compliance with the standards. |
15 | (e) With prior notice and at reasonable and convenient hours, the commissioner may cause |
16 | periodic inspections to be made of distributors or retailers of new products covered by § 39-27.1-3 |
17 | in order to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The commissioner shall also |
18 | coordinate with the state building code standards committee regarding inspections prior to |
19 | occupancy of newly constructed buildings containing new products that are also covered by chapter |
20 | 27.3 of title 23. |
21 | (f) The commissioner shall investigate complaints received concerning violations of this |
22 | chapter and shall report the results of such investigations to the attorney general. The attorney |
23 | general may institute proceedings to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Any manufacturer, |
24 | distributor, or retailer, or any person who installs a product covered by this chapter for |
25 | compensation, who violates any provision of this chapter shall be issued a warning by the |
26 | commissioner for any first violation and subject to a civil penalty of up to one hundred dollars |
27 | ($100) for each offense. Repeat violations shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than five |
28 | hundred dollars ($500) for each offense. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense, and each |
29 | day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Penalties assessed under this |
30 | subsection are in addition to costs assessed under subsection (d) of this section. |
31 | (g) The commissioner may adopt such further regulations as necessary to ensure the proper |
32 | implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. |
33 | 39-27.1-8. Severability. |
34 | If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is |
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1 | held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter, which |
2 | can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of |
3 | this chapter are declared to be severable. |
4 | 39-27.1-9. Effective Date. |
5 | This act shall take effect upon passage, and shall be construed to supersede any conflicting |
6 | provisions of chapter 27 of title 39, "The Energy and Consumer Savings Act of 2005". |
7 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- APPLIANCE AND EQUIPMENT | |
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS ACT OF 2021 | |
*** | |
1 | This act would establish minimum energy and water efficiency standards for appliances |
2 | and specified equipment purchased or installed after January 1, 2023. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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