APSP Helps Shape Federal Pump Regs

The federal agency in charge of writing efficiency regulations for pool pumps has appointed a number of APSP members to a small group that will attempt to reach a consensus on pump efficiency standards.

The U.S. Department of Energy Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee selected following APSP members: Jeff Farlow, Pentair Aquatic Systems; Patrizio Fumagalli, Bestway, USA, Inc.; Paul Lin, Regal Beloit Corporation; Ray Mirzaei, Waterway; and Doug Philhower, Hayward Industries to the newly established Dedicated Pool Pump Working Group.

These APSP members serve on the APSP/ICC-15 standards committee on Residential Swimming Pool and Spa Energy Efficiency. This standards committee works collaboratively within the industry, and externally with the California Energy Commission and others, on issues related to pool and spa energy efficiency. Now with this newly formed negotiated rulemaking Working Group, the focus of those appointed and the APSP/ICC-15 committee will be proposed pump regulations at the federal level.

Through its negotiated rulemaking process, the goal of the Working Group is to write reasonable energy efficient regulations for the industry’s pumps to ensure that pool, portable spa and auxiliary pumps are differentiated and not grouped with industrial pumps.

Negotiated rulemaking refers to a process where the Working Group will 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 more traditional rulemaking processes.

“When the DOE announced proposed federal standards and test procedures that would apply equally to all pumps, APSP reached out and engaged them to better understand the effort and differentiate swimming pool pumps and portable spa pumps from industrial pumps,” said APSP Vice President, Technical & Standards Carvin DiGiovanni. “We are collaborating with the Department of Energy, the California Investor-Owned Utilities and others so that the interests of our members are represented and that the role of energy efficient products remains competitive and desirable amongst consumers,” he added.

For more information about the APSP Energy Working Group, contact DiGiovanni at APSP.