# Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Effect of Revised Estimates of the Social Cost of Carbon
**AGENCY:**
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
**ACTION:**
Notice of Data Availability (NODA).
**SUMMARY:**
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has, for several years, used monetary values for the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) to estimate the value to society of reducing carbon emissions that could result from rulemakings establishing energy conservation standards for residential appliances and industrial equipment. In recent standards rulemakings for microwave oven standby and off modes, metal halide lighting fixtures, commercial refrigeration equipment, walk-in coolers and freezers, and furnace fans, DOE used SCC values developed by an interagency group and released to the public in May 2013 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB has issued updated SCC values that reflect minor technical corrections to the estimates that were released in May 2013. The purpose of this notice is to show the impact of these updated values on the national economic benefits projected to result from the proposed standards for commercial refrigeration equipment, walk-in coolers and freezers, metal halide lighting fixtures, and furnace fans.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Requests for additional information may be sent to Mr. John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-1692. Email: *[email protected]* .
Ms. Ami Grace-Tardy, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-5709. Email: *[email protected]* .
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Introduction**
For several years, DOE has used the monetary values provided by the SCC to estimate the value to society of reduced carbon emissions from rulemakings establishing energy conservation standards for residential appliances and industrial equipment. DOE has recently issued standards rulemakings for microwave oven standby and off modes, commercial refrigeration equipment, walk-in coolers and freezers, metal halide lighting fixtures, and furnace fans. DOE issued a final rule for microwave oven standby and off modes standards (78 FR 36316 (June 17, 2013)), and it issued notices of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) for metal halide lighting fixtures (78 FR 51463 (August 20, 2013)), commercial refrigeration equipment (78 FR 55889 (September 11, 2013)), walk-in coolers and freezers (78 FR 55781 (September 11, 2013)), and residential furnace fans (78 FR 64067 (October 25, 2013)). The analyses prepared for these rulemakings used values for the SCC that were developed by an interagency group and issued by OMB in May 2013. [^1] The May 2013 estimates reflect values that are similar to those used by other governments, international institutions, and major corporations. Table 1 shows the May 2013 sets of SCC estimates in five year increments from 2010 to 2050. The interagency group selected four sets of SCC values for use in regulatory analyses. Three sets of values are based on the average SCC from the three integrated assessment models that were evaluated, at discount rates of 2.5, 3, and 5 percent. The fourth set, which represents the 95th percentile SCC estimate across all three models at a 3-percent discount rate, is included to represent higher-than-expected impacts from temperature change further out in the tails of the SCC distribution.
[^1]*Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866.* Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, United States Government. May 2013.
On November 1, 2013, OMB issued updated values for the May 2013 SCC. [^2] OMB announced a 60-day public comment period on the updated values and the underlying technical support document on November 26, 2013. 78 FR 70586. These updated values reflect minor technical corrections to the May 2013 SCC estimates. The technical corrections to the May 2013 SCC values represent the best available science and data on the economic impacts on society of climate change, and, as such, will be used by DOE in its rulemakings. Table 2 shows the updated sets of SCC estimates in five year increments from 2010 to 2050. The changes from the May 2013 values to the November 2013 values are small.
[^2]*http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/11/01/refining-estimates-social-cost-carbon*
| Year | Discount rate | 5 | Average | 3 | Average | 2.5 | Average | 3 | 95th Percentile |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2010 | 11 | 33 | 52 | 90 | | | | | |
| 2015 | 12 | 38 | 58 | 109 | | | | | |
| 2020 | 12 | 43 | 65 | 129 | | | | | |
| 2025 | 14 | 48 | 70 | 144 | | | | | |
| 2030 | 16 | 52 | 76 | 159 | | | | | |
| 2035 | 19 | 57 | 81 | 176 | | | | | |
| 2040 | 21 | 62 | 87 | 192 | | | | | |
| 2045 | 24 | 66 | 92 | 206 | | | | | |
| 2050 | 27 | 71 | 98 | 221 | | | | | |
| Year | Discount rate | 5 | Average | 3 | Average | 2.5 | Average | 3 | 95th Percentile |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2010 | 11 | 32 | 51 | 89 | | | | | |
| 2015 | 11 | 37 | 57 | 109 | | | | | |
| 2020 | 12 | 43 | 64 | 128 | | | | | |
| 2025 | 14 | 47 | 69 | 143 | | | | | |
| 2030 | 16 | 52 | 75 | 159 | | | | | |
| 2035 | 19 | 56 | 80 | 175 | | | | | |
| 2040 | 21 | 61 | 86 | 191 | | | | | |
| 2045 | 24 | 66 | 92 | 206 | | | | | |
| 2050 | 26 | 71 | 97 | 220 | | | | | |
**II. Discussion**
As indicated above, the updated SCC values are only slightly different from the May 2013 SCC values. As such, the impact of using these values on DOE's estimates of the economic value of reductions in CO <sub>2</sub> emissions associated with the energy conservation standards for the products mentioned in section I is very small, and in no way affects the policy decisions made by DOE in the relevant rulemakings. Nonetheless, DOE wishes to inform interested parties of the exact effect of the updated values on the national economic benefits projected to result from the proposed standards for commercial refrigeration equipment, walk-in coolers and freezers, metal halide lighting fixtures, and residential furnace fans. The benefits of reductions in CO <sub>2</sub> emissions associated with energy conservation standards using the May 2013 SCC values and the updated SCC values, along with the total net benefits in each case, are shown in: Table 3 for the proposed metal halide lighting fixtures standards (in real 2012 dollars); Table 4 for the proposed commercial refrigeration equipment standards (in real 2012 dollars); Table 5 for the proposed walk-in coolers and freezers standards (in real 2012 dollars); and Table 6 for the proposed residential furnace fans standards (in real 2012 dollars). Given the small change in the benefits, DOE has, in this notice, only shown the summary National impacts of the changes and not the results at the more detailed trial standard levels (TSLs). However, DOE notes that the changes at the Trial Standard Level (TSL) level are equally small and do not in any way affect DOE's evaluation of those TSLs. [^3]
[^3] In DOE rulemakings, “TSLs” represent different efficiency levels that DOE analyzes when deciding which efficiency level to propose or adopt based on statutory criteria.
| Category | Present value | Discount rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | | |
| Operating Cost Savings | 1,848 | 7 |
| | 3,748 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($11.8/t case)* | 332 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($39.7/t case)* | 1,514 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($61.2/t case)* | 2,406 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case)* | 4,666 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton)* | 45 | 7 |
| | 91 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 3,406 | 7 |
| | 5,352 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($12.9/t case)* | 333 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($40.8/t case)* | 1,532 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($62.2/t case)* | 2,436 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case)* | 4,689 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton)* | 45 | 7 |
| | 91 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 3,424 | 7 |
| | 5,371 | 3 |
| | | |
| Incremental Installed Costs | 897 | 7 |
| | 1,294 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 2,510 | 7 |
| | 4,058 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 2,528 | 7 |
| | 4,076 | 3 |
[^4]*See* Table I.3 at 78 FR 51463, 51468 (August 20, 2013).
| Category | Present value (million 2012$) | Discount rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | | |
| Operating Cost Savings | 2,695 | 7 |
| | 6,034 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($11.8/t case) * | 306 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($39.7/t case) * | 1,481 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($61.2/t case) * | 2,418 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case) * | 4,527 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton) * | 50 | 7 |
| | 108 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 4,226 | 7 |
| | 7,623 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($12.9/t case) * | 308 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($40.8/t case) * | 1,504 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($62.2/t case) * | 2,452 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case) * | 4,552 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton) * | 50 | 7 |
| | 108 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 4,249 | 7 |
| | 7,646 | 3 |
| | | |
| Incremental Installed Costs | 1,089 | 7 |
| | 1,967 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 3,137 | 7 |
| | 5,656 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 3,160 | 7 |
| | 5,679 | 3 |
[^5]*See* Table I.3 at 78 FR 55889, 55893 (September 11, 2013).
| Category | Present value | Discount rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | | |
| Operating Cost Savings | 12.41 | 7 |
| | 31.56 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($11.8/t case) * | 1.87 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($39.7/t case) * | 8.87 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($61.2/t case) * | 14.19 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case) * | 27.39 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton) * | 0.24 | 7 |
| | 0.55 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 21.52 | 7 |
| | 40.98 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($12.9/t case) * | 1.88 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($40.8/t case) * | 8.96 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($62.2/t case) * | 14.36 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case) * | 27.52 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton) * | 0.24 | 7 |
| | 0.55 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 21.61 | 7 |
| | 41.07 | 3 |
| | | |
| Incremental Installed Costs | 3.77 | 7 |
| | 7.26 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 17.76 | 7 |
| | 33.72 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 17.84 | 7 |
| | 33.80 | 3 |
[^6]*See* Table I-3 at 78 FR 55781, 55786-87 (September 11, 2013).
| Category | Present value | Discount rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | | |
| Operating Cost Savings | 11.58 | 7 |
| | 32.00 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($11.8/t case) * | 2.22 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($39.7/t case) * | 11.44 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($61.2/t case) * | 18.60 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case) * | 35.42 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton) * | 0.11 | 7 |
| | 0.31 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 23.13 | 7 |
| | 43.76 | 3 |
| | | |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($12.9/t case) * | 2.25 | 5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($40.8/t case) * | 11.52 | 3 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($62.2/t case) * | 18.81 | 2.5 |
| CO
Reduction Monetized Value ($117/t case) * | 35.56 | 3 |
| NO
Reduction Monetized Value (at $2,639/ton) * | 0.11 | 7 |
| | 0.31 | 3 |
| Total Benefits | 23.21 | 7 |
| | 43.84 | 3 |
| | | |
| Incremental Installed Costs | 3.07 | 7 |
| | 5.85 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 20.06 | 7 |
| | 37.91 | 3 |
| | | |
| Including CO
and NO
Reduction Monetized Value | 20.14 | 7 |
| | 38.99 | 3 |
[^7]*See* Table 1.3 at 78 FR 64067, 64071 (October 25, 2013).
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 24, 2013.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.