1. Are portable air conditioners and electric fans included in PELP?
Portable air conditioners and electric fans are not yet included in PELP’s current scope. However, these will be considered when expanding PELP’s coverage in the future, which will encompass more energy-using products (ECPs).
2. Why do refrigeration equipment have two different star ratings?
The star rating visible on the Department of Energy (DOE) energy label refers to the energy efficiency of the refrigeration equipment. The other rating is the cooling capacity star rating, which can be viewed by scanning the QR code and indicates the cooling capacity or minimum temperature the equipment can reach. This cooling capacity star rating is unique to refrigeration equipment.
3. Do product retailers need to register with the PELP system?
If your product does not have an energy label but you still wish to sell that specific model, you need to register as a distributor of the product model in the PELP system and comply with the necessary requirements to obtain the energy label.
4. Do online sellers need to register under PELP?
Only those who directly import products for sale are required to register. If the products they sell online do not have energy labels, they should coordinate with suppliers to obtain the energy labels or register as distributors of the products.
5. After registration is approved, can we make additional changes or updates to the company profile?
After the company registration is approved, any subsequent changes/updates to the account will automatically change the registration status from “Approved” to “Pending Approval”. Any changes made must be approved by the DOE before proceeding to the next process.
6. The refrigerant used in our cooling products is not on the list. Do we still need to declare it?
Yes, if the refrigerant used in the product is not included in the list, there will be a field where you can enter the refrigerant.
7. When can we register our products?
The DOE will announce through its official website when the portal is ready to accept applications for specific products. Products can be registered 30 days after the announcement is released.
8. When do we need to submit the inventory report? Do we need to submit it if we have no shipments or orders?
Yes, the product inventory report must be submitted to the DOE annually. The form should still be submitted as it covers all existing inventory, including shipments and orders. Submitting the inventory report is also one of the requirements during company registration.
9. As an applicant, how should we affix the energy labels?
After completing the PELP online process, the DOE energy label document provided by the DOE can be printed/copied multiple times for specific labels as needed. Applicants can also forward it to retailers so they can create a “label display” as a means of alternative compliance mechanism for PELP as described in the RELVCM IG.
10. Can products with the old yellow labels still be sold?
Yes, products with the old yellow labels can still be sold as long as they are registered under PELP and new DOE energy labels have been issued.
11. The IG states that the validity period of the DOE energy label is 12 months. Do we need to replace the labels affixed to the products?
If the product energy label is renewed and updated without changing the product information, there is no need to replace it. The control number will simply be updated and reflected in the QR code link.
On the other hand, if the energy label has been updated and the product information has changed, the applicant may affix the updated energy label to the products (new goods or those on the market) or use a label display to show the updated label (applicable to products already on the market), as detailed in the REMVCM IG.