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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

FEMP Designated Product: Water-Cooled Ice Machines

Legal Authorities
Federal agencies are required by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (P.L. 95-619), Executive Order 13423, Executive Order 13514, and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 23.2 and 53.223 to specify and buy ENERGY STAR® qualified products or, in categories not included in the ENERGY STAR program, FEMP designated products, which are among the highest 25% of equivalent products for energy efficiency.

Information in this section includes the following:

A PDF version of Water-Cooled Ice MachinesPDF is also available.

Performance Requirements for Federal Purchases
Type Ice Harvest Rate
(pounds per 24 hours)		 Energy Usea
(per 100 pounds)		 Potable Water Useb
(per 100 pounds)
Self Contained Unit 199 or less 6.6 kWh or less 25 gallons or less
Self Contained Unit 200 or greater
 6.5 kWh or less 25 gallons or less
Ice Making Head 300 or less 5.3 KWh or less 25 gallons or less
Ice Making Head 301 to 400 4.8 kWh or less 25 gallons or less
Ice Making Head 401 to 500 4.3 kWh or less 25 gallons or less
Ice Making Head 501 to 750 4.1 kWh or less 25 gallons or less
Ice Making Head 751 to 1,435 3.5 kWh or less 25 gallons or less
Ice Making Head 1,436 or greater
 3.4 kWh or less 25 gallons or less

a Measured in accordance with ARI Standard 810-2003: Performance Rating of Automatic Commercial Ice Makers.
b Measured in accordance with ARI Standard 810-2003. Does not include condenser water use.

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Buying Energy-Efficient Water-Cooled Ice Machines

Several types of water-cooled ice machines exist, but only self contained unit (SCU) and ice making head (IMH) models are addressed by this Specification. SCU models have an ice making mechanism and storage bin integrated into the same cabinet or housing. SCU models are common in smaller ice machines, those making 500 pounds or less in 24 hours. IMH models do not contain storage bins, but are generally designed to fit on top of a variety of bin sizes. These are the most common type of ice machine and range in size from about 250 to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24-hours.

This Specification applies to water-cooled ice machines that generate cube ice at 60 grams (two ounces) or lighter. It does not apply to commercial ice machines that make flake or nugget ice, or to those with remote condensing units. When buying water-cooled ice machines, specify or select models that meet the Performance Requirements shown above. Federal supply sources for ice machines include the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). GSA offers ice machines through its Multiple Awards Schedules program and online shopping network, GSA Advantage! DLA sells them online through DLA EMall.

Water-cooled ice machines should only be used when they can be connected to a cooling tower that operates year round. Federal agencies should not use single-pass or once-through cooling, a practice where potable water is used to remove waste heat from the condenser and then disposed of down the drain. Federal water efficiency best management practices (BMP) advocate against this practice. BMP #9, Single-Pass Cooling Equipment, recommends that ice machines and other equipment using single-pass cooling be modified to recirculate water or be eliminated altogether.

In situations where connecting to a cooling tower is not possible, install an air-cooled ice machine instead. See the FEMP Purchasing Specification for Air-Cooled Ice MachinesPDF, which includes information about the ENERGY STAR program for these units.

These requirements apply to all forms of procurements, including guide and project specifications; construction, renovation, repair, energy service, operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts; lease agreements; and solicitations for offers. Energy performance requirements should be included in all evaluations of solicitation responses. Buyers shall insert the standard clause from FAR section 52.223-15 into contracts and solicitations that deliver, acquire, furnish, or specify energy-consuming products for use in Federal facilities. Agencies can claim an exception to these requirements through a written finding that no ENERGY STAR qualified or FEMP designated product is life cycle cost-effective for a specific application.

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Buyer Tips

Performance data shows SCU model ice machines tend to be less efficient than IMH models. When purchasing large SCU ice machines (greater than 250 pounds per day), consider a small IMH model instead as it may be possible to further reduce energy consumption.

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User Tips

Proper maintenance of water-cooled ice machines is important, especially of the solenoid valve that controls the flow of water through the condenser. When a solenoid fails in the open position, water flows through the condenser regardless of whether it is operating or not. This unnecessarily increases the load on the cooling tower.

Hard water leaves mineral deposits or scale on the evaporator plate and other components of the ice making mechanism. Commercial ice machines typically include a self-cleaning function that periodically rinses scale off these components. In most cases, the owner or service technician can adjust the frequency of the cleaning function to accommodate differences in water quality (i.e., ice machines in areas with very hard water must be cleaned more frequently). It is common to find water-cooled ice machines with self-cleaning set to maximum regardless of water quality. It is necessary to check and adjust the setting to match the water quality in your area.

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Cost Effectiveness Example
Performance Base Model Required Best Available
Energy Use Rate 5.3 kWh/100 lbs 4.5 kWh/100 lbs 4.2 kWh/100 lbs
Annual Energy Usea 5,962 kWh 5,062 kWh 4,725 kWh
Water Use Rate 30 gallons/100 lbs 25 gallons/100 lbs 23 gallons/100 lbs
Annual Water Useb 33,750 gallons 28,125 gallons 25,875 gallons
Annual Utility Cost $690 $580 $540
Lifetime Utility Cost $4,150 $3,510 $3,265
Lifetime Utility Cost Savings – $640 $885

a Does not include cooling tower energy use.
b Does not include cooling tower water use.

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Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions

In the example above, Annual Energy Use and Annual Water Use are based on ARI Standard 810-2003 for a water-cooled, IMH-type model with an ice harvest rate of 450 pounds per 24 hours. This ice machine operates 250 days per year making an average of 450 pounds per day. The performance of the Base Model meets the Federal appliance standard for this product type while the performance of the Required ice maker meets this Specification. Performance data for the Best Available model was obtained from the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Directory (ahridirectory.org). The assumed rate for electricity ($0.09 per kWh) and water and sewer ($4.50 per 1,000 gallons) is the average at Federal facilities throughout the U.S. Lifetime Utility Cost is the sum of the discounted values of annual energy and water costs with an assumed ice machine life of seven years.

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Using the Cost-Effectiveness Table

In the example above, the Required water-cooled ice machine is cost effective if its purchase price is no more than $640 above the Base Model. The Best Available unit is cost effective if its purchase price is no more than $885 above the Base Model. The savings will be greater in facilities that operate 365 days per year, such as military bases and hospitals.

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What if My Energy Price is Different?

A cost calculator for ice machines is available. Input the variables (i.e., machine type, hours of operation, rate for electricity, etc.) to match conditions at your facility and then click on "Calculate." The Output Section will display results that more accurately reflect your energy cost.

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For More Information

The following resources provide additional information surrounding the purchase of efficient products:

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