EPA Revises Commercial Refrigerators & Freezers Specification
On September 20, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a revision to the ENERGY STAR specification for commercial refrigerators and freezers. The strict new energy efficiency requirements these products will have to meet to earn the ENERGY STAR will provide significant energy savings to end users and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY STAR issued the first commercial refrigerators and freezers specification over 15 years ago. Since the early 2000s, many leading-edge equipment manufacturers have offered commercial refrigeration equipment that provides significant savings to customers. Today, they are incorporating high-efficiency compressors, climate-friendly refrigerants, and other innovative designs to meet ENERGY STAR eligibility requirements.
The updated ENERGY STAR performance requirements for commercial refrigerators and freezers highlight the most energy-efficient products in a variety of configurations and sizes that meet the needs of various users. Commercial refrigerators and freezers are designed and tested with commercial operations in mind; products are subject to frequent door openings while also maintaining food at specific temperatures in hot kitchen environments. Commercial refrigerators and freezers that meet these new criteria will provide significant savings to users in many commercial kitchen operations.
Commercial refrigerators and freezers that earn the ENERGY STAR will offer users energy savings ranging from as much as 17 – 40% and about $40 – $100 per year, depending on configuration, when compared to conventional models. If all commercial refrigerators and freezers sold in the United States were ENERGY STAR certified, the energy cost savings would grow to nearly $235 million each year, and more than 5 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions from over 480,000 vehicles.
To earn the ENERGY STAR label, products must be certified by an EPA-recognized third party, based on testing in an EPA-recognized laboratory. In addition, manufacturers of the products must participate in verification testing programs run by recognized certification bodies.
ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For nearly 25 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR has helped families and businesses save $362 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4 billion metric tons. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.