Dealer and Distributor Toolkit

We are in the final stages of development for our ENERGY STAR Dealer and Distributor Toolkit and look forward to sharing it with the commercial food service (CFS) community.

The goal of the Toolkit is to provide customized, market-based strategies for selling and promoting ENERGY STAR certified CFS equipment. We will be conducting outreach to the dealer and distributor community to share the tool and customized tactics for promoting ENERGY STAR products.

If you would like to be more actively involved in this effort, please reach out to CommercialFoodService@energystar.gov.

Profiling the Energy Saving Efforts of Operators and Utilities

The ENERGY STAR Commercial Food Service (CFS) Team is always looking for opportunities to highlight the cost and energy savings achievable with ENERGY STAR CFS equipment. EPA is currently working to develop studies of quick service restaurant operators and utilities whose use or promotion of ENERGY STAR certified equipment benefitted local businesses. Case studies will be promoted through our media channels as soon as they are complete!

If your organization has a story to share about energy savings; a commitment to energy efficiency or environmental responsibility; or savings achieved with ENERGY STAR equipment, please contact CommercialFoodService@energystar.gov.

Updates for Manufacturers

Welcome ENERGY STAR Commercial Coffee Brewers!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is excited to introduce the newest members of the ENERGY STAR CFS product family -- products certified to meet the specification for ENERGY STAR Commercial Coffee Brewers V1.0.

EPA estimates that commercial coffee brewers that earn the ENERGY STAR are about 35 percent more energy efficient than standard models.

The specification was released on July 8. The Version 1.0 Specification, cover letter and other associated documents are available on the Commercial Coffee Brewers Version 1.0 Specification webpage.

We are currently working on new marketing materials and websites for this product category and will share them with you once they are ready!

Commercial Refrigeration V4.0

On September 20, 2016, EPA released the final ENERGY STAR Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers Version 4.0 Specification. The cover letter and other associated documents are now available on the Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers Version 4.0 Specification webpage. The effective date for this specification is March 27, 2017.

Since the early 2000s, ENERGY STAR partners have delivered significant savings to purchasers of ENERGY STAR certified commercial refrigeration equipment (CRE). The Version 4.0 performance requirements offer energy savings ranging from 17 to 40 percent and about $40 – $100 per year, depending on configuration, when compared to conventional models.

EPA would like to thank all the stakeholders who contributed to this specification revision process for their valuable input!

Specifications Under Revision

EPA is launching a revision of the ENERGY STAR Commercial Ice Makers specification for Version 3.0. The current ENERGY STAR specification, Version 2.0, has been in place since February 1, 2013.

EPA is revising this specification in response to:

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) revised minimum federal standards for ACIMs; and
Market penetration for ENERGY STAR commercial ice machines is over 60% (based on the 2015 ENERGY STAR Unit Shipment and Market Penetration Report Summary), signaling an opportunity for additional savings.

The primary objectives of this revision are to: 1) lower the maximum Energy Consumption Rate (kWh/100 lbs. ice) performance criteria levels, 2) evaluate the potential to amend the Potable Water Use limits (gal/100 lbs. ice), and 3) amend the applicable terms and definitions in accordance with DOE’s final rule.

Stay tuned for more updates on the specification revision.

The Latest ENERGY STAR Commercial Fryers Have Arrived

On October 1, 2016, the ENERGY STAR Commercial Fryers V3.0 Specification took effect. Standard vat electric fryers meeting the Version 3.0 requirements offer end users as much as 17% in energy savings and about $320 per year when compared to conventional models.

As a reminder, this means that all commercial fryer products certified to the V2.0 specification are no longer listed on the ENERGY STAR Qualified Products List (QPL). ENERGY STAR certified commercial fryers must be certified to the V3.0 specification for them to be displayed on the QPL. Although performance levels for standard vat gas, large vat gas, and large vat electric fryers did not change from Version 2.0, partners should work with their certification bodies (CBs) to ensure their products are certified to the Version 3.0 specification.

All products, even those where performance requirements did not change, will need to be resubmitted using the Version 3.0 XML-based web service.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at CommercialFoodService@energystar.gov.

WaterSense Highlight: Pre-Rinse Spray Valves

Did you know? Pre-rinse spray valves can account for nearly one-third of the water used in the typical commercial kitchen! These devices are used to rinse dishes prior to dishwashing and are installed in nearly every commercial kitchen.

EPA’s WaterSense program labels pre-rinse spray valves that are certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient than the federal standard. WaterSense labeled models must also undergo independent spray force and lifecycle testing to ensure performance in commercial kitchens.

These fixtures frequently use hot water, meaning a commercial kitchen that replaces its existing pre-rinse spray valves with WaterSense labeled models can also save on energy costs. In fact, replacing a standard pre-rinse spray valve with a WaterSense labeled model can save more than 7,000 gallons of water per year, equal to the amount of water it takes to wash nearly 5,000 racks of dishes in a commercial dishwasher. Those water savings can decrease water and energy bills by as much as $115 to $240 per year, depending on whether the kitchen’s hot water heater uses natural gas or electricity. The cost of WaterSense labeled models is comparable to that of standard pre-rinse spray valves; therefore facilities could see payback on investment in as few as four to eight months.

For more information on selecting the right pre-rinse spray valve for your operation, and some additional tips, visit EPA’s WaterSense website.