2022 Adaptive Commercial Refrigeration Equipment

The ENERGY STAR® Emerging Technology Award (ETA) is given to innovative technologies that meet rigorous performance criteria to reduce energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to recognize Adaptive Commercial Refrigeration Equipment for the ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award for 2022.

Products that meet the performance criteria will be listed on a Qualified Product List once it is determined that all Award criteria have been satisfied. Manufacturers can submit documentation for eligible adaptive commercial refrigeration equipment to EmergingTech@energystar.gov.

Benefits of ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award-Winning Systems:

In a conventional refrigeration system, the compressor operates at maximum capacity in response to thermal load, or it is turned off when the desired temperature has been achieved. However, the refrigeration load requirements vary widely based on various factors. An advanced adaptive compressor system pairs a variable speed compressor with a sensor-driven control system capable of capacity modulation in response to a varying internal thermal load. As a result, the advanced adaptive compressor system allows for the refrigerator to save a significant amount of energy while regulating the temperature by minimizing wide temperature variations.

In commercial refrigeration applications, self-contained refrigeration products demonstrate the largest savings from employing an advanced adaptive compressor. The per unit efficiency can increase by around 25% with this technology when compared to standard units. If all self-contained commercial refrigeration equipment sold in the U.S. used this technology and met these draft criteria (over models meeting the minimum federal standard), the energy cost savings would grow to approximately $31 million each year.

Winning Products Must Demonstrate That They:

  1. Are closed, self-contained commercial refrigeration products using variable speed compressors with sensor-driven control systems capable of capacity modulation.
  2. Outperform the measured Annual Energy Consumption for the Federal Minimum Standard by 25%.
  3. Contain refrigerant and foam with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) less than 15.
  4. Are approved for use and available for sale in the U.S. market.