Commercial Refrigerators & Freezers

Why ENERGY STAR?

Commercial refrigerators and freezers are designed and tested with commercial operations in mind which requires them to keep food at specific temperatures in hot kitchen environments as well as subject to frequent door openings. Commercial refrigerators and freezers that meet these new criteria will provide significant savings to commercial kitchen operations.

Commercial refrigerators and freezers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are on average 20 percent more energy efficient than standard models because they are designed with components such as ECM evaporator and condenser fan motors, hot gas anti-sweat heaters, or high-efficiency compressors, which will significantly reduce energy consumption and utility bills.

Savings figures:

ENERGY STAR certified commercial solid door refrigerators can save businesses 285 kWh and more than $30 annually, and $310 on utility bills over the product's lifetime
ENERGY STAR certified commercial glass door refrigerators can save businesses 400 kWh and nearly $45 annually, and $440 on utility bills over the product's lifetime
ENERGY STAR certified commercial solid door freezers can save businesses 500 kWh and more than $55 annually, and $560 on utility bills over the product's lifetime
ENERGY STAR certified commercial glass door freezers can save businesses 900 kWh and more than $100 annually, and $980 on utility bills over the product's lifetime

Eligible products:

Solid, transparent
Mixed solid/transparent door refrigerators and freezers

Ineligible products:

Chef base or griddle stands
Prep tables
Service over counter units
Open air units
Convertible temperature units
Laboratory-grade equipment
Remote condensing equipment

Additional resources:

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ENERGY STAR products are certified to save energy.

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Helpful resources for buying a commercial refrigerator and freezer:

Purchasing ENERGY STAR certified CFS equipment can cut utility costs and maintenance without sacrificing features, quality, or style. Many utilities also offer rebates to offset the purchase price of ENERGY STAR equipment.

Consider selecting commercial refrigeration equipment with a lower Global Warming Potential refrigerant. Refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP) for commercial refrigerators and freezers include R-600a, R-290, R-450A, R-513A, and R-744 (CO₂). Selecting an ENERGY STAR certified model with a lower GWP refrigerant means your product will have a much lower impact on the climate if the refrigerant is released into the environment. The GWP compares the warming power of a substance to an equivalent amount of CO2 (GWP = 1 for CO2). Some refrigerants are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are powerful greenhouse gases with GWPs hundreds or thousands of times higher than CO2. Find commercial refrigerators and freezers that contain refrigerants with a lower impact on global warming here.

ENERGY STAR Where to Buy List

For a list of ENERGY STAR dealers and distributors that sell ENERGY STAR certified equipment, visit the ENERGY STAR Where to Buy List. Please contact CommercialFoodService@energystar.gov if you would like to be added to the list.

ENERGY STAR Rebates

For a list of CFS incentives, please visit the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder.

Be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR when shopping for a commercial refrigerator and freezer

Current Specification Effective Date: March 2017

Products must not exceed maximum energy consumption in kWh per day, as determined by internal volume, door type, configuration, and unit type under the new Version 4.0 specification.

Commercial Refrigerators & Freezers Key Product Criteria: ENERGY STAR

Learn How a Product Earns the Label