EPA Announces New Energy Star® Requirements

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recently announced new Energy Star® requirements for all commercial refrigerators and freezers. Energy Star® rated refrigerators and freezers will, on average, be approximately 33% more energy efficient than standard models. The newly outlined requirements will be effective on January 1, 2010, which corresponds with the date that new federal standards will begin to take effect. The newly revised version of the Energy Star® standards will still provide consumers with a choice to purchase a variety of Energy Star® products, which are known to provide excellent performance while saving money for the business and helping to reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the environment.

Energy Star® requirements are so rigorous that if all commercial refrigerators and freezers sold in the U.S. met these standards, nearly $275 million per year could be saved on energy costs alone, according to EPA website. However, the savings of purchasing Energy Star® refrigerators and freezers goes far beyond monetary value; if all sales were limited to Energy Star® appliances, the amount of greenhouse gases leaked into our environment would be reduced by the equivalent of removing 400,000 vehicles each year.

The revised requirements for Energy Star® standards allow glass door refrigerators and freezers, typically seen in convenience stores and other such areas, to qualify for the prestigious label. Business owners who choose to purchase Energy Star® rated refrigerators and freezers can expect to save approximately $800 / yr on a refrigeration unit and up to $2,500 / yr on a freezer. These tremendous savings can be seen throughout the life of your new commercial refrigerator and / or freezer, which can be expected to be well over 10 years.

For more information regarding Energy Star® requirements, please visit the EPA website.