ENERGY STAR Restaurant Equipment Rebates

Restaurant owners are all too familiar with expensive electric and gas bills that accompany busy commercial kitchens; foodservice businesses consume five to seven times more energy per square foot than other commercial spaces.¹ Though some strategies, like purchasing used equipment and operating it only when necessary, the best way to save in the long run may be to invest in energy-efficient restaurant equipment.

Key Takeaways

• ENERGY STAR-certified restaurant equipment is designed to meet recognized efficiency standards
• ENERGY STAR rebates help offset the cost of qualified equipment
• ENERGY STAR appliances use less energy and provide greater long-term value than standard models
• High-efficiency and ENERGY STAR aren't always the same; ENERGY STAR reflects a more defined standard
• Eligible commercial kitchen equipment includes refrigeration, ice makers, dishwashers, ovens, fryers, and more
• ENERGY STAR appliances can provide long-term savings by reducing utility costs

What Is ENERGY STAR?

The ENERGY STAR program was created in the 1990s by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address growing concerns over global warming caused by carbon emissions.² The program is intended to encourage the development and sale of energy-efficient consumer goods, commercial equipment, and buildings. A product can earn the ENERGY STAR logo by using significantly less gas or electricity than other models in the same category.

Why ENERGY STAR Matters for Restaurants

ENERGY STAR matters for restaurants because it helps reduce energy and water costs in operations that run equipment like refrigeration, dishwashers, and cooking appliances for long hours each day. Choosing certified equipment improves efficiency and lowers operating costs over time.

ENERGY STAR Commercial Kitchen Equipment Categories

ENERGY STAR maintains a commercial foodservice equipment program that covers major kitchen categories used by cafes, restaurants, and institutional kitchens.

Products that can carry the ENERGY STAR logo include:

• Commercial refrigerators and freezers
• Ice makers
• Dishwashers
• Ovens
• Griddles
• Fryers
• Steam cookers
• Hot food holding cabinets
• Coffee brewers
• Electric cooktops

For information on specific equipment, read KaTom's article on ENERGY STAR's Commercial Foodservice Equipment Standards.

ENERGY STAR Rebates for Restaurant Equipment

To fight against pollution and global warming, local and state governments, energy companies, and other organizations in the United States offer efficiency incentives to restaurant owners, encouraging them to invest in ENERGY STAR-certified equipment. Some incentives are offered as cash rebates when businesses purchase certain types of equipment; in other cases, organizations offer low-interest loans to businesses that may not have enough capital to upgrade their facility with energy-efficient equipment.

• Pathway Lending's Energy Efficiency Loans provide five-year financing at rates of two percent to Tennessee businesses.³
• The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) sponsors a program offering cash rebates for certain types of kitchen equipment purchased by business owners in D.C.
• New Hampshire's NHSAVES program offers rebates up to $2,500 per piece of equipment. New Hampshire foodservice businesses should contact their equipment dealer to identify qualified equipment.⁴
• Restaurant owners in areas serviced by Xcel Energy should be aware of rebates available for businesses that find ways to decrease their energy consumption. In certain states, foodservice-specific incentives are offered to restaurants that upgrade their kitchens to include ENERGY STAR appliances. If your business is in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas or Wisconsin, browse the resources and incentives available to you.
• California is the hot spot for ENERGY STAR rebates. California Energy Wise offers a downloadable list of eligible products. Many restaurant owners are eligible for zero percent interest loans up to $100,000 for purchasing energy-efficient equipment. Cash rebates up to $1,000 are available on certain pieces of equipment.
• Small business owners in Pennsylvania may be eligible for PGW EnergySense rebates as high as $8,400 for a new, energy-efficient commercial boiler.⁶ Check out their incentives for upgrading fryers and steam cookers.

ENERGY STAR Refrigerator, Lighting, and HVAC Rebates

It isn't just cooking equipment that qualifies for ENERGY STAR rebates. Most foodservice operations can take advantage of refrigeration, lighting, and HVAC-specific rebates.

• Tucson Electric Power's Commercial Energy Solutions offers rebates to qualifying customers to offset the purchase of ENERGY STAR commercial refrigeration equipment, lighting fixtures, and HVAC systems.⁵
• Customers of Rocky Mountain Power in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming may be eligible for savings and solutions offered by the Wattsmart® Business program, which provides incentives for refrigerators, HVAC systems, lighting fixtures, and some cooking equipment.

• Businesses in the Southeast may qualify for TVA's EnergyRight incentives for businesses. Along with offering monetary support for LED lighting and custom energy projects, EnergyRight offers incentives to businesses investing in an energy-efficient HVAC system.
• Florida businesses may be eligible for incentives from Florida Power and Light to help pay for energy-efficient HVAC equipment and lighting among other upgrades⁷.
• Georgia Power offers similar incentives to customers who upgrade their HVAC or warewashing equipment.⁸.

These are just a few energy-efficiency rebate programs available across the country, and they're regularly updated. The DSIRE database from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center lets you search for rebates your business may be eligible for.⁹ You can filter the results by state and the type of technology the rebate applies to. The latter includes a filter for commercial cooking equipment and one for commercial refrigeration equipment.

In addition, ENERGY STAR offers a rebate finder that connects business owners with rebates and special offers like tax exemptions and recycling incentives by zip code.¹⁰ You may also contact your local utility provider to see if they offer energy audits, incentives, or rebates.

How Much Money Do ENERGY STAR Appliances Save?

ENERGY STAR appliances can help operations reduce utility costs through lower energy and water use. According to ENERGY STAR, outfitting a commercial kitchen with a full suite of certified foodservice equipment could save about $4,000 per year. Actual savings depends on the equipment type, usage, and local utility rates.

ENERGY STAR Certified vs. Qualified

ENERGY STAR-certified products have been tested and verified to meet strict efficiency standards set by ENERGY STAR. The term qualified is older and less commonly used, though it means the product meets the same guidelines.

High-Efficiency vs. ENERGY STAR

High efficiency is a general term for products that use less energy, but it isn't standardized. ENERGY STAR certification means the product meets verified efficiency guidelines.

Are ENERGY STAR Appliances Worth the Investment?

Yes, ENERGY STAR appliances are strong investments for commercial kitchens because they lower energy and water costs over time. While upfront costs may be higher, the long-term savings and efficiency often make them a practical choice.

Shop ENERGY STAR Equipment at KaTom

KaTom offers a variety of ENERGY STAR-certified appliances. Compare equipment by cost and efficiency to choose the best fit for your operation.

References

1. ENERGY STAR Guide for Restaurants. ENERGY STAR. Accessed April 2026.
2. Our History ENERGY STAR. Accessed April 2026.
3. Transformative Solutions for Sustainable Communities. Pathway Lending. Accessed April 2026.
4. Commercial Food Service Equipment. NHSaves. Accessed April 2026.
5. Powering Business Solutions. TEP. Accessed April 2026.
6. Commercial Equipment Rebates. PGW. Accessed April 2026.
7. Custom Incentives. FPL. Accessed April 2026.
8. Business Services. Georgia Power. Accessed April 2026.
9. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. NC Clean Energy. Accessed April 2026.
10. ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder. ENERGY STAR. Accessed April 2026.