Understanding ENERGY STAR's Commercial Foodservice Equipment Standards

ENERGY STAR Standards for Commercial Foodservice Equipment

ENERGY STAR, a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), promotes the development and sale of energy-efficient products, with the aim of reducing national energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while providing an intuitive way for operators to know which equipment may lower utility costs for their businesses.

Participation in the ENERGY STAR program is completely voluntary for manufacturers, but it does offer incentives to companies to produce more eco-friendly products and to customers to purchase them. The EPA continually improves the requirements commercial foodservice equipment must meet in order to earn an ENERGY STAR certification, raising the bar for efficiency standards and offering greater benefits to operators who invest in efficient equipment.

ENERGY STAR Commercial Kitchen: Table of Contents

  1. Developing ENERGY STAR Specifications
  2. ENERGY STAR's Energy-efficient Commercial Kitchen Equipment
  3. Benefits of an ENERGY STAR Commercial Kitchen

Developing ENERGY STAR Specifications for Commercial Equipment

ENERGY STAR certifications are awarded to products that meet specific criteria unique to each equipment category. The broad principles that guide the development of specifications are energy savings, standard or better features and performance, product cost recovery through utility savings, energy consumption confirmed through testing, and visible ENERGY STAR labeling. The EPA uses third-party labs to test and verify equipment being considered, and occasionally tests previously approved products off the shelf to ensure manufacturing variations do not cause the product to fall below standards.

The EPA periodically revises established requirements for each category of commercial foodservice equipment. These specifications are revised for several reasons, including at least 50 percent of an equipment category becoming ENERGY STAR certified. Other factors that may prompt revisions are changes in federal efficiency standards, technological advances, and product availability.

The EPA may also consider reevaluating specifications if customers experience performance issues with ENERGY STAR appliances or do not achieve the expected energy savings. If any of the independent testing labs experience repeated problems with their testing procedures, specifications may also be revised to ensure more reliable results.1

ENERGY STAR's Energy-efficient Commercial Kitchen Equipment

The EPA's ENERGY STAR standards for commercial kitchen equipment cover refrigeration, cooking equipment, and more. Below are some of the latest standards, changes, and potential benefits of buying ENERGY STAR commercial kitchen equipment.2

Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers – Effective March 2017

  • Limits maximum energy consumption.
  • On average, 25 percent more energy efficient than the industry average.
  • Saves $30-$90 a year on utilities.
  • Does not cover chef bases, prep tables, or remote condensers.

Commercial Ice Makers – Effective January 2018

  • Limits water usage and energy expenditure.
  • Batch-type makers (cube makers) are 10 percent more energy efficient and 20 percent more water efficient.
  • Nugget and flake ice machines are approximately 16 percent more energy efficient.
  • Nugget and flake makers save $140 annually over competitors.
  • Cube makers save $70 annually over competitors.
  • Does not include water-cooled ice makers, which are notably inefficient.

Commercial Dishwashers – Effective February 2013

  • Limits idling energy rate and water consumption.
  • Averages 40 percent less energy and water spent.
  • Save nearly $1,500 a year on utilities.
  • Includes high-temp, low-temp, and conveyor-type machines.

Commercial Ovens – Effective October 2015

  • Limits idle energy rates and ensures efficiency levels
  • Covers gas and electric convection ovens, combi ovens, and gas rack ovens.
  • 20 percent more efficient than standard models.
  • Electric convection ovens save $660 a year and gas convection ovens save $135 a year.

Commercial Griddles – Effective May 2009

  • Limits idle energy consumption.
  • Certified electric griddles are 11 percent more efficient and save around $130 a year.
  • Certified gas griddles are 10 percent more efficient and save around $90 a year.
  • Covers only thermostatic griddles, not manually controlled units

Commercial Fryers – Effective October 2016

  • Limits idle energy rate and ensures 50 percent heat efficiency for gas and 80 percent heat efficiency for electricity.
  • Covers open fryers larger than 12 inches but less than 18 inches wide.
  • Electric fryers are about 14 percent more energy efficient and save $240 a year.
  • Gas fryers are about 30 percent more energy efficient and save $370 a year.

Commercial Steamers – Effective August 2003

  • Electric steamers must have a minimum 50 percent cooking efficiency.
  • Gas steamers must have a minimum 38 percent cooking efficiency.
  • Up to 60 percent more energy efficient and 90 percent more water efficient.
  • Save up to $2,400 a year with a gas steamer or up to $2,650 a year with an electric one.

Commercial Holding Cabinets – Effective October 2011

  • Mandates better insulation, temperature uniformity, and exterior safety.
  • Includes glass or solid door cabinets, not proofers, merchandisers, or drawer warmers.
  • Up to 70 percent more energy efficient.
  • Could save up to $305 a year on utilities.

Commercial Coffee Brewers – Effective July 2018

  • Includes commercial batch brewers (Type II)
  • Approximately 35 percent more energy efficient.
  • Saves an average of $35 a year over standard options.

Benefits of an ENERGY STAR Commercial Kitchen

Restaurants use about five to seven times more energy than similar commercial buildings,3 and the costs of this energy expenditure can make a real difference when balancing your books. The EPA estimates outfitting your entire operation with ENERGY STAR commercial kitchen equipment can save you almost $5,300 a year. Local governments often offer rebates for operators who purchase ENERGY STAR equipment as well, savings that, in some areas, can total hundreds of dollars. Check with your local jurisdiction to see if those rebates might apply to you.

Using ENERGY STAR appliances is also an easy way for operators to lessen the amount of greenhouse gases their foodservice operation generates, which is beneficial for everyone. The EPA has gone to great lengths to make energy-efficient equipment easily identifiable – just look for the blue-and-white logo –and will continue to update the ENERGY STAR requirements for each type of energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment that qualifies for certification.

ENERGY STAR Commercial Kitchen

References

  1. How a Product Earns the ENERGY STAR Label. ENERGY STAR. Accessed August 2021.
  2. ENERGY STAR Foodservice Equipment. ENERGY STAR. Accessed August 2021.
  3. ENERGY STAR Restaurant Guide. ENERGY STAR. Accessed August 2021.