New energy efficiency standards in the US approved

Andrew Gaven writes in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Magazine about new standards for commercial refrigeration.  The new standards replace earlier standards that had been in place since 2009.

US introduces new energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration

Updated standards will cut energy use by 30 per cent and save business $12 billion, news US Department of Energy says

The US Energy Department has announced new efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration equipment. Over the next 30 years, these standards will help cut carbon pollution by about 142 million tonnes – and save businesses up to $11.7 billion on their energy bills, the DoE says.

“In our supermarkets and grocery stores, refrigeration can use almost 40 percent of total energy use – contributing a large portion of these businesses’ utility bills. By improving the energy efficiency of commercial refrigeration equipment – like restaurant-size fridges or the deli case at your local grocery store – we can make our businesses more competitive, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

Under the Obama Administration, the Energy Department has finalised new efficiency standards for more than 30 household and commercial products, including refrigerators and water heaters, which are estimated to save consumers more than $400 billion and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1.9 billion tonnes through to 2030.

To build on this success, the Administration has set a new goal: Efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings set in the first and second terms combined will reduce carbon pollution by at least 3 billion tonnes by 2030. This, the DoE says, is equivalent to nearly one-half of the carbon pollution from the entire U.S. energy sector for one year – while continuing to cut families’ and businesses’ energy bills.

Since commercial refrigeration products must be kept cold constantly, commercial refrigeration equipment generally operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. A large commercial refrigerator used in grocery stores can consume up to 17,000 kWh of power per year, while a large commercial freezer can use up to 38,000 kWh of power per year.

The efficiency standards established update the Energy Department’s 2009 standards and will make the average commercial refrigeration unit about 30 percent more efficient, compared to the current standards, the DoE says.

These standards incorporate feedback from industry, consumer and environmental advocacy groups and other stakeholders and will go into effect three years after publication in the Federal Register.