Energy Star Highlights Areas of Product Discussion, Focus

In its February report, Energy Star noted several recent and upcoming product specification updates from the Environmental Protection Agency. They are as follows:

• Energy Star Version 5.0 Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers Discussion Guide/ Webinars: A Version 5.0 Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers Discussion Guide—which notes possible revisions to maximum daily energy consumption levels for some commercial refrigeration equipment and more—was released on Dec. 22, 2020. Further updates on commercial refrigerators and freezers can be found in PDFs of presentations from two webinars held this month.
• Energy Star Version 3.0 Commercial Ovens Draft 1: The EPA plans to release an updated draft this year, with revisions focusing on a “relatively high” Energy Star market penetration for commercial ovens as well as stakeholder interest in including large electric combination ovens, small electric and gas combination ovens and electric “mini” 2/3-size pan combi ovens. The EPA also anticipates changes to the performance levels for commercial convection and combination ovens.
• Electric Cooktops Discussion Guide: The EPA is scoping electric cooktop technology as a potential new CFS Energy Star product category and is creating a discussion guide to explore the technology further with stakeholders.

Energy Star also said it is interested in scoping out demand control kitchen ventilation, pressure fryers, tilt skillets, rotisserie ovens and hand dryers.