Final Version 5.0 Energy Star Commercial Refrigerators and Commercial Freezers product specifications have been released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This new specifications will become effective December 22, 2022. For more detailed information you can view the online Version 5.0 product specifications.
This new version includes updated performance levels for a subgroup of product classes, an expanded selection of products that includes service over the counter and refrigerated chef base classes and is now in line with today’s industry testing practices, vocabulary and definitions.
The Environmental Protection Agency now states that Energy Star-certified commercial refrigerators and commercial freezers under Version 5.0 specification will provide energy savings up to 24%. According to the new standards, if all U.S. sold commercial refrigeration and freezers were certified to version 5.0, the value of the energy cost savings would be greater than $200 million annually. In addition to the savings, if all commercial refrigerators and freezers sold in the U.S. were to be certified to this version, more than 5 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented.
The EPA has set the following timeline for the transition from the current Energy Star specification to the updated Version 5.0 Energy Star product specification:
- Effective immediately, manufacturers may choose to have their Certification Body(CB)certify eligible products to the Version 5.0 requirements.
- As of August 6, 2022, CBs are instructed to no longer certify new product submittals to Version 4.0, yet any existing certifications are to continue to be valid until December 22nd.
- On December 22, 2022, all commercial refrigeration products manufactured from that date forward must meet Version 5.0 requirements in order to be Energy Star certified and to display the Energy Star mark.
