Contact: Ben Somberg, 202-658-8129, bsomberg@aceee.org
Washington, DC—Resolutions passed by the U.S. House today would block updated efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and for commercial refrigerators and freezers. Both resolutions would raise costs for the restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery stores that use these products while wasting scarce electric grid capacity.
“If you’re a restaurant or a grocery store, the House just voted to raise your costs,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “It’s small businesses that would pay the price of installing outdated technology. Canceling the standards would lock in needless energy waste for years to come, using up electric grid capacity that’s urgently needed for our growing economy.”
The resolutions would need to be passed by the Senate and signed by the president to take effect.
Walk-in coolers
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) updated the efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers in December 2024 to ensure that new models use proven energy-saving technologies.
Taking effect in late 2027 for non-display doors and late 2028 for refrigeration systems, the standards will save businesses up to $6.5 billion on utility bills (from the use of products sold over 30 years), DOE estimates. Savings on electricity bills will far exceed any increase in upfront costs, with bill savings offsetting those costs within 1.6 years on average for non-display doors and 3 years on average for refrigeration systems (the average expected product lifetime is about 8.5 years).
DOE was required by law to update the standards for these products (if cost-effective) by 2022. More information about the walk-in cooler standards is available in an ASAP fact sheet.
Commercial refrigeration equipment
The DOE updated the efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration equipment in January.
The standards will save businesses $4.6 billion on utility bills (from the use of products sold over 30 years), DOE estimates. Savings on electricity bills will far exceed any increase in upfront costs, with utility bill savings offsetting those costs within 3.5 years on average (the average expected product lifetime is about 12–14 years depending on the product type).
The standards set strengthened efficiency levels for a range of commercial refrigerators and freezers. Most models on the market today, totaling more than 12,000 unique products, already meet the standards, which take effect in 2029.
Commercial refrigeration standards were last updated in 2014. DOE was required by law to finalize new standards (if cost-effective) by 2022. More information about the commercial refrigeration equipment standards is available in an ASAP fact sheet.
###
The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) advocates for appliance, equipment, and lighting standards that cut planet-warming emissions and other air pollution, save water, and reduce economic and environmental burdens for low- and moderate-income households. ASAP’s steering committee includes representatives from environmental and efficiency nonprofits, consumer groups, the utility sector, and state government.
