ShareUS Environmental Protection Agency raises its Energy Star standards
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised its Energy Star requirements for domestic refrigerators and freezers, raising the bar for energy efficiency in these products and for the first time encouraging manufacturers to include optional “connected” features.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised its Energy Star requirements for domestic refrigerators and freezers, raising the bar for energy efficiency in these products and for the first time encouraging manufacturers to include optional “connected” features.
Under the new standards, Energy Star certified refrigerators and freezers will use at least 10% less energy than models meeting 2014 federal minimum efficiency standards.
It is estimated that if all refrigerators and freezers sold in the United States were to meet these updated requirements, energy savings would reach up to USD 890 million annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of those from more than one million vehicles.
Connected features can also provide energy-saving opportunities as these products allow consumers to view real-time energy use, receive energy-related messages, for instance if a door has been left open, manage appliance settings remotely.
They will also be “smart-grid” ready and therefore able to respond to utility signals, including curtailing operations during more expensive peak demand times.
The updated Energy Star refrigerator and freezer specification will go into effect on September 15, 2014.
Under the new standards, Energy Star certified refrigerators and freezers will use at least 10% less energy than models meeting 2014 federal minimum efficiency standards.
It is estimated that if all refrigerators and freezers sold in the United States were to meet these updated requirements, energy savings would reach up to USD 890 million annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of those from more than one million vehicles.
Connected features can also provide energy-saving opportunities as these products allow consumers to view real-time energy use, receive energy-related messages, for instance if a door has been left open, manage appliance settings remotely.
They will also be “smart-grid” ready and therefore able to respond to utility signals, including curtailing operations during more expensive peak demand times.
The updated Energy Star refrigerator and freezer specification will go into effect on September 15, 2014.