Washington (Platts)--9Apr2009
Commercial refrigerators and freezers will now have to meet higher
standards for the US Environmental Protection Agency to certify that they are
helping to cool global warming.
The EPA said Thursday that the new standards to earn the Energy Star
designation for high-efficiency products will make commercial refrigerators
and freezers 33% more efficient than standard models.
"If all commercial refrigerators and freezers sold in the United States
meet the new Energy Star specification, the energy savings would grow to $275
million/year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those
outputted from nearly 400,000 vehicles," EPA said in a statement.
The standards will take effect January 1 and now include glass-door
refrigerators and freezers such as those found in stores.
Also on Thursday, EPA unveiled new requirements for computer monitors,
digital picture frames and other displays to earn the Energy Star label. On
average, Energy Star qualified products will be 20% more energy efficient than
conventional options, the agency said.
EPA added that if all displays sold in the US meet the new specification,
the annual energy savings would grow to about $1 billion and prevent
greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from nearly 1.5 million vehicles.
The agency said digital picture frames "offer an impressive opportunity
for energy savings," estimated that 9.3 million digital picture frames were
shipped in 2008 and by 2015 the number could more than double.
Large displays are typically used in public and private settings such as
restaurants, bars, hotels, clubs, museums, and educational settings, and
outdoor environments in retail or transportation signage.
EPA said the specification for displays less than 30 inches diagonal will
be effective October 30, while the specification for displays 30-60 inches
diagonal will be effective on January 1.
Legislators have recently focused on the Energy Star program, which some
criticize for lax standards, unclear testing guidelines and disagreements
between its joint sponsors of EPA and the US Department of Energy. US Senators
Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat from New Mexico, and Lisa Murkowski, a Republican
from Alaska, in March introduced a bill which they said would strengthen the
program.
|
