Purchasing Energy-Efficient Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers

The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides acquisition guidance for commercial refrigerators and freezers, a product category covered by ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements. Federal laws and requirements mandate that agencies purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified products or FEMP-designated products in all product categories covered by these programs and in any acquisition actions that are not specifically exempted by law.

FEMP's acquisition guidance and associated ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements apply to commercial, food-grade refrigerators and freezers such as:

• Reach-in, roll-in, or pass-through models
• Display refrigerators and merchandisers
• Under-counter and worktop units
• Milk, bottle, and back bar coolers
• Beer-dispensing and direct-draw units
• Glass frosters
• Deep-well and bunker freezers
• Hybrid units.

Horizontal, vertical, and semi-vertical open equipment; deli cases, service over-counter equipment, ice cream freezers, and prep tables; convertible temperature equipment; and laboratory-grade products are excluded.

Residential freezers and residential refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers are covered by separate ENERGY STAR requirements. In the federal sector, commercial refrigerators and freezers are typically used in commercial food service operations like cafeterias, dining halls, snack bars, and officer clubs.

This acquisition guidance was updated in December 2021.