Ad-hoc group progressing expansion of ENERGY STAR component inspection verification program

Leveraging the success of the steam-cooker component inspection pilot program that combined ENERGY STAR energy-efficiency verification testing, with quarterly product safety factory auditing, an ad-hoc group of NAFEM members is working with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) representatives, to identify opportunities to expand the program to other product categories.

“The steam cooker pilot program we created in conjunction with EPA has proven to be far more efficient than having the previous, separate ENERGY STAR and factory safety audit processes,” said Dean Stanley, vice president, engineering at AccuTemp Products, Inc. “In addition to not having to dedicate a new piece of equipment to the testing, combining the audits saves a significant amount of time and money.”

NAFEM and EPA are working with the ASTM International F26 Food Service Equipment Committee to develop a list of prospective product categories that can be used to expand the program and identify the components of each that affect energy consumption. The ad-hoc group hopes to have another product category ready for pilot program verification in 2019.

“EPA doesn’t have a lot of budget for this work, so the industry is doing some of the heavy lifting to keep the component inspection verification program moving forward,” Dean explained. “We’ve succeeded in slaying the verification testing dragon in one product category and we’d like to move this more common-sense approach to as many other product categories as possible.”

In addition to working on the ad-hoc group, Dean also has made it a priority to brief AccuTemp’s local elected officials on the importance of the ENERGY STAR program to AccuTemp. He has shared information with former Indiana Senator Dick Lugar and 3^rd District Representative Marlin Stutzman in the past, and most recently U.S. Senator Todd Young’s staff, to encourage them to support ENERGY STAR program funding.

“I encourage other NAFEM members to do the same with their Washington congressional officials, letting them know of their constituents’ priorities back home.”