Emerson announced a new platform of Annual Walk-in Energy Factor (AWEF)-compliant condensing units for walk-in coolers to meet the Department of Energy (DOE) rule, which goes into effect today. AWEF scores and performance information for condensing units are clearly listed in the new Copeland AWEF approved condensing unit product catalog.
The DOE today began enforcement of its final rule for energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers. The ruling requires 20 to 40 percent energy reductions in walk-ins smaller than 3,000 square feet. All stakeholders within the distribution channel are responsible for ensuring that any condensing units sold into the walk-in market are compliant with these new regulations.
“The new Copeland product catalog will help OEMs, wholesalers, contractors, design consultants and end users select units approved for WICF use,” said Julie Havenar, Emerson product manager, refrigeration. “As a manufacturer of condensing units for a wide range of refrigeration applications, we have certified our walk-in cooler condensing units meet the DOE’s minimum AWEF requirements. For OEMs, using certified condensing units will help them meet the compliance requirements in one of their primary refrigeration system components. OEMs will simply need to combine an Emerson AWEF-compliant condensing unit with any AWEF-compliant unit cooler to achieve compliance in a dedicated system. Similarly, wholesalers will need to stock AEF-compliant condensing units to service walk-in end users.”
The DOE’s WICF ruling directly applies to anyone manufacturing, producing, assembling or importing to certify WICF components. Impacted parties must meet the applicable standards based on the date of manufacture. From a refrigeration system standpoint, compliant components refer to dedicated and packaged condensing units (indoor and outdoor) used in both new and retrofit applications, including:
- Condensing units that are assembled to construct a new WICF
- Condensing units used to replace an existing, previously installed WICF component (retrofit)
- Condensing units used within packaged systems
Other components — such as unit coolers (evaporators), doors, panels and lighting — are also within the jurisdiction of the DOE’s WICF ruling.