The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented honors to four manufacturers of propane (R290)-based commercial refrigeration systems in this year’s ENERGY STAR awards program – Beverage-Air, Hoshizaki America, True Manufacturing and Welbilt.
Hoshizaki America and Welbilt both received awards for Sustained Excellence, having won ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year awards for eight and 11 consecutive years, respectively. True Manufacturing was awarded its first ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award, after having won an award for Product Design for the past four years, and Beverage-Air received a Product Design Excellence Award for the second year in a row.
Established in 1992, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR awards honor partners every year for their contributions to protecting the environment through achievements in energy efficiency.
“ENERGY STAR award-winning partners from across the country demonstrate that delivering real climate solutions makes good business sense and strengthens our economy,” EPA said. “These 210 organizations, which represent the top ENERGY STAR partners, are making important contributions in support of America’s clean energy transition.”
“ENERGY STAR award-winning partners from across the country demonstrate that delivering real climate solutions makes good business sense and strengthens our economy.”
The U.S. EPA
Beverage-Air
Beverage-Air, based in Winston Salem, North Carolina (U.S.), is a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment for the food service industries. Beverage-Air’s award recognizes its commitment to product innovation, noting that 50% of its portfolio has earned the ENERGY STAR label. The award acknowledges the company’s work to develop redesigned models using low-GWP refrigerants like propane, the introduction of adaptive defrost features and the incorporation of variable speed compressors that can result in energy savings of up to 30%.
Key 2021 accomplishments include:
- Highlighting the value of ENERGY STAR certification in product training, staff onboarding, consultant webinars, product training videos and marketing materials.
- Focusing heavily on internal staff and dealer/distributor training dedicated to environmental messaging related to energy consumption and the ENERGY STAR program.
Hoshizaki America
Based out of Peachtree City, Georgia (U.S.), Hoshizaki America is a manufacturer of food service equipment. This year’s award recognizes the company’s work to advance the cause of energy efficiency by completing major design and production improvements to its products.
Key 2021 accomplishments include:
- Expanding its KMEdge X technology to all commercial ice machines, resulting in faster ice production, shorter cleaning times and a reduction in water use for its ENERGY STAR certified products.
- Making production and efficiency design improvements to all its 86 refrigerator and freezer models, including 14 ENERGY STAR models.
- Providing ENERGY STAR related virtual training to over 3,000 retailers and distributors.
True Manufacturing
True Manufacturing, based out of O’Fallon, Missouri (U.S.), is a manufacturer and global supplier of commercial, residential and lab-grade refrigeration equipment and ice-making systems. The company has received recognition for its commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its customers by producing and promoting ENERGY STAR certified equipment with low-GWP foam-blowing agents and natural refrigerants like propane.
Key 2021 accomplishments include:
- Increasing visibility and consumer awareness of the ENERGY STAR label through various online training opportunities and trade shows, as well as a web page highlighting over 200 ENERGY STAR certified models.
- Providing feedback throughout the revision process for version 5.0 of ENERGY STAR’s commercial refrigerator and freezer specification. True Manufacturing also provided input on the criteria for ENERGY STAR’s Emerging Technology Award for adaptive commercial refrigeration equipment.
- Working with standard-setting bodies within the United States and abroad to update energy consumption test methods for commercial refrigeration systems, and to update safety standards to allow the use of larger charge sizes of low-GWP refrigerants.
- Maintaining a large selection of ENERGY STAR certified models containing natural refrigerants, namely hydrocarbons like R290.
Welbilt
Welbilt is a commercial food service equipment manufacturer based in New Port Richey, Florida (U.S.). This year’s award is in recognition of Welbilt’s work to expand its ENERGY STAR offerings and actively promote the value of ENERGY STAR to potential customers.
Key 2021 accomplishments include:
- Introducing 16 new ENERGY STAR certified product lines and increasing the overall number offered from the Manitowoc, Delfield and Frymaster brands by 3%.
- Converting six Manitowoc ice machines to R290 and adding programmable features to save energy.
- Conducting training webinars focused on ENERGY STAR benefits that reached over 1,100 retail and distributor partners.
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