AWEF / Critical DOE Information 

The Annual Walk-In Energy Factor (AWEF) is a regulatory efficiency metric created by the Department of Energy (DOE) that measures electrical energy input versus the cooling capacity of the system.

The DOE recently proposed and implemented a set of standards to regulate energy consumption in the United States. The law mandates every product that consumes energy should follow a set standard defined by DOE. All commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers should comply with the Annual Walk-In Energy Factor (AWEF) rating defined by the DOE. Fundamentally, the ruling will reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency of commercial refrigeration equipment.

Products & Applications

1. Condenser Unit: Contains compressor and condenser coil
2. Unit Cooler: Contains evaporator coil and air mover
3. Packaged Unit: Standalone, self-contained refrigeration system
4. Medium Temperature: Applications where box temperature is 32°F and above
5. Low Temperature: Applications where box temperature is less than 32°F

Responsible Parties

The responsible parties include:

• Manufacturers who build, certify and mark equipment that is compliant.
• Individuals selecting equipment for covered installations should use compliant equipment. These are often contracting companies or OEMs, for example.
• Any party who selects or uses non-compliant equipment for applications requiring compliance can bear liability.

Build & Installation

• The compliance date is based on manufacturing date, not the installation date.
• The replacement equipment must be either compliant or manufactured prior to the compliance date.

Enforcement

• Industry personnel are best able to identify non-compliant installations & equipment.
• The DOE will conduct random checks to ensure equipment meets advertised efficiencies and required minima.
• DOE prescribes an “express lane” to report violators, so it is important to be complaint and avoid severe penalties.

Questions on AWEF?

Send us an email to [email protected] or visit the DOE’s official website to learn more