Heatcraft is Ready for 2020! We Have Your Back! 

As the commercial refrigeration industry prepares for the forthcoming Department of Energy (DOE) regulatory changes set to go into effect January 1, 2020, Heatcraft has been working diligently with customers, suppliers and the DOE to ensure a smooth transition. Significant changes to the regulatory landscape can cause confusion and anxiety in the market. Heatcraft’s approach from the beginning was to work with the DOE to provide contractors, OEMs, wholesalers and end-users, who rely on Heatcraft’s 137 year reputation of innovation and expertise, peace of mind as they transition to compliant refrigeration equipment.

Staying ahead of the DOE curve

With the amount of information flowing on and offline with regard to exactly what the new DOE regulations entail, one of our earliest commitments was to cut through the noise and get the most critical information to customers. Key in this process was making sure we reviewed and simplified the complex stream of documents inherent within government regulatory processes, then quickly delivering the key takeaways.

Heatcraft hosted live DOE Regulatory Overview sessions at The NAFEM Show 2019, now available online.  Additionally, the Heatcraft Product Management team recently hosted an informational webinar focused on how these regulations will affect Heatcraft’s product lines and commercial refrigeration industry.  You can view these presentations at the below links.

Click on the image to view NAFEM presentation

Click on the image to view Heatcraft DOE Webinar

Ready for 2020 - The Heatcraft Family of Brands

Bohn, Larkin, Climate Control, Chandler

In 2017, per DOE mandate, Heatcraft began placing AWEF (Annual Walk-in Energy Factor) values on its equipment data plates and in printed literature in. The AWEF ruling is essentially imposing minimum efficiency standards and mandates that manufacturers produce equipment that moves more heat using less energy. The first compliance date for AWEF is January 1, 2020, for medium temperature condensing units and medium temperature self-contained units. Medium temperature condensing units and medium temperature self-contained units manufactured by Heatcraft after January 1st of 2020 will meet or exceed the minimum AWEF efficiency standards.

The applications and equipment affected by new DOE mandated AWEF efficiency standards are as follows:

• Walk-in coolers and freezers up to 3000 ft²
• Condensing units and unit coolers used in walk-in coolers and freezers up to 3000 ft²
• Unit coolers used in supermarket refrigeration systems with dedicated walk-in coolers and freezers under 3,000 ft² (effective date July 10, 2020)

Heatcraft equipment manufactured prior to January 1, 2020, will not be subject to the new DOE AWEF efficiency regulations.

Looking ahead to July 10, 2020

July 10, 2020, is the official compliance date for low temperature condensing units, low temperature self-contained units, and both medium and low temperature unit coolers. As of that date, Heatcraft affected equipment will be compliant with DOE established targets.

Compliant today... compliant tomorrow

All of Heatcraft’s manufactured equipment within the scope of the regulations will meet or exceed the new DOE efficiency manufacturing standards. There will be no interruptions or surprises for Heatcraft customers purchasing new or using existing Heatcraft equipment.

Three of the most common questions regarding DOE regulatory impact on Heatcraft are addressed below:

Q: How do the new DOE regulations affect the Heatcraft equipment I own now?

The new regulations will have no effect. The DOE regulatory requirements only affect equipment manufactured after January 1, 2020, or July 10, 2020, depending on product. There is no requirement that older equipment be serviced or altered in any way to meet the forthcoming regulatory efficiency standards. Product compliance can be verified via the DOE CCMS Database.

Q: How do the new DOE regulations affect equipment I purchase between now and January 1, 2020?

The new regulations have no effect. While equipment being manufactured now by Heatcraft have AWEF efficiency ratings included on the units per the reporting requirement issued by the DOE, these units are not included in the January 1, 2020, compliance standards.

Committed to you

As a commercial refrigeration industry leader, Heatcraft is committed to providing all of our customers with an uninterrupted supply of compliant refrigeration equipment which meets or exceeds DOE requirements. As your partner in commercial refrigeration and DOE awareness, if you have any questions or concerns regarding Heatcraft equipment and compliance, please contact us via email at [email protected]