What Should You Be Doing About 2020 DOE Regulations? 

Everyone in the commercial refrigeration industry should be preparing for the impending 2020 Department of Energy (DOE) regulatory changes. You have reviewed the first two product compliance dates and posted them in your calendar. You have even memorized what equipment is affected on each date, along with what is out of scope. Further, you’ve already contacted your suppliers to get peace of mind that they are prepared to help you stay compliant. Is there anything else you could do to stay well ahead of DOE 2020?

Be Ready for Tomorrow, Today

Impending regulatory standards have been published multiple times by the DOE, hammered home in blogs and online discussions, yet there still may be some questions regarding how the new regulations will affect the commercial refrigeration equipment you buy, whether it is a new installation or replacement.

• On January 1, 2020, all newly manufactured medium temperature condensing units and medium temperature self-contained units must meet minimum AWEF values to be considered compliant by the DOE.
• On July 10, 2020, all newly manufactured low temperature condensing units, low temperature self-contained units, and both medium and low temperature unit coolers must meet minimum AWEF values to be considered compliant by the DOE.
• Equipment manufactured prior to compliance dates is still acceptable for new installations and replacements.

Know Where You Fit In

Depending on whether you are a contractor, OEM, wholesaler or end-user, the questions you ask yourself may differ slightly, but you may want to consider the following:

• If I’m a contractor, what products do I install and service, and how do the new regulations impact those products? Are my sales and service personnel aware of the new regulations?
• If I’m a wholesaler, what is the manufacture date of the equipment I’m selling, and how much pre-regulation stock versus new DOE compliant stock should I have? Are my sales and counter personnel aware of the regulations and what it compliant? How will our replacement parts inventory need to change?
• If I’m an OEM, do I have a plan in place to be ready on both the January 1, 2020, and July 10, 2020, compliance dates? Are my designers/purchasing/sales personnel aware of the regulations on what is compliant? Am I regularly checking with the DOE for further updates?
• If I’m an end-user, have my questions and concerns regarding the equipment I purchase from the manufacturers and suppliers I do business with been addressed?

As we draw closer to 2020, DOE regulatory compliance will be a team effort between each of these segments in the commercial refrigeration industry. Stay tuned for more in our next DOE blog.