DOE releases energy efficiency rules for refrigerated beverage vending machines

Automatic Merchandiser, Sep 2009

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released new mandatory energy efficiency standards for refrigerated beverage machines that will reduce energy consumption.

The standards, which are accessible on the DOE's Website, claim that on average, medium capacity vending machines - the most common type currently being sold - have installed prices of $2,625 and annual energy costs of $188. To meet the new standards, DOE estimates the installed prices of such equipment to be $2,864, an increase of $239, to be offset by energy savings of $69 and an increase in maintenance and repair costs of $13.

The new standards are mandatory, unlike the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star program, which is voluntary. Consumer and environmental groups have criticized the Energy Star program for being a voluntary program without independent testing.

The new standards can be accessed at: http://wwwl.eere.energy.gov/ buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/pdfs/bvm_final_rule_notice.pdf/.

Environmentalists welcomed the new standards. The National Resources Defense Council and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project both said the new standards fulfill President Obama's pledge to complete five new efficiency standards by August, and that according to the DOE, these standards will save enough electricity to meet the needs of about 1.4 million typical U.S. homes for one year and will save vending machine property owners nearly $500 million over 30 years.