Energy Technology List To Set Tighter Boundaries

Many people who purchase commercial refrigeration equipment are now familiar with the Energy Technology List (ETL). It is an index which contains all models of commercial equipment which falls within a certain parameter of criteria. Those pieces which appear on the list, when purchased, enable the purchaser to qualify for the ECA scheme. This scheme encourages the customer to invest in higher efficiency equipment meaning that businesses are effectively being rewarded for making an environmentally friendly selection.

The Carbon Trust is hoping to implement a series of changes to the criteria required which states whether a piece of commercial refrigeration is eligible to be itemised on the ETL. The aim is to tighten the energy performance threshold and therefore make the list more stream lined and eco friendly than ever before. The Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) is being altered and tightened with regard to the energy consumption of each piece. Each unit is tested over a 48 hour period and the results drawn from these results. A simple manner of explaining the intended differences is to split the categories into broad sections;

• Single door cabinets used for chilled food will be required to be equal to or less than 14 kWh/48 hours/m3 (the energy consumption within 48 hours divided by the unit’s net volume)
• Single door cabinets used for frozen food must be equal to or less than 34 kWh/48 hours/m3
• Double door units used for chilled food must be equal to or less than 10 kWh/48 hours/m3
• Double door units used for frozen food must be equal to or less than 30 kWh/48 hours/m3
• Under counter and counter top units for chilled food must be equal to or less than 18 kWh/48 hours/m3
• Under counter and counter top units for frozen food must be equal to or less than 35 kWh/48 hours/m3

Other areas which will see criteria being altered involves the redefinition of the internal volume of the commercial equipment. The new boundaries will involve;

• “The net volume” being “calculated as” the “the usable shelf area that food can be loaded onto, multiplied by the usable height into which food can be loaded, minus the height of the shelves. If the shelf has clip supports or moulded supports that do not impinge into its area, the whole shelf can be considered available for loading and included as usable shelf area. If the shelf is supported by ‘C’ sections, the area covered by the supports can be included as long as do not restrict loading of foodstuffs. Where the shelf is recessed into the cabinet wall, the recessed area is unavailable for food loading and should not be included in the calculation of usable shelf area…The volume of any other protrusions into the usable space must be deducted from net volume calculated.”

The ETL and ECA scheme has proven to be a success since first being established. By the end of last year there were 13 separate commercial refrigeration manufacturers appearing on the Energy Technology List; collectively 245 individual items have met the existing criteria and entered on to the eligible list to claim back on the ECA scheme.

These new criteria are expected to come into force sometime during the late summer or early autumn so make sure that before making any investments you are certain that the equipment still falls into the limits of the ETL and therefore allows your business to claim on the ECA scheme and also save the environment in the process.