The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) published several new rules regarding foodservice equipment.
Beginning Dec. 1, new testing procedures for automatic commercial ice makers will be updated to the latest industry standards. The update includes the establishment of a relative humidity test condition; provides additional detail regarding certain test conditions, settings, setup requirements, and calculation; covers voluntary measurement of potable water use; clarifies certification and reporting requirements; and adds enforcement provisions. The final rule, which will be mandatory for equipment testing starting Oct. 27, 2023, also provides additional detail to the DOE test procedure to improve the representativeness and repeatability of the current test procedure.
More details are available here.
The DOE also published 2024-2028 proposed hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) allocation rules as required by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020. The AIM Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency to address HFCs by phasing down the production and consumption of listed HFCs, managing these HFCs and their substitutes, and facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies. To address this, the EPA is proposing to amend the consumption baseline to reflect updated data and to make other adjustments based on lessons from the implementation of the HFCs phasedown program. The EPA proposes to codify the existing approach to how allowances must be expended for import of regulated substances, revise recordkeeping and reporting requirements and implement other modifications to existing regulations.
Companies wishing to share their feedback regarding the timing or degree of additional requirements in the EPA's HFC allocation proposal should submit a formal comment to the DOE by Dec. 5 for the best chance of ensuring consideration. For more information and to submit a comment, please click here.