Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products

THE PRODUCT:

Miscellaneous refrigeration products include beverage coolers, such as wine chillers, as well a smaller category of products referred to as “combination cooler refrigeration products,” which combine a refrigerator and/or freezer compartment with a wine storage compartment. Beverage coolers are designed to maintain a higher compartment temperature than conventional refrigerators.

THE STANDARD:

The current standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products took effect in 2019. The standards, which were negotiated by manufacturers and efficiency advocates, specify a maximum annual energy consumption that varies based on the product’s refrigerated volume. Compared to the least efficient products on the market at the time the standards were established, models just meeting the current standards use about 75% less energy. 

In 2023, DOE proposed amended standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products that would reduce energy consumption by between 10% and 30% depending on the product category. 

*The maximum energy use is expressed as the energy consumption (kWh) per year.

KEY FACTS:

As of 2022, about 1.6 million beverage coolers were sold each year. Freestanding compact coolers make up about two thirds of the market. 


 

Savings through what year?: 2048
Energy saved (quads): 1.5
CO2 savings (million metric tons): 91.8
Net present value savings ($billion) 3% discount rate: 11.02
Net present value savings ($billion) 7% discount rate: 4.78

Timeline

Federal Date States
Potential Effective Date of Updated Standard 2027
Updated DOE Standard Due 2024
1st Federal Standard Effective 2019
Potential Effective Date of Updated Standard 2019
1st Federal Standard Adopted (DOE) 2016
Updated DOE Standard Due 2016
2003 CA Standard Effective
2002 CA Standard Adopted
EPACT Initial Federal Legislation Enacted 1992

Timeline reflects state standards from 2001 to present; federal standards from inception to present.