The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new Energy Star requirements for commercial refrigerators and freezers effective Jan. 1, 2010, the same date that the federal standards take effect. Under the new scope of products covered by specifications for Energy Star commercial refrigerators and freezers are glass door refrigerators and freezers, which qualified for the Energy Star label as of April 1.

Commercial refrigerators and freezers in the United States that meet the new requirements are more than 30 percent higher than minimum federal standards. If all commercial refrigerators and freezers sold in the United States met this standard, annual energy savings would reach $275 million per year in the United States. This would also prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the output of nearly 400,000 vehicles, according to the EPA.

For more information, visit www.energystar.gov/cfs.