"Green" Takes Center Stage at the NAFEM Show
From October 11 through 13th, foodservice professionals from around the world gathered to learn about what the new trends are, attend educational seminars, see the latest equipment, and network with their peers at the NAFEM show held in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. NAFEM typically draws about 20,000 operators, end users, food consultants to the show every two years.
NAFEM attendees packed the seminar rooms to learn more about going “green” – whether it was to learn more about building a sustainable kitchen, ENERGY STAR and energy efficient equipment choices, energy saving tips and rebates, Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED), or lifecycle costing—there was significant interest from the food service industry. Additionally, at the show ENERGY STAR and the California Independently Owned Utilities (IOUs) partnered together to make a presence at the show by giving out rebate forms, encouraging the purchase of ENERGY STAR and energy efficient choices, and informing attendees about the newest product category to earn the ENERGY STAR label – Commercial Dishwashers.
Commercial Dishwashers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are on average 25 percent more energy-efficient and 25 percent more water-efficient than standard models. American Dish Service, Auto-Chlor System, Champion Industries, CMA Dishmachines, Hobart Corporation, Insinger Machine Company, Jackson MSC LLC, Meiko USA, Moyer Diebel, and Stero, a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc. are all charter partne rs in the ENERGY STAR program. Many of the Commercial Dishwasher Partners used the ENERGY STAR mark to promote their partnership and qualified products at the show. Some photos of partners’ booths are included to show the commitment to ENERGY STAR. High and low undercounter temp, single tank door type, single tank conveyor, and multiple tank conveyor machines are all eligible for the ENERGY STAR.
NAFEM launched a new Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Tool at the show which was developed through an all-industry effort led by NAFEM’s Technical Liaison Committee. David Zabrowski, Fisher-Nickel Inc. and Dipak Negandhi, Unified Brands, presented the tool at a seminar on October 11th. David and Dipak demonstrated that purchase price alone was a limited tool – that there are many other factors that end users should take into account such as life span, maintenance cost, energy cost, labor cost, and disposal (and of course, capital cost). David and Dipak ran through some examples of the tool and encouraged participants to look at purchases in a larger-scale way. To access the tool click here. To receive the tool, enter your name, company, email and whether or not you want the condensed or full version. You will shortly receive the tool via email after entering your information.
ENERGY STAR’s partners for fryers, hot food holding cabinets, refrigeration, and steam cookers were all also promoting ENERGY STAR. There were many cyan ENERGY STAR marks to be seen on the show floor. ENERGY STAR representatives also met with the Supply and Equipment Foodservice Alliance (SEFA) who held their conference and training right before NAFEM. ENERGY STAR and SEFA are working closely to develop plans in education and promotion of energy-efficient and ENERGY STAR qualified equipment. Additionally, ENERGY STAR representatives spoke on a Food Consultants Society International “Why Go Green” panel – FCSI’s annual conference that was held before NAFEM.
“Green” at NAFEM certainly drew a lot of attention – both to the seminars and to those booths who were ready to explain sustainability and energy-efficiency. Operators and end users are starting to learn that adding a little “green” to their kitchen can be a good thing.
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2008 ENERGY STAR Awards Applications Now Available!
Each year, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. All organizations participating in ENERGY STAR are encouraged to apply for a 2008 ENERGY STAR Award. Most award winners will be recognized at the ENERGY STAR Awards Ceremony on April 1, 2008 in Washington, DC.
Applications for recognition in the categories listed below are available online now. Detailed instructions on submissions are included as part of each award application package. To be considered, an organization must meet the specific eligibility requirements in the award application and submit a complete application package postmarked by December 15, 2007.
For questions on the awards process, please contact your account manager or Ted Leopkey, US EPA.
Efficient Products
• Partner of the Year – Product Manufacturer
• Partner of the Year – Product Manufacturer Windows, Doors, and Skylights
• Partner of the Year – Retailer
• Partner of the Year – Lighting Retailer or Showroom
• Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion
Efficient Buildings/Facilities
• Partner of the Year – Energy Management
• Partner of the Year – Service and Product Provider
Efficient Homes
• Partner of the Year – Home Energy Raters
• Excellence in Affordable Housing
• Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion – New Home Builders
General Education/Program Sponsor
• Partner of the Year – Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
• Excellence in Energy Efficiency Program Delivery
• Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion – Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
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Market Forge Wins National Award with ENERGY STAR Steamer
The Eco-Tech Plus steam cooker manufactured by Market Forge Industries took home this year’s Blue Flame Award for Product of the Year given by The Gas Foodservice Equipment Network of the Energy Solutions Center. The award was announced at the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) show on October 11, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.
This Eco-Tech Atmospheric Steam Cooker is ENERGY STAR qualified with a design that helps reduce gas consumption, manage water m ore efficiently, and save space with its built-in water filtration system. These innovative factors save operators on water costs and energy costs all the while helping to save the environment by reducing green house gas emissions.
The cooker maximizes efficiency by consuming a minimal amount of water while generating steam with greater effectiveness. Consequently, the 10-pan steamer uses less than 14 gallons of water for a two-compartment steamer per-hour, as compared to 120 gallons of water for a typical steam cooker of its size resulting in a reduction of 88%. Since the model has a five-pan capacity per independent compartment, it works for high volume situations.
The Blue Flame Award recognizes the wide range of benefits that come from the research and engineering of new and improved appliances. These benefits include added employment, economic development, strengthening our nation’s competitive position and contributing to the public’s standard of living. Previous recipients of the award demonstrated leadership and innovation in product research, design, and development.
Gas Foodservice Equipment Network is a consortium of the Energy Solutions Center and an alliance of utilities, foodservice equipment manufacturers, gas industry associations, and foodservice trade allies that all work on gas solutions for the commercial foodservice market. The Energy Solutions Center is a non-profit trade association that focuses on the commercialization and deployment of energy efficient natural gas technologies.
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The Importance of the ENERGY STAR Label
Many manufacturers are using the ENERGY STAR label correctly and on their products. ENERGY STAR thanks you for your support and efforts! Some manufacturers are not labeling their ENERGY STAR qualified products. Energy-efficiency has become increasingly important for operators in purchasing their equipment. A staggering 97% of operators feel that energy-efficiency is an important feature for their next equipment purchase. Please do not miss this opportunity to market your energy-efficient products!
Additionally, some manufacturers were using the “ENERGY STAR Partner” mark on signage at the NAFEM show to designate their partnership. However, these marks were placed on signs that were posted on non-qualifying equipment – this causes confusion in the marketplace. Please refer to the ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines to ensure that you are using the mark correctly.
Thank you for your support!
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Hobart Offers Sustainable Design Expertise to Their Customers
 At the NAFEM Show, Hobart highlighted their design offerings and commitment to sustainability at their booth. Three Hobart executives who have earned LEED® Accredited Professional status from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) were on-hand to share strategies and insights. Jenni Bair, LEED-AP, marketing manager for food retail; Kimberly Greenwood, LEED-AP, marketing manager for higher education; and Kevin Woods, LEED-AP, marketing manager for K-12 schools all provided interactive demonstrations of Hobart’s sustainability solutions.
In 2006, Hobart became involved with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to demonstrate their commitment in providing design, construction and manufacturing of buildings and equipment that are environmentally responsible, and profitable and healthy places to live and work. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System® is the nationally accepted bench mark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
In 1992, when the U.S. Environ mental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched their ENERGY STAR program, Traulsen refrigerators, freezers and hot-food holding cabinets earned the ENERGY STAR mark. In 2007, Hobart expanded their ENERGY STAR qualified family to warewashers. The ENERGY STAR mark signifies that Hobart and Traulsen equipment meets the strict energy-saving and water-saving criteria set by the EPA and DOE.
Click here to learn more about Hobart’s initiative.
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Washington D.C. Passes Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
 Following the trend toward energy efficiency in the greater Washington area, the Washington D.C. City Council voted to pass the “Energy Efficiency Standards of 2007” in early July. Similar to a bill recently passed by the Maryland General Assembly, the new DC bill sets minimum energy efficiency standards for certain products sold and installed in the District of Columbia.
Per the bill’s mandate, all bottle-type water dispensers have to meet all the test criteria set forth in the ENERGY STAR Version 1.1 Program Requirements. Furthermore, all Commercial Hot Food Holding Cabinets have to have a maximum idle energy rate not exceeding 40 watts per cubic foot of interior volume. The interior volume has to be measured in accordance with the method shown by the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements.
The new law also sets energy efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures, single voltage external AC to DC power supplies, state-regulated incandescent reflector lamps, and walk-in refrigerators and freezers.
The new bill becomes effective on January 1, 2009 for all new products sold or offered for sale in the District of Columbia and on January 1, 2010 for all products being installed in the District.
Manufacturers of these products will have to test samples of their products to ensure that they pass the new energy efficiency standards and then identify their products as in compliance with the D.C. energy efficiency standards or with substantially identical energy efficiency standards from another state or the federal government. The identification of the product must be in the form of a mark, label, or tag on either the product or the product packaging. This labeling requirement, however, does not apply to products for which there is already an established national efficiency standard.
In order to ensure manufacturers are in compliance with the new energy-efficiency standard, the bill allows the Mayor to test products after the implementation date. If these products are still not in compliance with the law after a notice and hearing, the Mayor can impose a penalty on the manufacturer for up to the amount the cost of the product and the testing as well as make information available to the public about the products non-compliance with the law.
Along these lines, the Mayor can randomly inspect distributors or retailers to determine compliance. If, after a notice and hearing, the mayor finds that a manufacturer, retailer, distributor, or installer has violated a provision of the new bill, he/she will issue a warning for the first incident. The penalty for second violations ranges from a $2,500 fee to a request for the Attorney General to commence criminal action.
A clause in the bill also specifically allows the Mayor to adopt increased energy efficiency standards for new products in the future under the condition that the new law does not take effect in less than one year following the adoption of the law and that a substantially identical standard has been passed in Maryland or Virginia.
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California's Flex Your Power Guide Highlights the CFS Industry
A new best practices guide has recently been published by Flex Your Power, California’s statewide energy efficiency outreach campaign. The guide outlines strategies and notes successful case studies that can help local governments improve energy efficiency.
Energy costs can account for as much as 30 percent of a building's operating costs. Government agencies in the United States spend more than $10 billion a year on energy to provide public services and meet constituent needs. Unfortunately, nearly one-third of the energy used to run a typical government building goes to waste—wasting taxpayer dollars. Undertaking energy efficiency  measures can reduce energy consumption and utility bills by 30 percent or more. Furthermore, this 30 percent reduction can lower operating costs by $25,000 per year for every 50,000 square feet of office space, all through no-cost or low-cost energy efficiency projects.
The Flex Your Power best practices guide has a section dedicated to energy efficiency and the commercial food service industry — citing food service areas as among the most energy-intensive commercial spaces in California (square-foot for square-foot). In this section, ENERGY STAR Commercial Food Service Equipment is highlighted as a consistent way to save energy throughout the lifetime of the product. More specifically, the guide mentions that with ENERGY STAR qualified Steamers, the water and energy savings over a conventional boiler-based steamer could add up to several thousand dollars in just one year. When multiplying those annual savings by the entire life of the appliance, the financial benefits of energy efficiency become quite apparent.
This section also outlines savings tips, such as cutting idle time to use appliances only when needed, staying on top of repairs so that your equipment is maximizing energy, and checking pilot lights to ensure you are using the appropriate minimum amount of gas. The guide notes that ovens are more energy efficient than rotisseries and griddles more efficient than broilers, an important fact to keep in mind when investing in food service equipment.
Flex Your Power, initiated in 2001, is a partnership of California's utilities, residents, businesses, institutions, government agencies and nonprofit organizations working to save energy. It has received national and international recognition, including an ENERGY STAR Award for excellence.
View the Flex Your Power Guide.
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CFS Industry Seminars Teach Energy Efficiency
Look for the following seminars and events in your area!
“SCE’s Food for Thought”
When: November 7th
Where: CBS Studio Center in Studio City, CA
Cost: Free
Register by contacting Monica Lopez
Southern California Edison (SCE) and CBS News organize “Food for Thought,” a seminar promoting energy efficiency in the foodservice industry. The discussion topics range from California Assembly 32 and how it applies to the foodservice industry to learning how to upgrade electric technologies to improve energy efficiency to a tour of the CBS Studios.
“Specifying Energy Efficient Equipment”
When: December 4th, 9:00 am to 12:00pm
Where: Food Service Technology Center
12949 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 101
San Ramon, CA 94583
Cost: Free
Register here!
PG&E and CA IOU lead this seminar educating people on the benefits of buying energy efficient food service equipment. When buying new or replacing commercial kitchen equipment, your decisions can make a huge impact on the success of the operation. Does investing a bit more up front for energy- efficient equipment really pay off in the long run? Get the facts at this informative seminar.
“Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) – Regional Connect Event”
When: November 15th, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Where: Duke Energy Customer Resource Center in Charlotte, N.C.
Cost: Free
Register here!
The WFF and Duke Energy will host the upcoming Regional Connect Series. This is a unique opportunity created to expand your networking opportunities with others from your region and to keep your career and commitment to the foodservice industry fresh. We have gathered a panel of Women in the foodservice industry to discuss their careers and how they have used the WFF’s Core Competencies to build on their successes.
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