FEMP Designated Product: Griddles
Legal Authorities
Federal agencies are required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 23.2 to specify and buy ENERGY STAR®-qualified products or, in categories with no ENERGY STAR label, FEMP-designated products which are among the highest 25 percent of equivalent products for energy efficiency.
Information about energy-efficient griddles in this section includes the following:
Performance Requirements for Federal Purchases
Buying Energy-Efficient Griddles
Buyer Tips
User Tips
Cost-Effectiveness Example
Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions
Using the Cost-Effectiveness Table
What if my Gas Price is Different?
For More Information
Also provided is a portable document format version of Purchasing Specifications for Griddles (PDF 239 KB, 2 pp). Download Adobe Reader.
| Performance Requirements for Federal Purchases | ||
|---|---|---|
| Steamer Type and Capacity | Cooking Energy Efficiencya | Idle Energy Rateb |
| Gas, 2 foot | 38% or greater | 11,000 Btu/hour or less |
| Gas, 3 foot | 38% or greater | 16,000 Btu/hour or less |
| Gas, 4 foot | 38% or greater | 21,000 Btu/hour or less |
| Gas, 5 foot | 38% or greater | 26,000 Btu/hour or less |
| Gas, 6 foot | 38% or greater | 31,000 Btu/hour or less |
| Electric, 2 foot | 70% or greater | 1,500 watts or less |
| Electric, 3 foot | 70% or greater | 2,300 watts or less |
| Electric, 4 foot | 70% or greater | 3,100 watts or less |
| Electric, 5 foot | 70% or greater | 3,800 watts or less |
| Electric, 6 foot | 70% or greater | 4,600 watts or less |
a Cooking energy efficiency is defined as the ratio of the energy absorbed by the food to the total energy input to the cooking device. Based on ASTM Standard Test Method for Performance of Griddles (F1275).
b Idle energy rate is the amount of energy an appliance uses to maintain a stabilized operating temperature.
Buying Energy-Efficient Griddles
This purchasing specification applies to commercial grade, electric and gas griddles. When buying griddles through commercial sources, select products that meet the Performance Requirements shown above. The federal supply sources for griddles are the General Services Administration (GSA) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). GSA sells griddles through its Multiple Awards Schedules program and on-line shopping network, GSA Advantage! DLA offers them through the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and online through DoD EMall.
Performance requirements apply to all forms of procurements, including: guide and project specifications; construction, renovation, repair, maintenance and energy service contracts; lease agreements and solicitations for offers. Energy performance requirements should be included in all evaluations of solicitation responses. Model language to assist agencies with incorporating these performance requirements into their procurement documents is available here.
Agencies can claim an exception to these requirements through a written finding that no ENERGY STAR-qualified or FEMP-designated product is available to meet the functional requirements, or that no such product is life-cycle cost-effective for the specific application.
Buyer Tips
Several energy-saving features have been designed into griddles. Infrared burners offer a compact and efficient means for transferring heat to the cooking surface, which can provide quicker recovery when a load is placed on the griddle. "Steam-powered" griddles incorporate a sealed chamber containing high temperature steam directly beneath the cooking surface. The steam condenses on the underside of the griddle plate, quickly transferring heat to the cooking surface and providing greater temperature uniformity. High efficiency designs often come bundled with other features such as all-stainless steel construction and high quality components. In addition to lower operating costs, efficient griddles have higher production rates.
Solid-state thermostats offer more precise temperature control than conventional ones, responding quickly as a griddle returns to the thermostat set point. Increased control is achieved by using a more sensitive thermostat with a smaller bandwidth.
Chrome-surfaced griddle plates radiate up to 50 percent less heat into the kitchen than standard griddles. In addition to saving energy, chrome surfaces help to keep the work environment more comfortable. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for keeping the chrome surface clean.
Griddles with grooved cooking surfaces produce the characteristic striped sear mark of a charbroiler while using less than a fifth of the energy. In addition, these griddles produce less smoke and heat than charbroilers. For some operations griddles with grooved surfaces may be a lower-cost alternative to charbroilers.
User Tips
Idle, or standby, energy consumption is a significant portion (up to 40%) of a griddle daily energy use. Users should implement an equipment start-up/shut-down schedule. Since most griddles take less than 15 minutes to preheat, they should be turned off when not in use. For griddles with multiple sections, turn off unused sections during slow periods.
| Cost-Effectiveness Example | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Base Model | Required | Best Availablea |
| Cooking Energy Efficiency | 30% | 38% | 45% |
| Idle Energy Rate | 18,000 Btu/h | 16,000 Btu/h | 14,500 Btu/h |
| Annual Energy Use | 1,150 therms | 1,060 therms | 960 therms |
| Annual Energy Cost | $690 | $635 | $575 |
| Lifetime Energy Costa | $5,850 | $5,385 | $4,875 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost Savings | — | $465 | $975 |
a More efficient products may have been introduced to the market since this specification was published.
b Lifetime energy cost is the sum of the discounted value of the annual energy costs and an assumed griddle life of 12 years. Future energy price trends and a discount rate of 3.0% are based on federal guidelines (effective from April, 2006 to March, 2007).
Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions
The example above is based on standard 3-foot, flat plate, gas griddles operating for 12 hours a day, 365 days per year, with one preheat cycle and cooking 100 pounds of food. The assumed price for natural gas is $0.60 per therm, the average at federal facilities in the US.
Using the Cost-Effectiveness Table
In the example above, the Required griddle is cost-effective if its purchase price is no more than $465 above the price of the Base Model. The Best Available model is cost-effective if its price is no more than $975 above the that of the Base Model.
What if my Gas Price is Different?
The Food Services Technology Center (see For More Information) has a life-cycle cost calculator for griddles on its Web site. Input the product information and rate for electricity or natural gas at your facility. The output section will automatically display results that more accurately reflect your situation.
For More Information
- DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Information Center
Phone: 1-877-EERE-INF or 1-877-337-3463 - General Services Administration, General Products Center, Fort Worth, Texas: Federal Supply Service and GSA Advantage!
Phone: (817) 978-4545 - Defense Logistics Agency: Emall.
- Defense Supply Center Philadelphia.
Phone: (800) DLA-BULB or (215) 737-7950 - The Food Service Technology Center publishes fact sheets and test reports on commercial kitchen equipment.
Phone: (925) 866-2844 - The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers has information on standards, guidelines, and other publications on commercial kitchen equipment.
Phone: (312) 821-0201 - American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has test standards for food service equipment.
Phone: (610) 832-9585 - The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Food Services Technology Center provided supporting analysis for this recommendation.
Phone: (202) 646-7950