Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
Manufacturers have been required to comply with the Department of Energy's (DOE) energy conservation standards for certain automatic commercial ice makers since 2010. Automatic commercial ice makers make and harvest cube, flake, tube, and nugget ice. Ice makers are used in hotels, hospitals, schools, office buildings, supermarkets, and other facilities where foods and beverages are served or sold.
The current standard will save approximately 0.14 quads of energy and result in approximately $1.4 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2010-2034. The standard will avoid about 7.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 1.5 million automobiles.
On December 31, 2014 the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE" or "the Department") completed a rulemaking to update the energy conservation standard for automatic commercial ice makers (ACIM). The new standards, with a compliance date of January 1, 2018, will save approximately 0.2 quads of energy and result in approximately $2 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped between 2018 and 2047. The standard will avoid about 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the electricity use of 1.5 million households.
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DOE published a final rule regarding energy conservation standards for automatic commercial ice makers. 80 FR 4645 (January 28, 2015). For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
Standards for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
The following content summarizes the energy conservation standards for automatic commercial ice makers. The text is not an official reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations and should not be used for legal research or citation.
Current Standard
The current standards for automatic commercial ice-making equipment cover maximum energy use and maximum condenser water use of cube ice machines with harvest rates between 50 and 2,500 lb of ice per day. They do not apply to flake or nugget ice machines. Automatic commercial ice makers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 431.136, effective January 2010. This information is also available in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for Cube Type Automatic Commercial Ice Makers Effective January 2010
| Equipment Type |
Type of Cooling |
Harvest Rate
lb ice/24 hours |
Maximum Energy Use
kWh/100 lb ice |
Maximum Condenser Water Use*
gal/100 lb ice |
| Ice-Making Head |
Water |
<500 |
7.80 - 0.0055H |
200 - 0.022H |
5 500
and <1,436 |
5.58 - 0.0011H |
200 - 0.022H |
| 1,436 |
4.0 |
200 - 0.022H |
| Air |
<450 |
10.26 - 0.0086H |
Not Applicable |
| 450 |
6.89 - 0.0011H |
Not Applicable |
| Remote Condensing (but not remote compressor) |
Air |
<1,000 |
8.85 - 0.0038H |
Not Applicable |
| 1,000 |
5.10 |
Not Applicable |
| Remote Condensing and Remote Compressor |
Air |
<934 |
8.85 - 0.0038H |
Not Applicable |
| 934 |
5.3 |
Not Applicable |
| Self-Contained |
Water |
<200 |
11.40 - 0.019H |
191 - 0.0315H |
| 200 |
7.60 |
191 - 0.0315H |
| Air |
<175 |
18.0 - 0.0469H |
Not Applicable |
| 175 |
9.80 |
Not Applicable |
H Harvest rate in pounds per 24 hours.
* Water use is for the condenser only and does not include potable water used to make ice.
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
Amended New Standards
Beginning in January, 2018, automatic commercial ice-making equipment producing cube ice with harvest rates between 50 and 2,500 lb of ice per day shall meet the amended energy consumption standards shown on Table 2. Standards shown on Table 2 for batch type ice-makers represent amendments to existing standards set for cube type ice makers, and new standards for cube type ice makers with expanded harvest capacities up to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hour period (lb ice/24 hours) and an explicit coverage of other types of batch machines, such as tube type ice makers.
Table 2. Energy Conservation Standards for Batch Type Automatic Commercial Ice Makers Effective January 2018
| Equipment Type |
Type of Cooling |
Harvest Rate
lb ice/24 hours |
Maximum Energy Use
kWh/100 lb ice* |
Maximum Condenser Water Use
gal/100 lb ice** |
|---|
| Ice-Making Head |
Water |
<300 |
6.88 - 0.0055H |
200 - 0.022H |
| 300 and <850 |
5.80 - 0.00191H |
200 - 0.022H |
850 and <1,500
|
4.42 - 0.00028H |
200 - 0.022H
|
| 1500 and <2,500 |
4.0 |
200 - 0.022H |
| 2500 and <4,000 |
4.0 |
145 |
| Ice-Making Head |
Air |
<300 |
10 - 0.01233H |
Not Applicable |
| 300 and <800 |
7.05 - 0.0025H |
Not Applicable |
| 800 and <1500 |
5.55 - 0.00063H |
Not Applicable |
| 1500 and <4,000 |
4.61 |
Not Applicable
|
| Remote Condensing (but not remote compressor) |
Air |
50 and <1,000 | 7.97 - 0.00342H |
Not Applicable |
| 1,000 and <4,000 |
4.55 |
Not Applicable |
| Remote Condensing and Remote Compressor |
Air |
<942 |
7.97 - 0.00342H |
Not Applicable |
| 942 and <4,000 |
4.75 |
Not Applicable |
| Self-Contained |
Water |
<200 |
9.5 - 0.019H |
191 - 0.0315H |
| 200 and <2,500 | 5.7 | 191 - 0.0315H |
| 2500 and <4,000 |
5.7 |
112 |
| Self-Contained |
Air |
<110 |
14.79 - 0.0469H |
Not Applicable |
| 110 and <200 |
12.42 - 0.02533H |
Not Applicable |
| 200 and <4,000 |
7.35 |
Not Applicable |
*H = harvest rate in pounds per 24 hours, indicating the water or energy use for a given harvest rate. Source: 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)
** Water use is for the condenser only and does not include potable water used to make ice.
The December 2014 Final Rule provides new standards for continuous type ice-making machines, which were not previously currently covered by DOE’s existing standards. Beginning in January, 2018, each automatic commercial ice maker producing flake or nugget ice (and other ice produced by way of continuous processes) shall meet the energy consumption standards shown on Table 3.
Table 3. Energy Conservation Standards for Continuous Type Automatic Commercial Ice Makers Effective January 2018
| Equipment Type |
Type of Cooling |
Harvest Rate
lb ice/24 hours |
Maximum Energy Use
kWh/100 lb ice* |
Maximum Condenser Water Use
gal/100 lb ice** |
|---|
| Ice-Making Head |
Water |
<801 |
6.48 - 0.00267H |
180 - 0.0198H |
| 801 and <2,500 |
4.34 |
180 - 0.0198H |
2,500 and <4,000
|
4.34 |
130.5 |
| Ice-Making Head |
Air |
<310 |
9.19 - 0.00629H |
Not Applicable |
| 310 and <820 |
8.23 - 0.0032H |
Not Applicable |
| 820 and <4,000 |
5.61 |
Not Applicable |
| Remote Condensing (but not remote compressor) |
Air |
<800 | 9.7 - 0.0058H |
Not Applicable |
| 800 and <4,000 |
5.06 |
Not Applicable |
| Remote Condensing and Remote Compressor |
Air |
<800 |
9.9 - 0.0058H |
Not Applicable |
| 800 and <4,000 |
5.26 |
Not Applicable |
| Self-Contained |
Water |
<900 |
7.6 - 0.00302H |
153 - 0.0252H |
| 900 and <2,500 | 4.88 | 153 - 0.0252H |
| 2500 and <4,000 |
4.88 |
90 |
| Self-Contained |
Air |
<200 |
14.22 - 0.03H |
Not Applicable |
| 200 and <700 |
9.47 - 0.00624H |
Not Applicable |
| 700 and <4,000 |
5.1 |
Not Applicable |
*H = harvest rate in pounds per 24 hours, indicating the water or energy use for a given harvest rate. Source: 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)
** Water use is for the condenser only and does not include potable water used to make ice.
Current Test Procedure
To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 431.134 for automatic commercial ice makers manufactured or distributed into commerce. These are also in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of these test procedures, visit Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions.
Amended Test Procedure
DOE published amended test procedures for automatic commercial ice makers on January 11, 2012. Manufacturers must use the amended test procedures beginning January 7, 2013.
Waivers
Test procedure waivers have not been issued for automatic commercial ice makers. For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 431 subpart V.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for automatic commercial ice makers. For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
State Exemptions to Federal Preemption
DOE has not exempted any states from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR 431 subpart V or 10 CFR 431 subpart W.
Part A–1, "Certain Industrial Equipment," of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, gives DOE authority to develop test procedures and promulgate energy conservation standards for automatic commercial ice makers. (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317)
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended EPCA and prescribed energy conservation standards and test procedures for certain cube type automatic commercial ice makers. EPCA also directs DOE to issue, by January 1, 2015, a final rule to determine whether amending the standards set by EPCA is technologically feasible and economically justified. In addition, EPCA granted DOE authority to set standards for additional types of automatic commercial ice makers. (42 U.S.C. 6313(d)). DOE completed a rulemaking concerning these amendments on December 31, 2014.
Helpful Links and Contact Information
Helpful Links
To find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySaver.gov.
DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR® products in close collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR-qualified automatic commercial ice machines are on average 15 percent more energy efficient and 10 percent more water efficient than standard models.
For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:
automatic_commercial_ice_makers@ee.doe.gov
