The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides acquisition guidance for commercial griddles, a product category covered by ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements. Federal laws and requirements mandate that agencies purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified products or FEMP-designated products in all product categories covered by these programs and in any acquisition actions that are not specifically exempted by law.
FEMP's acquisition guidance and associated ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements apply to commercial grade, thermostatically controlled, single- or double-sided, gas and electric griddles. Manually controlled griddles and fry-top ranges are excluded.
Griddles are one of the most common types of commercial kitchen equipment. In the federal sector, these products are typically used in food service operations like cafeterias in General Service Administration (GSA) buildings, kitchens in penitentiaries, and dining halls on military bases.
This acquisition guidance was updated in December 2023.
Find Product Efficiency Requirements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides efficiency specifications and product information for commercial griddles on its ENERGY STAR website. Manufacturers meeting these requirements are allowed to display the ENERGY STAR label on complying models. Get a list of ENERGY STAR-qualified commercial griddles.
FEMP has calculated that the required ENERGY STAR-qualified electric griddle saves money if priced no more than $491 above the less efficient model. The best available model saves up to $1,340. Table 1 compares three types of 36-inch by 24-inch flat-plate electric griddles and calculates the lifetime cost savings of purchasing efficient models. Federal purchasers can assume products that meet ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements are life cycle cost-effective.
| Table 1. Lifetime Savings for Efficient Electric Griddle Models | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Best Available | ENERGY STAR | Less Efficient |
| Idle Energy Rate | 1,680 W | 1,920 W | 2,400 W |
| Annual Energy Use | 6,548 kWh | 7,605 kWh | 8,431 kWh |
| Annual Energy Cost | $549 | $753 | $835 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost | $5,662 | $6,576 | $7,290 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost Savings | $1,628 | $714 | ====== |
Performance Column
Idle Energy Rate: A measure of appliance energy consumption while holding or maintaining a stabilized operating condition or temperature.
Annual Energy Use: Assumes a 36-inch by 24-inch flat-plate electric griddle operated 8 hours per day, 250 days per year, with one preheat cycle, cooking 100 pounds of food per day.
Annual Energy Cost: Calculated based on an assumed electricity price of $0.099/kWh, which is the average electricity price at federal facilities throughout the United States.
Lifetime Energy Cost: The sum of the discounted value of annual energy cost and an assumed product life of 12 years. Future electricity price trends and a 3% discount rate are from Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis–2023: Annual Supplement to NIST Handbook 135 (NISTIR 85-3273-38).
Lifetime Energy Cost Savings: The difference between the lifetime energy cost of the less efficient model and the lifetime energy cost of the ENERGY STAR model or best available model.
Best Available Model Column
Calculated based on the December 2023 ENERGY STAR List of Qualified Products; values shown are rounded to the nearest dollar. More efficient models may be introduced to the market after FEMP's acquisition guidance is posted.
ENERGY STAR Model Column
Calculated based on current ENERGY STAR efficiency levels; values shown are rounded to the nearest dollar. Federal agencies must purchase products that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR efficiency levels.
Less Efficient Model Column
Calculated based on typical products used in non-federal applications.
Determine When ENERGY STAR Products Are Cost-Effective
An efficient product is cost-effective when the lifetime energy savings (from avoided energy costs over the life of the product, discounted to present value) exceed the additional up-front cost (if any) compared to a less efficient option. ENERGY STAR considers up-front costs and lifetime energy savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers can assume ENERGY STAR-qualified products and products that meet FEMP-designated efficiency requirements are life cycle cost-effective. In high-use applications or when energy rates are above the federal average, purchasers may save more if they specify products that exceed federal efficiency requirements (e.g., the best available model).
Contact ENERGY STAR for more information about annual and lifetime cost savings available from ENERGY STAR-certified products.
Purchasing Requirements
Federal laws and requirements mandate that agencies purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified products or FEMP-designated products in all product categories covered by these programs and in any acquisition actions that are not specifically exempted by law.
These mandatory requirements apply to all forms of procurement, including construction guide and project specifications; renovation, repair, energy service, and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts; lease agreements; acquisitions made using purchase cards; and solicitations for offers.
FAR Contract Language
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23.206 requires agencies to insert the clause at FAR section 52.223-15 into contracts and solicitations that deliver, acquire, furnish, or specify energy-consuming products for use in federal government facilities.
To comply with FAR requirements, FEMP recommends that agencies incorporate efficiency requirements into technical specifications, the evaluation criteria of solicitations, and the evaluations of solicitation responses.
Products meeting ENERGY STAR or FEMP-designated efficiency requirements may not be life cycle cost-effective in certain low-use applications or in locations with very low rates for electricity or natural gas. However, for most applications, purchasers will find that energy-efficient products have the lowest life cycle cost.
Agencies may claim an exception to federal purchasing requirements through a written finding that no FEMP-designated or ENERGY STAR-qualified product is available to meet functional requirements, or that no such product is life cycle cost-effective for the specific application. Learn more about federal product purchasing requirements.
Federal Supply Sources and Product Codes
The federal supply sources for energy-efficient products are the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide programs that help federal agencies buy products with positive environmental attributes.
Identification codes for product categories covered by sustainable acquisition requirements are provided by DLA and the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC).
Under the Multiple Award Schedule program, GSA issues long-term governmentwide contracts that provide access to commercial products, services, and solutions at pre-negotiated pricing.
TAKE ACTION
- Review the Multiple Award Schedule program.
- Visit the GSA Advantage! online shopping network.
- Learn about efficient, healthy buildings and environmentally responsible purchasing from the Sustainable Facilities (SF) Tool.
- Review the Multiple Award Schedule program.
DLA offers products through the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and online through FedMall (formerly DOD EMALL).
TAKE ACTION
- Visit FedMall.
Products sold through DLA are codified with a 13-digit National Stock Number (NSN) and, in some cases, a two-letter Environmental Attribute Code (ENAC). The ENAC identifies items that have positive environmental characteristics and meet standards set by an approved third party, such as FEMP and ENERGY STAR.
USDA's BioPreferred Program was created to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. Federal law, the FAR, and Presidential Executive Orders direct that all federal agencies and their contractors purchase biobased products in categories identified by USDA.
TAKE ACTION
EPA offers several resources for choosing which products to buy. The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program helps federal government purchasers utilize private sector standards and ecolabels to identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services.
TAKE ACTION
- Learn more about the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program.
- Review federal purchasing specifications, standards, and ecolabels.
- Get an overview of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) and procuring environmentally preferable electronic products.
- Learn more about the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program.
UNSPSC is a worldwide classification system for e-commerce. It contains more than 50,000 commodities, including many used in the federal sector, each with a unique eight-digit, four-level identification code. Manufacturers and vendors are beginning to adopt the UNSPSC classification convention and electronic procurement systems are beginning to include UNSPSC tracking in their software packages. UNSPSCs can help the federal acquisition community identify product categories covered by sustainable acquisition requirements, track purchases of products within those categories, and report on progress toward meeting sustainable acquisition goals.
TAKE ACTION
- Review FEMP's table of product codes for ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated covered product categories.
Commercial Griddle Schedules and Product Codes
GSA offers commercial griddles through the Multiple Award Schedule Food Service Equipment 336999.
The UNSPSC for commercial-use griddles is 48101511.
Buyer Tips: Make Informed Product Purchases
Look for griddles with technologies that improve efficiency and cooking performance, such as infrared burners, steam power, heat pipes, or pulse combustion. For example, chrome griddles radiate up to 50% less heat into the kitchen than standard griddles, thus reducing air conditioning loads and keeping the kitchen more comfortable. Griddles produce less smoke and heat than char broilers and offer a low-cost alternative in some kitchens.
In high-production facilities like dining halls, consider double-sided griddles, which have higher cooking efficiencies and lower idle energy rates. Cooking times are reduced by about half because these products heat from both the top and bottom, which could also translate into faster service.
Many states and electric utilities offer rebates or other incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products. Use the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder to see if your local utility offers these incentives. FEMP’s Energy Incentive Program helps federal agencies take advantage of these incentives by providing information about the funding-program opportunities available in each state.
User Tips: Use Products More Efficiently
Idle or standby energy consumption is a significant portion (up to 40%) of griddle energy use. Griddles should be turned off when not in use, as most take less than 15 minutes to preheat. For griddles with multiple sections, turn off unused sections during slow periods. Double-sided griddles should have their tops down when not in use to improve insulation and heat retention.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided supporting analysis for this acquisition guidance.