GLENVIEW, ILL.—ITW Food Equipment Group has earned the nation’s highest honor for energy efficiency for the 15th consecutive year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it has awarded ITW Food Equipment Group its Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award for 2022. By maintaining a focus on energy savings and efficiency in the manufacturing of food equipment from its family of premium brands—Hobart, Traulsen, Vulcan, Wolf, Baxter and Stero—ITW Food Equipment Group has earned Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence awards since 2010, as well as Energy Star Partner of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009.
Each year, the Energy Star program honors a group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy achievements. Energy Star award winners lead their industries in the production, sale and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies.
“Once again, we’re honored to be recognized by the EPA and Energy Star for the continued development of our energy-efficient products and initiatives,” said Todd Blair, Director of Marketing, ITW Food Equipment Group. “Sustainability is a significant initiative for our brands. We are committed to manufacturing more efficient commercial kitchen equipment for foodservice and food retail professionals, so they can feel confident they are using equipment that decreases impact on the environment as well as improving their bottom line.”
Hundreds of Energy Star Certified Products
ITW Food Equipment Group offered more than 350 Energy Star certified products as of 2021 and is focused on the continued development of next-generation, energy-efficient equipment in 2022, including continuous efficiency improvements at its manufacturing facilities.
Last year saw a significant increase in Energy Star introductions and engagement in the program that led to receiving this award. Nearly every brand sold more Energy Star certified equipment in 2021 than in 2020. Additional 2021 key accomplishments from ITW Food Equipment Group’s energy-efficient equipment and technology included the following:
- The number of Energy Star qualified Stero dishwasher models on the market increased by 17 percent.
- The Traulsen brand participated in three EPA seminars on the new Energy Star 5.0 regulation and provided data testing from their products to give visibility on acceptance limits, product categories and testing procedures for energy.
- The introduction of new cooking models including the Vulcan VEG50 fryer (popular in territories with high Energy Star rebates) and Baxter double and single rack gas ovens. The Baxter oven features a new Smart Touch digital control that simplifies baking operation and reduces energy consumption.
- The Vulcan brand continues to work closely with the Energy Solutions Center, the leading implementer of instant rebates for foodservice cooking equipment, to identify ways to further drive awareness of Energy Star certified products.
- At the Hobart campus in Troy, Ohio, several practical investments were made to improve facility efficiency, including a reduction in facility energy consumption through idling or retiring several pieces of energy-intensive heavy manufacturing equipment. LED light fixtures and bulbs and energy-efficient windows continued to be installed throughout the plant.
“We know it’s going to take all of us working together to tackle the climate crisis, and the 2022 Energy Star award-winning partners are demonstrating what it takes to build a more sustainable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These companies are showing once again that taking action in support of a clean energy economy can be good not only for the environment, but also for business and customers.”
‘Gone Above & Beyond’
The highest honor among Energy Star awards is the Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award. The EPA presents the Sustained Excellence Award to partners who have already received Energy Star Partner of the Year recognition for a minimum of two consecutive years and have gone above and beyond the criteria needed to qualify for recognition.
This year, the EPA celebrates the 30th anniversary of its climate partnership programs, including the 10-year anniversary of its Energy Star Challenge for Industry. Participating manufacturers have achieved 17 million metric tons of greenhouse emissions reductions since Energy Star first offered the challenge. For more information about Energy Star certified foodservice and food retail equipment available from ITW Food Equipment Group, visit www.energystar.gov/products/featured_partner/itw.
For a complete list of 2022 winners and more information about Energy Star’s awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners.
