In This Section:
Energy Star Seeks Input—NOW
NRA Launches Healthcare Alliance
Update: Scottsdale Not Ready To Ban Disposers—Yet
NSF To Verify Energy Star Claims For Refrigeration
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Henny Penny
Industry Report Sponsor: Server Products
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Energy Star Seeks Input—NOW
Here's news on a very short lead time: The Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the Department of Energy, needs your input by June 4. And chances are very high that you'll want to be heard.
As covered in the April 20 edition of FER Fortnightly, EPA and DOE are revamping their procedures for the Energy Star program. As part of that process, they're looking for input from the foodservice industry.
Among the changes, Energy Star will soon be requiring test data on each new model introduced to the market. That involves setting definitions for authorized test facilities. On May 17, EPA distributed documents to stakeholders regarding its Draft Laboratory Requirements. At that time, stakeholders were notified they had less than two weeks to respond, with a deadline of May 28. However, EPA also indicated that for stakeholders requiring addition time, comments submitted as late as June 4 will be considered.
EPA plans to distribute the requirements for third-party certification and verification testing on June 4, and will be requesting comments no later than June 25.
For more information, start at www.energystar.gov/testingandverification, then follow the links. You can offer your comments by e-mailing to ENERGYSTARVerificationProgram@energystar.gov.
The proposed changes are major, and the details of implementation will make enormous differences. FER Fortnightly and our print sister publication, Foodservice Equipment Reports, will continue to cover the topic. Stay tuned.
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NRA Launches Healthcare Alliance
The National Restaurant Association has created a new alliance with one of the country's largest healthcare companies to provide easier access to coverage and related products and services for its membership of nearly one million operators. In partnership with UnitedHealthCare, the NRA is launching the Restaurant Health Care Alliance to provide restaurant owners and employees easier access to cost-effective, health-benefit options. In addition, it will help restaurant owners and employees understand their coverage options as well as tax and eligibility changes that are occurring in 2010 and beyond. The association estimates that between four and six million of the nation's nearly 13 million foodservice industry employees are uninsured at any given time.
The alliance is the result of a two-year development process. Dawn Sweeney, the association's president and CEO, affirmed the NRA's commitment to reducing healthcare costs and expanding coverage for its members, which comprise the nation's second-largest private-sector workforce. Launched May 22, the Restaurant Health Care Alliance is available to restaurant owners and employees, as well as insurance agents and advisers who serve the restaurant industry. Coverage options offered by UnitedHealthcare include significant annual premium savings compared to traditional health plans, and include cost-effective individual and family plans, some of which start under $100 per month. Dental plans and discount health cards will also be available.
More at www.restauranthealthcare.org.
Update: Scottsdale Not Ready To Ban Disposers—Yet
Back in April, we reported on the debate over grease interceptors and banning disposers in Scottsdale, Ariz., due to odor issues in the city's downtown restaurant area. The city has concluded public meetings, but has not yet made a decision. Here's the latest from Suzanne Grendahl, the city's water-quality director. In an e-mail to FER, she said: "We had to push back taking the ordinance changes to City Council until this fall due to multiple factors. We still intend to include a requirement for removal of food disposers, however we are considering including specific alternatives. We have not finalized language yet."
Read our original reporting at www.fermag.com/fortnightly/04.06.10/regulatory/home.htm#scottsdale
NSF To Verify Energy Star Claims For Refrigeration
NSF Int'l. has gotten the green light from the California Energy Commission to conduct energy-efficiency testing and verify energy claims for commercial refrigerators and freezers in support of the Energy Star enhanced program. NSF already provides sanitation testing and certification for refrigerators and freezers. With this approval, the organization can now provide manufacturers a "one-stop shop" for energy-efficiency testing and sanitation testing and certification.
Initially, NSF will focus on energy-efficiency testing services for the refrigeration industry. Eligible products will include reach-in, roll-in, or pass-through units; merchandisers; undercounter units; milk coolers; back-bar coolers; bottle coolers; glass frosters; deep-well units; beer-dispensing or direct-draw units; and bunker freezers. NSF will soon expand this service to verify the energy-efficiency claims of dishwashers and hot food serving equipment.
www.nsf.org/info/energytesting
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