Purchasing Toolkit – Residential Appliances

ENERGY STAR® – Water Coolers

Criteria for ENERGY STAR Qualified Water Coolers

The ENERGY STAR specification is based on total true power (kilowatt-hours) consumed in one 24-hour period.

Water Cooler Category
Water Cooler Category Energy Use Under Test Conditions
(kWh/day)
Cold-Only and Cook-and-Cold Units <= 0.16
Hot-and-Cold Units <= 1.20

Excluded Products: Units that provide pressurized water and are not free standing (i.e., wall mounted, under sink, or otherwise building integrated) are not eligible for ENERGY STAR.

Cost Savings for ENERGY STAR Qualified Water Coolers

Below is a comparison of ENERGY STAR versus non-ENERGY STAR qualified products, based on the ENERGY STAR Simple Savings Calculator, Version 6.0. The calculator allows users to quantify expected energy and cost savings and estimate greenhouse gas emission reductions. This information can be used in business cases comparing ENERGY STAR qualified products and non-qualified products.

Cost-Savings Example
Equipment 200 Hot & Cold Water Coolers (10 year life)
ENERGY STAR Non-ENERGY STAR
Annual Lifetime Annual Lifetime
Energy Consumption
(kWh)		 87,600 876,000 159,273 1,592,727
Energy Cost
(@ 11.6¢/kWh)		 $10,171 $68,249 $18,493 $124,900
Maintenance Cost $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Operating Cost $10,171 $68,249 $18,493 $124,900
Purchase Price   $38,200   $38,200
Total Life-cycle Cost   $106,449   $162,290
Total Energy Savings
(kWh)		 71,673 716,727    
Total Energy and
Maintenance Cost
Savings		 $8,322 $55,840    
Emissions savings
(kg CO2)		 14,335 143,345    
Payback Period 0 years (based on initial purchase price of $191 per unit)

The emissions savings resulting from purchasing 200 ENERGY STAR qualified hot & cold water coolers, instead of 200 non-qualified units, are equivalent to planting 1,405 trees

Sample Procurement Language for ENERGY STAR Qualified Water Coolers

You may wish to use the following procurement language in contracts to ensure you receive ENERGY STAR qualified water coolers. As with all purchases, be sure to ask the appropriate questions to ensure that you get exactly what you want.

The vendor must

  • Provide water coolers that meet the ENERGY STAR specifications for energy efficiency (refer to Criteria above).
  • Ensure that ENERGY STAR qualified models meet user requirements for performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

For bulk purchases and/or lease/maintenance agreements, include the provisions that - where applicable - the vendor must

  • Deliver all qualified products properly configured for current ENERGY STAR specifications.
  • Ensure that installation services include the full activation and proper configuration of any automatic energy-saving, power-down and/or power management features in order to maximize energy efficiency.
  • Ensure that maintenance services include the full re-activation and proper re-configuration of any automatic energy-saving, power-down and/or power management features to the terms of the current ENERGY STAR specifications at the time of service.
  • Customize sites and train users in order to maximize the energy efficiency of installed products.
  • Not disable power-management features except at the specific request of site staff.
  • Provide on-going customer support on all energy-saving, power-down and power management features.

Information Resources for ENERGY STAR Qualified Water Coolers

List of Models

Canada and the United States share ENERGY STAR qualified product lists.

On-line lists of qualified models include the following information:

  1. Water Cooler Type
  2. Company Name
  3. Brand Name
  4. Model Number
  5. Standby Energy Consumption in kWh/day

How to Access

List of models : Water Coolers (U.S.)

Product specifications for water coolers are available on the ENERGY STAR website.

Original Data Source

Data was supplied to EPA by participating manufacturers

Update Frequency

ENERGY STAR criteria are updated as required.

The list of qualified models on the ENERGY STAR website is updated as manufacturers report new information.

Definitions

Water Cooler - A freestanding device that consumes energy to cool and/or heat water for human consumption.

  1. Cold Only Units: These units dispense cold water only. These units have a refrigeration cycle.
  2. Hot and Cold Units: These units dispense both hot and cold water. Some units may have a third room-temperature tap. These units have both an electric resistance heater and a refrigeration cycle.
  3. Cook and Cold Units: These units dispense both cold and room-temperature water. These units have a refrigeration cycle.

Compartment-Type Bottled Water Cooler - A bottled-water cooler which, in addition to the primary function of cooling and dispensing potable water, includes a refrigerated compartment with or without provisions for making ice.

Standby Energy Consumption - The required energy to maintain cold and/or hot water at appropriate dispensing temperatures with no water being withdrawn.

Test Criteria

Tests will focus on overall standby losses, and water will not be withdrawn during the testing procedure.

Product Specification Summary
Name of current
specification		 ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Water Coolers – Eligibility Criteria - Version 1.3
Effective date of current
specification		 January 22, 2010
Notes on future updates  
Reminder: Always check the ENERGY STAR website to ensure you have the most current product specifications and other program information.

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