11 00 00: Equipment

Crosley offers three washers—two front-load and one top-load—meeting GreenSpec criteria. The washers, with capacities of 3.3–3.9 cubic feet, have MEF ratings of 2.48–3.09, WF ratings of 3.3–3.64, and estimated annual electricity use of 83–123 kWh.

Waste XPress pulper systems from InSinkErator grind commercial kitchen waste and then separate the water from the solids, allowing the relatively dry pulp to be collected for landfill disposal or composting. InSinkErator claims the unit reduces kitchen-waste volume by 85%. The systems are designed to fit beneath a typical dish table in a commercial or institutional kitchen.

Unlike some other pulper systems, Waste Xpress is not designed to connect directly to a composting or biogas unit; the waste needs to be hauled by hand. And although InSinkErator touts the unit's ability to grind jelly packets and other items, these should not be used in the system if the waste will be composted. Policies should be employed to use only organic materials, and signage should be used to help keep non-compostable plastics and other materials out of the waste stream.

Hobart's WastePro 1200 is a commercial food-waste pulper that chops and concentrates waste and removes water in a commercial cafeteria or restaurant. The primary advantages touted by the manufacturer include waste volume reduction (up to 88%), labor savings, and reduced solids delivery to the sewer system, but the WastePro system can also be configured to deliver concentrated organic waste to a composting or biogas digesting system to recover resources from the waste stream. (For use in composting or a digester, policies should be employed to use only biodegradable materials, and signage should be used to help keep non-biodegradable plastics and other materials out of the waste stream.)

Perlick offers a unique 48-inch refrigerator freezer that is listed as a “Most Efficient” product by Energy Star. These 11.2-ft3 units fit under countertops and are powered by a variable speed compressor and are appropriate for those who do not need the capacity of a larger, full-height refrigerator freezer. These higher-end units are relatively expensive.

Maytag manufactures several side-by-side models that meet that meet the Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s (CEE) Tier 3 level for energy efficiency. These extra-large refrigerators come with LED lighting, a “speed-cool” feature that quickly cools the refrigerator after opening, and ethylene gas absorption to help preserve produce.

Electrolux offers side-by-side and French-door refrigerators that meet the Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s (CEE) Tier 3 level for energy efficiency or are listed on Energy Star's Most Efficient Refrigerators and Freezers list. These units are configured with LED lighting, air and water filtration, door alarms, and separate humidity controls for upper and lower produce compartments.

Soler & Palau's MixVent inline duct fans, for small- to medium-sized installations, include four models with efficiency of 4 CFM/W or greater: the TD-100x, TD-125, TD-150, and TD-200. The TD-200 pulls more than 250 CFM, as does the TD-150 on its high-speed setting; this can cause depressurization and backdrafts in other appliances, so design accordingly. MixVent fans are mounted on support brackets from which they can be rotated outward for easy cleaning.

Strahman Valves’ Kwik-Clean 3 low-flow pre-rinse spray valve (model N2180) uses less than 1.0 gpm while cleaning a plate in about 16 seconds, the fastest cleanability of any sprayer measured by the Food Service Technology Center. The Kwik-Clean 3 is made from stainless steel and has three spray options—solid stream, 5° fan, and 15° fan spray patterns. This pre-rinse spray valve is backed by a five-year warranty.

Big Toys playground equipment is made from 100% post-consumer recycled HDPE, wood from FSC-certified producers, and recycled steel. Big Toy components come with various warranties, from two years for moving parts to 50 years for metal and solid plastic components. The company takes its products back for recycling at the end of their useful life.

Liebherr manufactures several energy-efficient refrigerators that meet the Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s (CEE) Tier 3 level and are listed on Energy Stars Most Efficient Refrigerators and Freezers list for refrigerators smaller than 18 ft3. Some of the company’s bottom-freezer refrigerators use as little as 379 kWh/year. The company claims to have been the first appliance manufacturer in the world to completely remove CFCs from its production process, which it did in 1993.

KitchenAid manufactures several lines of standard-capacity, Energy Star listed dishwashers with energy factors (EFs) ranging from 0.75–0.78. The projected energy use for these models ranges from 279–288 kWh/yr, with the dishwashers using 4.03–4.24 gallons/cycle. One compact model, KUDD03ST, has an EF of 1.3 and uses 174 kWh/yr and 2.7 gallons/cycle. KitchenAid dishwashers come in black, biscuit, stainless steel, and white and some models are panel-ready. The dishwashers are covered by a one-year warranty, with a five-year warranty on select parts and a lifetime warranty on the stainless steel tub and the inner door liner.

Aerosolv is a tool that screws onto a 30- to 55-gallon drum and safely punctures aerosol cans, allowing them to drain into the drum. After 15–20 seconds of draining, the steel aerosol can becomes recyclable. The puncturing tool screws onto the 2" bung of the drum, and a filter screws onto the 3/4" bung. The filter should be replaced every nine months, or 2,250 uses, and the Carbon Cartridge, the upper part of the filter, should be replaced every three months, or 750 uses. Aerosolv fits industry standard aerosol cans of any length, and special gaskets are available for cans of a smaller diameter. Aerosolv is the first and only aerosol recovery technology to be certified by the EPA's Environmental Technology Verification Program.

LG Appliances commercial clothes washers use direct drive motors and inverter controls to help them meet CEE Tier 3 high-efficiency specifications and achieve MEF ratings ranging from 2.45 to 2.60 and a WF of 3.7. These clothes washers allow controls to be placed at the top or bottom of the machine to meet different installation needs and can be audited and monitored remotely.

Air-King offers several Energy Star-qualified inline fans, including the 100-CFM AIF4X and 230-CFM AIF6Y. Appropriate for residential or commercial use, the AIF4X installs on four-inch ducts whereas the AIF6Y is designed for six-inch ducts, but both can ventilate multiple rooms (or points), work with variable speed controls, and are efficient enough for continuous ventilation.

The Ventergy VS-6 series of in-line fans provide quiet ventilation at 170 cfm. Efficient enough for continuous use, these fans can be adjusted for variable speeds and come with a motor that is sealed against dust or moisture, so they can be used to ventilate kitchens and baths. The housing is insulated with closed-cell foam, minimizing noise and condensation when installed in uninsulated spaces.