Selection Criteria Refrigerated Display Cabinets

Methodology

Topten.eu presents the most energy efficient commercial display refrigerators and freezers on the European market. All listed products use natural climate-friendly refrigerants.

Scope

The products listed:

• are plug-in and remote cabinets
• are available on the European market
• are for display and selling of foodstuffs
• are separate from beverage coolers (link) and ice cream freezers (link)

Technical criteria

All models on Topten.eu meet the following criteria:

• Natural Refrigerants:
  • Plug-in: utilizes natural refrigerant with global warming potential (GWP) ≤ 3
  • Remote: supports natural refrigerant with global warming potential (GWP) ≤ 3
  • for instance: R290/propane, R600a/isobutane, R744/CO2
• Models are closed. Meaning, they have doors or a lid.
• Maximum energy index as given in the following table:

Energy consumption

• For all types of cabinets (except gelato-scooping cabinets):
  • According to European standard for refrigerated supermarket cabinets EN ISO 23953-2:2015
  • Measurement at climate class 3 (25°C, 60% relative humidity)
  • Temperature class must be one of the following: M0, M1, M2, H1, H2, L1, L2 or L3
• For Gelato-scooping cabinets:
  • According to European standard for refrigerated supermarket cabinets EN 16838
  • Measurement at climate class 4 (30°C, 55% relative humidity)
  • Temperature class must be one of the following: G1, G2, G3, L1, L2, L3, or S (special)

Data sources

Data according to the above standards is provided by manufacturers.

Calculation of the energy efficiency index (EEI)

EEI = (AEC/SAEC)*100 = (TEC * 365 / ((M + N * Y) * 365 * P * C)) * 100

TEC = energy consumption over 24h
TDA = total display area in m2

Order of presentation

Products are ranked according to energy efficiency index (EEI). The order of presentation can be changed by selecting the sort order on the top right above the product list.

Glossary

Brand, Model, Series products

Brand with link to website. All other models (different sizes etc.) that are named meet the Topten technical criteria as well and can be shown individually by checking the box "Show Series Products" on top of the list.

Electricity costs

Costs for electricity during product's life time. Assumptions:

• Typical life time: 8 years
• Annual energy consumption: Value from product list in kWh/year
• Tariff of electricity: 0.3 €/kWh (there however can be large differences depending on country or electrical utility)

Total display area

Total display area (TDA) in m2.

Running meter

Topten defines a running meter or "linear meter" (DE: Laufmeter) as follows: 1 linear meter is defined as the width of the unit front of 100 cm regardless of the unit height.

Net volume, Gross volume

Net / gross volume in liters.

Storage temperatures

Storage temperature range in °C.

Temperature class

Temperatures measured inside the cabinet during the energy consumption test.

Energy efficiency index (EEI)

Calculated as shown above according to the official EU regulation (EU) 2019/2018 with regards to energy labelling of refrigerated display cabinets with a direct sales function.

Energy

Annual energy consumption in kWh/year. Accepted measuring protocols see above

Refrigerant

• R600a (isobutane, natural climate-friendly refrigerant)
• R290 (propane, natural climate-friendly refrigerant)
• R744 (CO2, natural climate-friendly refrigerant)
• Inefficient models: R134a, R404A or R507 (fluorinated refrigerants with high global warming potential)

Cooling

• Static
• Forced-air

Ambient temperature

Suitable ambient temperature range in °C as recommended by the manufacturer.

Dimensions

Width x depth x height in cm.

Countries available

This item displays the availability of models in European countries according to producers’ information. "EU" means that the model is available in all or most European countries. If the model is available in a number of countries only they are indicated by country codes according to ISO. "On demand" means that producers could not indicate the availability and that consumers have to ask in their countries on their own.

Infoplus

Publications

• Energy regulations: Transferring lessons from household to commercial appliances. Maike Hepp, Eric Bush, Hélène Rochat, Nadja Gross. EEDAL 2022, paper and presentation.
• Topten Summary on Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Regulation for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function, Nov. 2020
• Memo on product declaration to Topten
• ProCold Publishable Report, project results 2016-2018, July 2018
• ProCold Technical Report, market overview and development 2016-2018, April 2018

Standards and labels

• European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), CEN-CENELEC

Energy label and ecodesign requirements:

• Commission regulation (EU) 2019/2018 on energy labelling of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function.
• Commission regulation (EU) 2019/2024 with regard to Ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function, 05.12.2019.
• Amendment | Commission regulation (EU) 2021/340, specifying parameters for M0 temperature class devices
• Topten Policy Recommendations for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function from December 2018

Other public product lists with standard data:

• The Energy Technology List: Product lists and selection criteria for 'Refrigerated Display Cabinets' (provided by UK government).
• Energy Rating Australia / New Zealand: Product lists 'Commercial Refrigerators'

Links

• Energy efficiency measures by the European Commission.
• eceee, the European council for an energy efficient economy, provides a status overview on all products in the Ecodesign & Energy Labelling process.
• Coolproducts informs about the EU ecodesign process. It is a coalition of NGOs' campaign for a stronger, fast Ecodesign Directive to save the climate and money.
• ECOS (Ecostandard) is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws.
• EPREL (European Product Registry for Energy Labelling) is the European product database. Products with an energy label are registered in EPREL in order to provide consumers with detailed product information.

Manufacturers and dealers are kindly asked to contact info(at)topten.info to inform about more products meeting the Topten selection criteria.

• Topten Check Excel Display Cabinets - easy check and energy class calculation for appliances
• Submission Excel Display Refrigerators (plug-in) for manufacturers - list your efficient products on Topten
• Submission Excel Display Refrigerators (remote) for manufacturers - list your efficient products on Topten

05/2025 Hepp