NSF International Receives Approval from the California Energy Commission to Perform Energy Efficiency Testing for the Energy Star Program

Ann Arbor, Mich. (Vocus) May 7, 2010

NSF International has received approval to conduct energy efficiency testing for commercial refrigerators and freezers in support of the Energy Star enhanced program from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and is now able to verify energy claims for this equipment. The Energy Star program currently requires refrigeration equipment manufacturers seeking to use the Energy Star logo to submit test results from an approved laboratory, such as NSF International.

Energy Star is a joint program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program saves consumers money and protects the environment by encouraging the use of energy efficient products and practices. The U.S. EPA has proposed that all commercial foodservice equipment manufacturers seeking certification be required to submit test results from an approved lab under the enhanced Energy Star program.

Initially, NSF will focus on providing energy efficiency testing services for the refrigeration industry. Eligible products will include reach-in, roll-in, or pass-through units; merchandisers; under-counter 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 energy efficiency claims of other commercial foodservice equipment, such as dishwashers and hot food serving equipment.

As a leading developer of foodservice equipment standards and certification programs, NSF also is able to provide sanitation testing and certification for refrigerators and freezers. NSF International can provide a one-stop shop for energy efficiency testing, sanitation testing and certification, which can help save manufacturers time and money.

NSF Internationals sanitation testing and certification program (NSF/ANSI Standard 7 Sanitation Requirements for Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers) covers materials, design, manufacturing, construction, and performance of commercial refrigerators and freezers and their components. The energy efficiency verification process requires performance testing and data verification by an approved laboratory. Appliances that meet all Energy Star energy efficiency guidelines and NSF/ANSI Standard 7 can bear both the Energy Star and NSF logos.

NSF International has a 65-year history in developing food equipment standards, and testing and certifying food equipment, said Nancy Culotta, NSF International Vice President. This approval from CEC to conduct energy efficiency testing now enables NSF to bundle Energy Star efficiency testing with sanitation certification, resulting in both time and cost savings.

The EPA requires all organizations conducting efficiency testing for Energy Star Certification to be approved by the California Energy Commission or the Standards Council of Canada. NSF International followed a rigorous application and auditing process to earn CEC approval. The audit process verified that NSF has the proper procedures and credentials in place to conduct energy efficiency testing. NSF will undergo annual audits through CEC to maintain approval. NSF is also pursuing approval from the Standards Council of Canada for energy efficiency testing.

For more information on NSF Internationals energy efficiency programs, visit http://www.nsf.org/info/energytesting , call (+1) 734-913-5795 or email energytesting(at)nsf(dot)org.

For more information on NSFs food equipment certification services, visit http://www.nsf.org/info/food_equipment .

About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods to minimize adverse health effects (http://www.nsf.org ). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide and operates in more than 120 countries. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

NSF led the development of most American national food equipment standards. NSFs Food Equipment Certification Program, based on those standards, is a voluntary conformity assessment program that includes testing, certification and production facility audits to verify compliance. This evaluation includes examining the materials coming into contact with food and reviewing the construction design against the standard requirements to ensure cleanability and prevent the harborage of bacteria.

The NSF Certification Mark on a food equipment product confirms that NSF has assessed and certified its conformity to the standard. The production facility is audited annually as part of the certification process. When applicable, performance testing is conducted to ensure the equipment operates as required and maintains proper temperature.

Additional NSF services include sustainable standards development and product certification, environmental claims verification, greenhouse gas verification, footprinting and environmental management systems registration; training and education; safety audits for the food and water industries and management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR).

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Top California Dive Bar, Johnny's Saloon, is World's First Pour Your Own PBR Bar

Huntington Beach, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

Johnny's Saloon is a raunchy, 'take us as you find us', neighborhood (award winning) dive-bar known for it's support of veterans, blue collar America and a love of what they do ...100 beers and 100 whiskies, come and get 'em!

This week they added to their unique character by becoming the world's first 'pour your own PBR bar. The addition of two Draft Tables by makers Ellickson USA means that customers can now pour their own PBR right at the table. Each table comes equipped with two taps on a rotating tower so customers simply twist the taps toward themselves and pour.

Managing partner Johnny Nosich commented, "These table taps allow self-serve beer. That along with the best jukebox in OC and the best regulars in the world makes for a pretty awesome time. The i-buttons allowing anyone access to the table, that's of age, is just such a cool feature we couldn't resist spoiling our patrons so we got them in."

When CEO/COO Josh Goodman was asked about the i-button feature he replied, "It's a hardware fob that the customer can attach to their keychain that stores their information. Each beer tap has a receptor that accepts these fobs so customers can open the tap and pour what they would like, up to a two beer limit, and they can taste as many flavors of beer as they have on their tables in the bar. We have also migrated that i-button technology to entire walls of taps we call beer walls in other locations around the US."

Johnny and the team at the saloon maintain that the beer wall is next on their wish list for their lucky beer drinking regulars.

Headquartered in Timonium, MD, Ellickson USA, a subsidiary of Irish Company Ellickson International, was founded in 2009 and provides innovative technologies that enhance the commercial performance and social dynamic of bars, restaurants, hotels and an array of hospitality businesses. Working closely with the hospitality community and world-leading brands including Diageo, Ascon, Coca-Cola, Tesco and GlaxoSmithKline, Ellickson USA supports on-premise owners and beverage brands in several exciting ways: the companys flagship offering, the Draft Table beer dispensing system provides marketing impetus, waste reduction and competitive advantage. Bevdok is the company's latest product introduction poised to deliver strong results against the unsolved, industry-wide issue of unsanitary soda gun dispensers. Cellar Monitor and i-hospitality now in late development stages of market testing and commercialization will also advance premises management in new and dynamic ways.

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