HJRES-24 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers".

YourVoice.Now SummaryEnvironmental Concerns

This resolution nullifies a December 2024 Department of Energy rule that set new minimum energy efficiency standards for commercial walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can vote to void recently issued federal rules within a set window. Manufacturers of walk-in refrigeration units would not be required to meet the higher efficiency thresholds the rule established, and businesses purchasing new units would have access to a wider range of models including less-efficient ones that the rule would have phased out. Walk-in coolers and freezers are large refrigeration systems widely used in grocery stores, restaurants, and food distribution facilities.

Environmental Concerns

DOE efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers — nullifies the December 2024 rule raising minimum efficiency thresholds
Energy consumption limits on commercial refrigeration units — removes the standard that would have reduced electricity use and related emissions

Congressional Summary

This joint resolution eliminates new, more stringent energy conservation standards for certain walk-in coolers and freezers, including the new limits on maximum daily energy consumption for walk-in non-display doors. Under the joint resolution, walk-in non-display doors and walk-in refrigeration systems are no longer required to comply with the new standards.Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers and submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) on December 23, 2024. Under the rule, DOE adopted energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that DOE determined was technologically feasible and economically justified. The rule required walk-in non-display doors to comply with those standards by December 23, 2027, and walk-in refrigeration systems to comply with them by December 31, 2028.

Legislative Subjects

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of EnergyEnergy efficiency and conservationFood industry and servicesLighting, heating, cooling

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Public Law
Action Date: 2025-05-09
Date Added: 2026-06-05
Source: Congress.gov →

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