The Department of Energy has implemented new temperature settings and energy usage regulations for wine refrigerators. For what logical reason you may ask? I couldn’t tell you, and neither can the official document. The federal agency is simply micromanaging, yet again.
According to the rule, compliance is estimated to cost small businesses an average of $12,500 per small business.
The rule notes:
DOE also analyzed the testing cost burden relative to the revenues of small manufacturers. Based on this analysis, DOE estimates that the cost burden for revising representations of coolers ranges from 0.02 to 0.04 percent of annual revenues, depending on the specific small business. DOE concludes that these values are unlikely to represent a significant economic impact for small businesses.
It is designated to “improve energy efficiency” by determining if a refrigeration product, that was formally defined as a cabinet with one or more doors, meets certain prerequisites.
The rule states the wine refrigerators must have:
… a source of refrigeration capable of operating on single-phase, alternating current and is capable of maintaining compartment temperatures either no lower than 39 °F, or in a range that extends no lower than 37 °F but at least as high as 60 °F
The DOE thought it was more suitable to include the phrase “used with one or more doors" because it's "clearer and more direct". It ensures that there is no room for interpretation in terms of what refrigeration items the policy effects. The department wanted to be as clear as possible.
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 was passed in response to the 1973 oil crisis, so I have not one clue as to why refrigeration equipment is mentioned as an item that could be/must be regulated in the first place.