8-i 

CHAPTER 8. LIFE-CYCLE COST AND PAYBACK PERIOD ANALYSIS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 8-1

8.1.1 General Approach for Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis ................... 8-1

8.1.2 Overview of Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Inputs ...................................... 8-3

8.2 LIFE-CYCLE COST INPUTS ........................................................................................... 8-7

8.2.1 Definition ................................................................................................................ 8-7

8.2.2 Total Installed-Cost Inputs ...................................................................................... 8-8

8.2.2.1 Baseline Energy Consumption and Manufacturer Selling Price.............. 8-8

8.2.2.2 Candidate Standard-Level Energy Consumption and Manufacturer Selling 

Price Increases ...................................................................................................... 8-10

8.2.2.3 Overall Markup ...................................................................................... 8-12

8.2.2.4 Installation Cost ..................................................................................... 8-12

8.2.2.5 Weighted Average Total Installed Cost ................................................. 8-13

8.2.3 Operating-Cost Inputs ........................................................................................... 8-16

8.2.3.1 Electricity Price Analysis ....................................................................... 8-16

8.2.3.2 Electricity Price Trend ........................................................................... 8-18

8.2.3.3 Repair Cost............................................................................................. 8-19

8.2.3.4 Maintenance Cost................................................................................... 8-19

8.2.3.5 Lifetime .................................................................................................. 8-20

8.2.3.6 Discount Rate ......................................................................................... 8-20

8.2.3.7 Compliance Date of Standard ................................................................ 8-23

8.3 PAYBACK PERIOD INPUTS ......................................................................................... 8-23

8.3.1 Definition .............................................................................................................. 8-23

8.3.2 Inputs..................................................................................................................... 8-24

8.4 LIFE-CYCLE COST AND PAYBACK PERIOD RESULTS ......................................... 8-24

8.4.1 Life-Cycle Cost Results ........................................................................................ 8-24

8.4.2 Payback Period Results ......................................................................................... 8-28

8.4.3 Rebuttable Presumption Payback Period .............................................................. 8-31

8.5 DETAILED RESULTS .................................................................................................... 8-32

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 8-34
8-ii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 8.1.1 Summary Information of Inputs for the Determination of Life-Cycle Cost and 

Payback Period..................................................................................................... 8-7

Table 8.2.1 Inputs for Total Installed Costs ................................................................................. 8-8

Table 8.2.2 Equipment Classes Evaluated for the Automatic Commercial Ice-Making Equipment 

Standard Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis ..................................... 8-9

Table 8.2.3 Baseline Energy Consumption Levels and Estimated MSP Values for the 

Representative Automatic Commercial Ice-Making Equipment Units of All 21 

Primary Equipment Classes ............................................................................... 8-10

Table 8.2.4 Baseline Manufacturer Selling Prices for Representative Automatic Commercial IceMaking Equipment Units of the 21 Primary Equipment Classes and Incremental 

Manufacturer Selling Prices for All Efficiency Levels Within the Equipment 

Classes................................................................................................................ 8-11

Table 8.2.5 Energy Consumption Values for Representative Automatic Commercial Ice-Making 

Equipment Units of the 21 Primary Equipment Classes and All Efficiency Levels 

Within the Equipment Classes ........................................................................... 8-12

Table 8.2.6 Installation Cost Indices (National Value = 100.0) ................................................ 8-13

Table 8.2.7 Costs and Markups for Determination of Weighted Average Total Installed Costs 

(IMH-A-Small-B) .............................................................................................. 8-14

Table 8.2.8 Weighted Average Equipment Price, Installation Cost, and Total Installed Costs for 

IMH-A-Small-B at U.S. Average Conditions (2010$)* .................................... 8-15

Table 8.2.9 Inputs Used to Determine Operating Costs ............................................................ 8-16

Table 8.2.10 Commercial Electricity Prices by State (2010 cents/kWh) .................................. 8-17

Table 8.2.11 Derived National Average Commercial Electricity Prices and Ratios by Business 

Type ................................................................................................................... 8-18

Table 8.2.12 Annualized Maintenance Costs by Equipment Class for Each Efficiency Level . 8-20

Table 8.2.13 Derivation of Typical Discount Rates by Building Type* ................................... 8-23

Table 8.4.1 LCC Savings Distribution Results for Equipment Class IMH-A-Small-B ............ 8-26

Table 8.4.2 Mean LCC Savings for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels ................. 8-27

Table 8.4.3 Median LCC Savings for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels .............. 8-28

Table 8.4.4 Payback Period Distribution Results for IMH-A-Small-B ..................................... 8-29

Table 8.4.5 Mean Payback Period for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels .............. 8-30

Table 8.4.6 Median Payback Period for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels ........... 8-31

Table 8.4.7 Rebuttable Presumption Payback Periods by Efficiency Level and Equipment Class

............................................................................................................................ 8-32

Table 8.5.1 Summary of Results of LCC and PBP Analysis for IMH-A-Small-B Equipment 

Class ................................................................................................................... 8-33
8-iii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 8.1.1 Flow Diagram of Inputs for the Determination of Life-Cycle Cost and Payback 

Period ................................................................................................................... 8-6

Figure 8.2.1 Electricity Price Trends for Commercial Rates to 2045 ........................................ 8-19

Figure 8.4.1 LCC and Installed Cost Variation over Efficiency Levels for IMH-A-Small-B 

Equipment Class ................................................................................................ 8-25

Figure 8.4.2 Ranges of LCC Savings for All the Efficiency Levels for the Equipment Class IMHA-Small-B .......................................................................................................... 8-26

Figure 8.4.3 Mean Payback Period for All Efficiency Levels for the Equipment Class IMH-ASmall-B .............................................................................................................. 8-29
8-1 

CHAPTER 8. LIFE-CYCLE COST AND PAYBACK PERIOD ANALYSIS

8.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter describes the analysis the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has carried out 

to evaluate the economic impacts of possible energy conservation standards developed for 

automatic commercial ice makers on individual commercial customers, henceforth referred to as 

customers. The effect of standards on customers includes changes in operating costs (usually 

decreased) and changes in purchase costs (usually increased). This chapter describes two metrics 

used to determine the effect of standards on customers: 

• Life-cycle cost (LCC). The total customer cost over the life of the equipment is the sum 

of installed cost (purchase and installation cost) and operating costs (maintenance, repair, 

water,

a and energy costs). Future operating costs are discounted to the time of purchase, 

and summed over the lifetime of equipment. 

• Payback period (PBP). Payback period is the estimated amount of time it takes 

customers to recover the assumed higher purchase price of more energy efficient 

equipment through lower (undiscounted) operating costs. 

An efficiency improvement in automatic commercial ice makers that is financially 

attractive to a customer will typically have a low PBP and a low LCC associated with it. 

The remainder of this section outlines the general approach and provides an overview of 

the inputs to the LCC and PBP analysis of automatic commercial ice makers. Inputs to the LCC 

and PBP analysis are discussed in detail in sections 8.2 and 8.3. Results for the LCC and PBP 

analysis are presented in sections 8.4 and 8.5. 

DOE performed the calculations discussed in this chapter using a series of Microsoft 

Excelspreadsheets, which are available at 

(www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/automatic_ice_making_equi

pment.html). Appendix 8A includes instructions for using the spreadsheets. Appendix 8B 

presents the detailed results.

8.1.1 General Approach for Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis 

This section summarizes DOE’s approach to the LCC and PBP analysis for automatic 

commercial ice makers. 

As part of the engineering analysis (chapter 5 of the preliminary technical support 

document (preliminary TSD)), DOE explored various efficiency levels based on increasing 

efficiency (decreased energy consumption) and, typically, increasing manufacturer selling price 

(MSP) values. For the LCC and PBP analysis, DOE choose a maximum of seven levels, referred 

to herein as efficiency levels. DOE treats the efficiency levels as candidate standard levels, as 

each higher efficiency level represents a potential new standard level. 

 

a Water costs, as used in this chapter, are the total of water and wastewater costs. Wastewater utilities tend to not 

meter customer wastewater flows, and base billings on water commodity billings. For this reason, water usage is 

used as the basis for both water and wastewater costs, and the two are aggregated in the LCC and PBP analysis.
8-2 

The first efficiency level (Level 1) in each equipment class is the least efficient and the 

least expensive equipment in that equipment class. The higher efficiency levels (Level 2 and up) 

have a progressive increase in efficiency and equipment cost from Level 1. The highest 

efficiency level in each equipment class corresponds to the maximum efficiency level obtainable 

with non-proprietary technology and without increasing the footprint of the equipment (see 

preliminary TSD chapter 5 for details). 

The installed cost of equipment to a customer is the sum of the equipment purchase price 

and installation cost. The purchase price includes manufacturer production cost (MPC), to which 

a manufacturer markup is applied to obtain the MSP. DOE calculated this value as part of the 

engineering analysis (chapter 5 of the preliminary TSD). DOE then applied additional markups 

to the equipment to account for the markups associated with the distribution channels for this 

type of equipment (chapter 6 of the preliminary TSD). Installation costs vary by state depending 

on the prevailing labor rates. 

Operating costs for automatic commercial ice makers are the sum of maintenance costs, 

repair costs, energy costs, and water costs. Customers incur these costs over the life of the 

equipment. To facilitate cost comparisons, DOE discounted operating costs to the discount year

(2016, which is the effective date of the standards that will be established as part of this 

rulemaking). The sum of the installed cost and the operating costs, discounted to reflect the 

present value, is termed the life-cycle cost or LCC.

Generally, customers incur higher installed costs when they purchase higher efficiency 

equipment, and these cost increments will be partially or wholly offset by savings in the 

operating costs over the lifetime of the equipment. Usually, the savings in operating costs are due 

to savings in energy costs because higher efficiency equipment uses less energy over the lifetime 

of the equipment. The LCC of higher efficiency equipment can be lower compared to lower

efficiency equipment. DOE calculated the change in LCC for each efficiency level of each 

equipment class.

DOE obtained the PBP of higher efficiency equipment by dividing the increase in the 

installed cost by the decrease in annual operating cost, and compared each to the value of these 

parameters for the baseline unit. For this calculation, DOE used the sum of the first year 

operating cost changes as the estimate of the annual decrease in operating cost, noting that some 

of the repair and maintenance costs used herein are annualized estimates of costs. DOE 

calculated a PBP for each efficiency level of each equipment class. 

Apart from MSP, installation costs, and maintenance and repair costs, other important 

inputs for the LCC and PBP analysis are distribution chain markups and sales tax, equipment 

energy and water consumption, latest available electricity and water prices and future price 

trends, equipment lifetime, and discount rates. 

DOE estimated many inputs for the LCC and PBP analysis from the best available data, 

and in some cases DOE used inputs that are generally accepted values within the automatic 

commercial ice maker industry. In general, there is uncertainty associated with most of the inputs 

as it is often difficult to obtain a single representative value for a given input. Therefore, DOE 

carried out the LCC and PBP analysis in the form of Monte Carlo simulations using ranges of 
8-3 

values and probability distributions for certain inputs that account for the uncertainties. DOE 

presents the results of the LCC and PBP analysis in the form of mean and median LCC savings; 

percentages of customers experiencing net savings, net cost, and no impact in LCC; and median 

PBP. For each equipment class, DOE carried out 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations using 

Microsoft Excel and Crystal Ball, a commercially available Excel add-in for performing Monte 

Carlo simulations. 

DOE calculated LCC savings and PBP by comparing the installed costs and LCC values 

of a given standards scenario against those of the base-case scenario. The base-case scenario is 

the scenario in which customers purchase equipment in the absence of the proposed energy 

conservation standard. A standards-case scenario is a scenario in which customers purchase 

equipment after the hypothetical energy conservation standard goes into effect. The number of 

standards scenarios for an equipment class is equal to one less than the total number of efficiency 

levels in that equipment class because each efficiency level above Efficiency Level 1 represents 

a potential new standard. Usually, the market will offer equipment at various efficiencies. 

Therefore, for both the base-case and the standards-case scenarios in the LCC and PBP analysis, 

DOE calculates the market shares of the efficiency levels using a method described in 

preliminary TSD chapter 10. 

Different types of buildings and industries face different energy prices, and apply 

different discount rates to purchase decisions. DOE analyzed variability and uncertainty by 

performing the LCC and PBP calculations for seven types of buildings: health care, lodging, 

foodservice, retail, education, food sales, and offices. 

There is a general consensus among industry stakeholders that the typical equipment 

lifetime is approximately 7 to 10 years with an average of 8.5 years. There was no data or 

comment to suggest that lifetimes are unique to each equipment class. Therefore, DOE assumed 

a distribution of equipment lifetimes that is defined by Weibull survival functions, with an

average value of 8.5 years (see section 8.2.3.5). 

Another important factor influencing the LCC and PBP analysis is the location in which 

the automatic commercial ice maker is installed. Inputs that vary by location include installation 

costs, water and energy prices, and sales tax (plus the associated distribution chain markups). At 

the national level, DOE explicitly modeled variability in water price, electricity price, and 

markups using probability distributions based on the relative populations in all states. 

Results of the LCC and PBP analysis are presented at the end of this chapter and in 

appendix 8B. 

8.1.2 Overview of Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Inputs

DOE categorized inputs to the LCC and PBP analysis as: (1) inputs for establishing the 

total installed cost; and (2) inputs for calculating operating costs. 
8-4 

The primary inputs for establishing the total installed cost are:

• Baseline manufacturer selling price: The price charged by the manufacturer (when 

selling to either a wholesaler or customer) for equipment meeting the baseline efficiency 

level. The MSP includes a manufacturer’s markup, which converts the MPC to MSP. 

• Price learning: A method of adjusting the MSP over time to account for increasing cost 

efficiency in the production of automatic commercial ice-making equipment. DOE

assumed that, with time and experience, the real cost of producing equipment will 

decrease marginally. 

• Candidate standard level manufacturer selling price increase: The incremental change in 

MSP associated with producing equipment at a given higher efficiency level. 

• Markups and sales tax: The distribution chain markups and sales tax used to convert the 

MSP to a customer purchase price. Preliminary TSD chapter 6 presents the methodology 

used to determine markups and sales taxes. 

• Installation cost: The cost to the customer of installing the equipment, not including the 

equipment cost. DOE assumed the cost of installation as a one-time cost, and it is 

intended to represent the cost of labor, overhead, and other miscellaneous materials and 

parts.

The primary inputs for calculating the operating costs are:

• Equipment energy consumption: The energy consumed by an automatic commercial ice

maker to produce 100 lb of ice, expressed in kilowatt-hours. DOE calculated this value as 

part of the engineering analysis for each candidate standard level in each equipment class. 

• Equipment water consumption: The amount of condenser water (used to cool refrigerant 

in the open-loop condenser system) and potable water (used to form ice) to produce 100 

lb of ice, expressed in gallons. DOE calculated this value as part of the engineering 

analysis (preliminary TSD chapter 7) for each candidate standard level in each equipment 

class.

• Electricity price: The price per kilowatt-hour, in cents or dollars, paid by each customer 

for electricity. DOE used average commercial electricity prices in each state, as 

determined from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) form 861 data for 2009. 

DOE adjusted 2009 to 2010 dollars using price deflators from EIA’s Annual Energy 

Outlook 20111

 (AEO2011). DOE then adjusted the average commercial prices to reflect 

the fact that the seven types of businesses analyzed pay electricity prices that are different

from average commercial prices. Section 8.2.3.1 details the development of electricity 

prices and the data sources used. 

• Water and wastewater prices: DOE combined the prices for water and wastewater in 

dollars per 1,000 gallons. DOE used price data from the 2010 American Water Works 

Water and Wastewater Survey.9 No data existed that disaggregated water prices for 

individual building types, so DOE varied prices by state only and not by building type 

within a state. Section 8.2.3.1 details the development of prices and the data sources used. 
8-5 

• Electricity price trends: DOE used the EIA’s AEO2011 to forecast electricity prices. For 

the results presented in this chapter, DOE used the regional prices from the AEO2011 

reference case to forecast future electricity prices. 

• Water and wastewater price trends: DOE used the Consumer Price Index data for water 

related consumption (1970–2010) in developing a real growth rate for water and 

wastewater price forecasts. 

• Maintenance costs: DOE calculated maintenance costs as an annual expense representing 

the estimated labor and materials costs associated with maintaining the operation of the 

equipment. 

• Repair costs: DOE calculated the cost for repairs as an annual expense, representing the 

estimated labor and materials costs associated with repairing or replacing components 

that have failed.

• Equipment lifetime: The typical age at which the automatic commercial ice-making 

equipment is retired from service.

• Discount rate: The rate at which future costs are discounted to establish their present 

value.

Figure 8.1.1 depicts the relationships between the installed cost and operating cost inputs 

for the calculation of the LCC and PBP and how those costs vary with increasing efficiency. 

Table 8.1.1 summarizes the characteristics of the inputs to the LCC and PBP analysis, and lists 

the corresponding reference chapter in the preliminary TSD for details on the calculation of the 

inputs. 
8-6 

Figure 8.1.1 Flow Diagram of Inputs for the Determination of Life-Cycle Cost and Payback 

Period

Baseline

Manufacturer

Selling Price

Std-Level

Manufacturer

Selling Price

Installation

Cost

From 

Engineering 

Analysis

(Price is a 

Function of 

Efficiency)

From Markups 

for Equipment 

Price 

Determination 

Analysis

Repair Cost

Maintenance

Cost

Lifetime

Discount Rates

Electricity and 

Water Price 

Trends

From Energy Use 

Analysis 

Energy and 

Water 

Consumption

Electricity and

Distributor

Markup

Sales Tax

Mechanical

Contractor

Markup

Customer

Price

Data Inputs

Intermediate Analysis

Output Results

Total Installed

Cost

Annual

Operating

Expense

Lifetime

Operating

Expense

Payback

Period

Life -Cycle

Cost

Water Prices

Annual Energy 

and Water Cost
8-7 

Table 8.1.1 Summary Information of Inputs for the Determination of Life-Cycle Cost and 

Payback Period

Input Description TSD Chapter Reference

Total Installed Cost Primary Inputs

Baseline MSP Varies with equipment class. Chapter 5

Candidate standard level 

MSP increases

Vary with equipment class and candidate standard level

within an equipment class.

Chapter 5

Markups and sales tax Markups vary with distribution channel and sales tax 

varies with location (state) where equipment is installed.

Chapter 6

Installation price Vary with equipment class and state. Chapter 8

Operating Cost Primary Inputs

Equipment energy and 

water consumption

Varies with equipment class and candidate standard level

within an equipment class.

Chapter 5

Electricity and 

water/wastewater prices

Vary with location, building type. Chapter 8

Electricity and 

water/wastewater price 

trends

Vary with location (regional) and price scenario. Chapter 8

Maintenance costs Vary with equipment class and state. Chapter 8

Repair costs Vary with equipment class and state. Chapter 8

Lifetime Mean assumed to be 8.5 years for all equipment. Chapters 3, 8

Discount rate Varies with type of business. Chapter 8

All of the inputs depicted in Figure 8.1.1 and summarized in Table 8.1.1 are discussed in 

sections 8.2 and 8.3. 

8.2 LIFE-CYCLE COST INPUTS

8.2.1 Definition

Life-cycle cost is the total customer cost over the life of a piece of equipment, including 

equipment cost, installation cost, and operating costs (energy and water costs, maintenance costs, 

and repair costs). DOE discounted future operating costs to the time of purchase and summed 

costs over the lifetime of the equipment. Life-cycle cost is defined by the following equation: 

∑=

+= +

N

t

t

t ICLCC OC r

1

/( )1

Eq. 8.1 

Where: 

LCC = life-cycle cost ($), 

IC = total installed cost ($), 

N = lifetime of equipment (years)b

, 

OCt = operating cost ($) of the equipment in year t, 

r = discount rate, and

t = year for which operating cost is being determined.

 

b Though the average equipment life is 8.5 years, the model uses a range of years to calculate the equipment lifetime. 
8-8 

Because DOE gathered most of its data for the LCC analysis in 2010, DOE expressed all 

costs in 2010$. Total installed cost, operating cost, lifetime, and discount rate are discussed in 

the following sections. In the LCC analysis, DOE assumed that the first year of equipment 

purchase is 2016, the presumed compliance date for standards set as a result of this rulemaking. 

8.2.2 Total Installed-Cost Inputs

The following equation defines the total installed cost:

IC EQP += INST

Eq. 8.2 

Where: 

EQP = customer purchase price for the equipment ($), and

INST= installation cost or the customer price to install equipment ($).

DOE based the equipment price on the distribution channel through which the customer 

purchases the equipment, as discussed in preliminary TSD chapter 6. 

The remainder of this section provides information about the variables DOE used to 

calculate the total installed cost for automatic commercial ice-making equipment. Table 8.2.1

shows the inputs used to determine total installed cost. 

Table 8.2.1 Inputs for Total Installed Costs 

Baseline manufacturer selling price ($)

Price learning coefficient

Candidate standard level manufacturer selling price increases ($)

Wholesaler markup

Mechanical contractor markup

National account markup

Sales tax ($)

Installation cost ($)

8.2.2.1 Baseline Energy Consumption and Manufacturer Selling Price

The baseline MSP is the price manufacturers charge for equipment just meeting the 

existing minimum efficiency (or baseline) standards or base-case efficiency levels (for 

equipment classes with no standards). The MSP includes a markup that is applied to convert 

MPC to an MSP. DOE developed MSP values for the 21 primary equipment classes (see 

preliminary TSD chapter 5). Table 8.2.2 lists the 21 primary equipment classes that DOE 

evaluated during the preliminary analysis of the current rulemaking. 
8-9 

Table 8.2.2 Equipment Classes Evaluated for the Automatic Commercial Ice-Making

Equipment Standard Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis 

Description (Equipment Family, Cooling Method, Size, Production Method) Abbreviation

Ice-Making Head, Water-Cooled, Small, Batch IMH-W-Small-B

Ice-Making Head, Water-Cooled, Medium, Batch IMH-W-Med-B

Ice-Making Head, Water-Cooled, Large, Batch IMH-W-Large-B

Ice-Making Head, Air-Cooled, Small, Batch IMH-A-Small-B

Ice-Making Head, Air-Cooled, Large, Batch IMH-A-Large-B

Remote-Condensing Unit, Small, Batch RCU-Small-B

Remote-Condensing Unit, Large, Batch RCU-Large-B

Self-Contained Unit, Water-Cooled, Small, Batch SCU-W-Small-B

Self-Contained Unit, Water-Cooled, Large, Batch SCU-W-Large-B

Self-Contained Unit, Air-Cooled, Small, Batch SCU-A-Small-B

Self-Contained Unit, Air-Cooled, Large, Batch SCU-A-Large-B

Ice-Making Head, Water-Cooled, Small, Continuous IMH-W-Small-C

Ice-Making Head, Water-Cooled, Large, Continuous IHM-W-Large-C

Ice-Making Head, Air-Cooled, Small, Continuous IMH-A-Small-C

Ice-Making Head, Air-Cooled, Large, Continuous IMH-A-Large-C

Remote-Condensing Unit, Small, Continuous RCU-Small-C

Remote-Condensing Unit, Large, Continuous RCU-Large-C

Self-Contained Unit, Water-Cooled, Small, Continuous SCU-W-Small-C

Self-Contained Unit, Water-Cooled, Large, Continuous SCU-W-Large-C

Self-Contained Unit, Air-Cooled, Small, Continuous SCU-A-Small-C

Self-Contained Unit, Air-Cooled, Large, Continuous SCU-A-Large-C

Eleven of the equipment classes in Table 8.2.2 are subject to standards set by the Energy 

Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 

2005), and the other ten primary equipment classes have not yet been subject to a standard set by 

legislation or by DOE. Table 8.2.3 presents the baseline energy consumption values and the 

baseline MSPs used in the LCC and PBP analysis for the representative sizes for each of the 21 

primary equipment classes. Preliminary TSD chapter 5 explains how energy use and MSP varies 

by harvest capacity. Table 8.2.3 also identifies whether DOE obtained the baseline from the 

engineering analysis, for equipment with no existing standards, or set it at the standards baseline, 

for equipment covered under existing standards, as explained in chapter 7. As discussed in 

chapter 5, for new equipment on the market today that is not covered by existing U.S. standards, 

DOE set the baseline at levels approximating the least efficient equipment that could potentially 

be available. Baseline energy consumption values presented in this section provide energy use 

per 100 lb of ice produced. Chapter 7 discusses the methodology to calculate annual energy 

consumption using these values. 
8-10

Table 8.2.3 Baseline Energy Consumption Levels and Estimated MSP Values for the 

Representative Automatic Commercial Ice-Making Equipment Units of All 21 Primary 

Equipment Classes

Equipment Class Baseline Energy 

Consumption 

kWh/100 lb ice

Manufacturer 

Selling Price

$

Baseline Type

IMH-W-Small-B 7.80 2,085 Standards Baseline

IMH-W- Med -B 5.03 3,453 Standards Baseline

IMH-W-Large-B 4.00 6,641 Standards Baseline

IMH-A-Small-B 10.26 2,089 Standards Baseline

IMH-A-Large-B 6.40 4,051 Standards Baseline

RCU-Small-B 8.85 3,602 Standards Baseline

RCU-Large-B 5.10 7,064 Standards Baseline

SCU-W-Small-B 11.40 2,258 Standards Baseline

SCU-W-Large-B 7.60 2,269 Standards Baseline

SCU-A-Small-B 18.00 2,258 Standards Baseline

SCU-A-Large-B 9.80 2,263 Standards Baseline

IMH-W-Small-C 8.10 3,435 Engineering Baseline

IMH-W-Large-C 5.10 4,849 Engineering Baseline

IMH-A-Small-C 10.30 2,882 Engineering Baseline

IMH-A-Large-C 6.30 4,849 Engineering Baseline

RCU-Small-C 9.50 3,819 Engineering Baseline

RCU-Large-C 5.50 5,704 Engineering Baseline

SCU-W-Small-C* 9.50 0 Engineering Baseline

SCU-W-Large-C 6.30 2,223 Engineering Baseline

SCU-A-Small-C 18.00 2,211 Engineering Baseline

SCU-A-Large-C 9.80 3,129 Engineering Baseline

*DOE was not able to identify any existing products of the SCU-W-Small-C equipment 

class in ice maker databases. Hence, this equipment class was not analyzed, directly or by 

extrapolation.

8.2.2.2 Candidate Standard-Level Energy Consumption and Manufacturer

Selling Price Increases

The candidate standard level MSP increase is the change in MSP associated with 

producing equipment at higher efficiency levels. DOE estimated increases in MSP as a function 

of equipment efficiency for each of the 21 primary equipment classesc

. The engineering analysis 

established a series of MSP increases for each standard level. Table 8.2.4 presents the increase in 

MSP corresponding to each efficiency level for each primary equipment class.

Table 8.2.5 presents the energy consumption of the representative units belonging to each 

of the 21 primary equipment classes that DOE selected for the engineering analysis.

 

c Available data shows there are no existing SCU-W-Small-C products available, so this class is not currently 

defined in the models; however, it is considered a valid equipment class and, to be consistent, is included as a 

primary equipment class. 
8-11

Table 8.2.4 Baseline Manufacturer Selling Prices for Representative Automatic 

Commercial Ice-Making Equipment Units of the 21 Primary Equipment Classes and 

Incremental Manufacturer Selling Prices for All Efficiency Levels Within the Equipment 

Classes

Product Class

Increase in MSP by Efficiency Level

2010$

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B $2,085 $40 $48 

IMH-W- Med -B $3,453 $31 

IMH-W-Large-B $6,641 $15 $23 

IMH-A-Small-B $2,089 $13 $30 $69 

IMH-A-Large-B $4,051 $15 $113 $158 

RCU-Small-B $3,602 $15 $63 $85 

RCU-Large-B $7,064 $20 $101 $129 

SCU-W-Small-B $2,258 $13 $34 $51 $69 

SCU-W-Large-B $2,269 $13 $25 $34 $43 $54 $84 

SCU-A-Small-B $2,258 $13 $39 $56 $70 $78 

SCU-A-Large-B $2,263 $21 $44 $58 $75 

IMH-W-Small-C $3,435 $6 $15 $25 $34 $98 

IMH-W-Large-C $4,849 $23 $35 $63 $156 

IMH-A-Small-C $2,882 $26 $44 $61 $79 $203 

IMH-A-Large-C $4,849 $31 $43 $54 $65 $158 $270 

RCU-Small-C $3,819 $11 $85 

RCU-Large-C $5,704 $13 $129 

SCU-W-Small-C $0 

SCU-W-Large-C $2,223 $5 $15 $25 $28 

SCU-A-Small-C $2,211 $30 $58 $64 

SCU-A-Large-C $3,129 $0 $46 $81 $123 $169 $419 

* Blank cells imply there are no associated efficiency levels.
8-12

Table 8.2.5 Energy Consumption Values for Representative Automatic Commercial IceMaking Equipment Units of the 21 Primary Equipment Classes and All Efficiency Levels 

Within the Equipment Classes

Product Class Total Energy Usage 

kWh/100 lb ice

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B 7.80 7.02 6.71

IMH-W- Med -B 5.03 4.53

IMH-W-Large-B 4.00 3.60 3.56

IMH-A-Small-B 10.26 9.23 8.72 8.21

IMH-A-Large-B 6.40 5.76 5.44 5.12

RCU-Small-B 8.85 8.05 7.52 7.39

RCU-Large-B 5.10 4.64 4.34 4.26

SCU-W-Small-B 11.40 10.60 9.69 9.12 8.66

SCU-W-Large-B 7.60 7.07 6.46 6.08 5.70 5.47 4.64

SCU-A-Small-B 18.00 16.74 15.30 14.40 13.50 12.96

SCU-A-Large-B 9.80 9.11 8.33 7.84 7.35

IMH-W-Small-C 8.10 7.29 6.89 6.48 6.08 5.43

IMH-W-Large-C 5.10 4.59 4.34 4.08 3.88

IMH-A-Small-C 10.30 9.27 8.76 8.24 7.73 7.21

IMH-A-Large-C 6.30 5.67 5.36 5.04 4.73 4.41 4.10

RCU-Small-C 9.50 8.81 7.93

RCU-Large-C 5.50 5.10 4.59

SCU-W-Small-C 9.50

SCU-W-Large-C 6.30 6.08 5.70 5.32 5.17

SCU-A-Small-C 18.00 16.74 15.30 14.76

SCU-A-Large-C 9.80 9.11 8.33 7.84 7.35 6.86 6.27

* Blank cells imply there are no associated efficiency levels.

8.2.2.3 Overall Markup

As discussed in preliminary TSD chapter 6, Markups for Equipment Price Determination, 

DOE calculated overall markup and applied it to the equipment MSP to calculate the equipment 

purchase price for customers. DOE calculated baseline markups to convert baseline MSP to 

baseline customer purchase price and incremental markups to convert the increments in MSP 

into increments in customer purchase price. DOE used these markup values in the LCC and PBP 

analysis for calculation of baseline and higher efficiency equipment price to customers. 

8.2.2.4 Installation Cost 

Most automatic commercial ice makers are installed in fairly standard configurations, 

which helps in estimating the cost of installation. DOE defines installation cost as a one-time 

fixed cost that incorporates the labor and materials required to fully install an automatic 

commercial ice maker. DOE assumed that the installation cost does not vary with efficiency 

levels in any equipment class. For the preliminary analysis, DOE assumed that the engineering 

design options do not impact the installation cost within an equipment class and, therefore, 

within a given equipment class, the installation cost will not vary with efficiency level. 

Installation cost may vary from one equipment class to another. If engineering design options 

change, DOE can vary installation cost with efficiency level if technologies warrant an 

adjustment. Because costs that do not vary with efficiency level do not affect the LCC, PBP, or 

national impact analysis results, DOE estimated the installation cost in the preliminary analysis
8-13

very simply as a fixed percentage of the total MSP for the baseline efficiency level for a given 

equipment class, set at 10 percent for the preliminary analysis. 

Table 8.2.6 shows installation cost indices for installation costs in each of the 50 states

and the District of Columbia, and the weighted average for the entire United States. These are

used to adjust the national installation cost to reflect differences by state. The state-level data are 

based on data published by RS Means for major U.S. cities.10 To arrive at an average index for 

each state, DOE first weighted the city indices in each state by their population. DOE used statelevel population weights for 2010 from the U.S. Census Bureau4 to calculate a weighted-average 

index for each state from the RS Means census data. 

Table 8.2.6 Installation Cost Indices (National Value = 100.0) 

State Index State Index State Index

Alabama 58.7 Kentucky 81.4 North Dakota 57.9

Alaska 113.9 Louisiana 65.7 Ohio 96.9

Arizona 86.6 Maine 68.4 Oklahoma 58.8

Arkansas 62.2 Maryland 92.7 Oregon 106.8

California 131.0 Massachusetts 128.2 Pennsylvania 128.2

Colorado 83.9 Michigan 109.4 Rhode Island 116.8

Connecticut 122.0 Minnesota 126.3 South Carolina 40.2

Delaware 125.6 Mississippi 61.1 South Dakota 46.4

Dist. of Columbia 102.6 Missouri 105.4 Tennessee 76.9

Florida 73.5 Montana 78.0 Texas 63.6

Georgia 72.2 Nebraska 86.3 Utah 75.9

Hawaii 117.5 Nevada 108.4 Vermont 68.7

Idaho 72.4 New Hampshire 90.5 Virginia 73.9

Illinois 142.8 New Jersey 137.4 Washington 110.9

Indiana 87.5 New Mexico 75.5 West Virginia 92.2

Iowa 88.7 New York 170.1 Wisconsin 106.4

Kansas 77.4 North Carolina 40.3 Wyoming 60.4

8.2.2.5 Weighted Average Total Installed Cost 

As presented in Eq. 8.2, the total installed cost is the sum of the equipment price and the 

installation cost. DOE derived the customer equipment price for any given standard level by 

multiplying the baseline MSP by the baseline markup and adding to it the product of the 

incremental MSP and the incremental markup. Because MSPs, markups, and the sales tax all can 

take on a variety of values, depending on location, the resulting total installed cost for a 

particular standard level will not be a single-point value, but rather a distribution of values. 

The weighted average costs for the IMH-A-Small-B equipment class are presented below 

for the baseline level at national average markup rates and national average installation costs for 

illustration purposes. DOE used the baseline MSP and the standard-level MSP increases as the 

starting points for determining the total installed cost (values are taken directly from Table 8.2.3

and Table 8.2.4). DOE used the baseline and incremental markups, the sales tax, and installation 

cost to convert the MSPs into total installed costs for cases where the incremental installation 

cost is held flat. As an example, Table 8.2.7 summarizes the weighted average or mean costs and 

markups necessary for determining the weighted average baseline and standard-level total 

installed costs. 
8-14

Table 8.2.7 Costs and Markups for Determination of Weighted Average Total Installed 

Costs (IMH-A-Small-B) 

Variable Weighted Average or Mean Value

Baseline MSP $2,089.00 

Standard-Level MSP Increase (Efficiency Level 4) $68.75 

Overall Markup Factor–Baseline 1.879

Overall Markup Factor–Incremental 1.301

Installation Cost–Baseline $360 

Installation Cost Factor, for U.S. Average 1.000

Price Learning Factor 0.983

*Installation cost applied to the baseline unit, with no incremental installation cost.

The calculation below for the baseline (Level 1) and for a higher efficiency level (Level 

4) IMH-A-Small-B equipment class illustrates how DOE derived the weighted average total 

installed cost based on the data shown in Table 8.2.7. For the baseline product, DOE calculated

the total installed cost at national average conditions as follows:

d

ICBASE IMH−A−Small−B = EQPBASE IMH−A−Small−B + INSTBASE IMH−A−Small−B × ISTINDEX 

= MFGBASE IMH−A−Small−B × Price Learning CoefAnalysis Year

× MUBASE IMH−A−Small−B × Sales TaxState

+ INSTBASE IMH−A−Small−B × ISTINDEX

= $2,089 x (0.983) x (1.75215) x (1.0726) + $360 x (1.00) 

= $3,860 + $360 

= $4,220 

Eq. 8.3 

Where: 

ICBASE IMH-A-Small-B= total installed cost of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at baseline efficiency level 

($), 

EQPBASE IMH-A-Small-B= equipment purchase price of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at baseline 

efficiency level ($),

INSTBASE IMH-A-Small-B= installation cost of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at baseline efficiency level 

($),

MFGBASE IMH-A-Small-B= MSP of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at baseline efficiency level ($), 

MUBASE IMH-A-Small-B= overall baseline markup for equipment class IMH-A-Small-B, and

ISTINDEX = location dependent multiplier on installation cost; approximately 1.0 at a national 

average.

DOE calculated the total installed cost for the higher efficiency level (Efficiency Level 4) 

using an incremental MSP. DOE applied an incremental markup factor to the incremental 

 

d Note that the numbers shown in Eq. 8.3 have been rounded and do not exactly match the numbers in the analysis.
8-15

increases in MSP. The Level 4 price is equal to the baseline price calculated above, plus the MSP

increment for a higher efficiency level, multiplied by the incremental markup. 

As an example, DOE calculated the national average, Level 4, total installed cost (ICIMHA-Small-BLEVEL4) as follows:e

ICIMH−A−Small−B LEVEL4

= EQPIMH−A−Small−B LEVEL4 + INSTIMH−A−Small−B LEVEL4 × ISTINDEX

=

MFGBASE IMH−A−Small−B × Price Learning CoefAnalysis Year ×

MUBASE IMH−A−Small−B +

∆MFGIMH−A−Small−B LEVEL4 × Price Learning CoefAnalysis Year ×

MUIMH−A−Small−B LEVEL4 × Sales TaxState + INSTIMH−A−Small−BLEVEL4 × ISTINDEX 

= $2,054 x (1.75215) x 1.0726 + $68 x (1.21329) + $360 x (1.000) 

= $4,308 

Eq. 8.4 

Where: 

ICIMH-A-Small-B LEVEL4 = total installed cost of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at Efficiency Level 4 ($), 

EQP IMH-A-Small-BLEVEL4 = equipment price of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at Efficiency Level 4

($), 

INST IMH-A-Small-BLEVEL4 = installation cost of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at Efficiency Level 4 ($), 

ΔMFG IMH-A-Small-BLEVEL4 = incremental increase in MSP of IMH-A-Small-B equipment at 

Efficiency Level 4 compared to equipment at baseline efficiency level ($), and

MU IMH-A-Small-BLEVEL4 = incremental markup for equipment class IMH-A-Small-B. 

Table 8.2.8 presents the weighted average equipment price, installation cost, and total 

installed costs for the IMH-A-Small-B equipment classes at the baseline level and each higher 

efficiency level examined. 

Table 8.2.8 Weighted Average Equipment Price, Installation Cost, and Total Installed 

Costs for IMH-A-Small-B at U.S. Average Conditions (2010$)* 

Efficiency Level Equipment Price (MSP) Installation Cost Total Installed Cost

1 (Baseline) $2,053.92 $359.88 $4,219.97 

2 $2,066.21 $359.88 $4,235.97 

3 $2,083.41 $359.88 $4,258.36 

4 $2,121.51 $359.88 $4,307.94 

*Numbers provided in this table are taken directly from the LCC analysis, and thus differ from those provided above in the text 

due to rounding.

 

e The numbers shown in Eq. 8.4 have been rounded and do not exactly match the numbers used in the analysis.
8-16

8.2.3 Operating-Cost Inputs

DOE defines the operating cost as the sum of energy cost, water cost, repair cost, and 

maintenance cost, or: 

OC = EC+ WC+ RC+ MC

Eq. 8.5 

Where: 

OC = operating cost ($), 

EC = energy cost ($), 

WC= water cost ($), 

RC = repair cost ($), and

MC = maintenance cost ($). 

The remainder of this section describes the variables that DOE used to calculate 

operating costs for automatic commercial ice makers. Table 8.2.9 shows the inputs used to 

determine operating costs.

Table 8.2.9 Inputs Used to Determine Operating Costs

Electricity price (cents/kWh)

Water/wastewater price ($/1,000 gallons)

Electricity and water price trends

Repair cost ($)

Maintenance cost ($)

Lifetime (years)

Discount rate (%)

Effective date of standard

Baseline electricity consumption (kWh/100 lb ice)

Baseline water consumption (gallons of water/100 lb ice)

Standard case electricity consumption (kWh/100 lb ice)

Standards water consumption (gallons of water/100 lb ice)

8.2.3.1 Electricity Price Analysis

This section describes the electricity price analysis used to develop the energy portion of 

the annual operating costs (price multiplied by electricity consumption) for automatic 

commercial ice makers used in various commercial building types. 

Subdivision of the Country. Because of the wide variation in electricity consumption 

patterns, wholesale costs, and retail rates across the country, DOE considered regional 

differences in electricity prices. DOE divided the United States into the 50 states and the District 

of Columbia. DOE used average effective commercial electricity prices at the state level from 

the EIA web page entitled Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price.

2 At the time DOE 

developed the LCC/PBP model, the latest available prices from this source were for the calendar 

year 2009 in 2009$. DOE adjusted these to represent 2010$ prices using the gross domestic 

product (GDP) price deflator from AEO2011.

3 Table 8.2.10 provides the adjusted electricity 

prices.
8-17

Table 8.2.10 Commercial Electricity Prices by State (2010 cents/kWh) 

State Commercial 

Electricity Price 

cents/kWh

State Commercial 

Electricity Price 

cents/kWh

State Commercial 

Electricity Price 

cents/kWh

Alabama 10.14 Kentucky 7.70 North Dakota 6.87

Alaska 14.59 Louisiana 7.76 Ohio 9.74

Arizona 9.44 Maine 12.66 Oklahoma 6.82

Arkansas 7.63 Maryland 12.08 Oregon 7.56

California 13.54 Massachusetts 15.51 Pennsylvania 9.63

Colorado 8.22 Michigan 9.32 Rhode Island 13.79

Connecticut 17.01 Minnesota 7.99 South Carolina 8.82

Delaware 12.09 Mississippi 9.59 South Dakota 7.21

Dist. of Col. 13.08 Missouri 7.02 Tennessee 9.70

Florida 10.87 Montana 8.40 Texas 9.75

Georgia 9.02 Nebraska 7.40 Utah 7.02

Hawaii 22.06 Nevada 10.74 Vermont 13.05

Idaho 6.55 New Hampshire 14.68 Virginia 8.13

Illinois 9.07 New Jersey 13.96 Washington 7.02

Indiana 8.40 New Mexico 8.48 West Virginia 6.83

Iowa 7.62 New York 15.65 Wisconsin 9.66

Kansas 7.94 North Carolina 8.05 Wyoming 7.35

DOE recognized that different kinds of businesses typically use electricity in different 

amounts at different times of the day, week, and year, and therefore experience different 

effective prices. To make this adjustment, DOE used the 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy 

Consumption Survey (CBECS) data set to identify the average prices paid by the seven kinds of 

businesses in this analysis compared with the average prices paid by all commercial customers.

Because it isn’t explicitly recognized as a CBECS building type, DOE identified multi-line retail 

by identifying retail stores for which the data suggest the presence of walk-in refrigeration and 

other commercial refrigeration equipment.f Eq. 8.6 shows how DOE calculated the prices paid 

by the seven types of businesses in each state or district: 

EPRICECOM BLDGTYPE STATE 2010 = EPRICECOM STATE 2010 × �

EPRICEBLDGTYPE US 2003

EPRICECOM US 2003

� 

Eq. 8.6 

Where: 

EPRICECOM BLDGTYPE STATE 2010 = average commercial sector electricity price in a specific building 

type (such as health care, food sales, and foodservice) in a specific state in 2010, 

EPRICE COM STATE 2010 = average commercial sector electricity price in a specific state in 2010, 

EPRICE BLDGTYPE US 2003 = national average commercial-sector electricity price in a specific building 

type in 2003 CBECS, and

EPRICE COM US 2003 = national average commercial sector electricity price in 2003 CBECS. 

Table 8.2.11 shows the resulting commercial building electricity price ratios.

 

f Automatic commercial ice makers are not explicitly captured by the CBECs database, so commercial refrigeration 

is used as a proxy for buildings of interest to this analysis.
8-18

Table 8.2.11 Derived National Average Commercial Electricity Prices and Ratios by 

Business Type

Business Type Electricity Price 

dollars/kWh

Ratio of Electricity Price to Average Price for all 

Commercial Buildings

HealthCare $0.07222 0.910

Lodging $0.08583 1.082

Food Service $0.07722 0.973

Retail $0.07262 0.915

Education $0.07962 1.003

Food Sales $0.08467 1.067

Office $0.07664 0.966

All commercial buildings $0.07936 1.000

Source: CBECS 2003. 

The derived ratio equates commercial electricity prices by building type to the overall 

average commercial building price. DOE then combined the derived ratio with state-by-state 

commercial rates to derive a series of prices for each state and for each building type. DOE 

forecast future prices as described in section 8.2.3.2. To obtain a weighted average national 

price, DOE weighted the prices paid by each business in each state by the 2010 population in 

each state.

4

8.2.3.2 Electricity Price Trend

The electricity price trend provides the relative change in electricity prices through the 

year 2045. Estimating future electricity prices is difficult, especially considering that there are 

efforts in many states throughout the country to restructure the electricity supply industry. 

DOE applied a projected trend in national average electricity prices to each customer’s 

energy prices based on the AEO2011 price scenarios. The discussion in this chapter refers to the 

2010 reference price scenario. In the LCC analysis, DOE can analyze the following four 

scenarios:

1. Constant (real) energy prices at 2010 values (i.e., a constant index of 1.0) 

2. AEO2011, High Economic Growth (“AEO2011 High Growth” in Figure 8.2.1) 

3. AEO2011, Reference Case (“AEO2011 Reference” in Figure 8.2.1) 

4. AEO2011, Low Economic Growth (“AEO2011 Low Growth” in Figure 8.2.1) 

Figure 8.2.1 shows the trends for the AEO2011 reference case, high growth, and low 

growth price projections. DOE extrapolated the values for the later years, after 2035—the last 

year of the AEO2011 forecast. DOE used the price trend from 2025 to 2035 of each forecast

scenario to establish prices for the years 2036 to 2045. 
8-19

Figure 8.2.1 Electricity Price Trends for Commercial Rates to 2045 

The default electricity price trend scenario used in the LCC analysis is the trend from the 

AEO2011 Reference Case, shown in Figure 8.2.1. The LCC model spreadsheets have the 

capability to analyze the AEO2011 High Growth, AEO2011 Low Growth price trends, and 

constant energy prices for additional sensitivity analysis. 

8.2.3.3 Repair Cost 

The repair cost is the average annual cost to the customer for replacing or repairing 

components in the automatic ice maker that have failed. In the absence of available data for the 

preliminary analysis, DOE has approximated the repair costs as a 3-percent fixed percentage of 

the total baseline MSP for each equipment class and assumed the repair costs stay constant 

within an equipment class for all efficiency levels. Forthcoming analyses of the engineering 

design options may indicate for specific technologies used, marginal repair and replacement 

costs for higher efficiency levels may be warranted. 

8.2.3.4 Maintenance Cost

The maintenance cost is the cost to the customer of ensuring proper equipment operation 

even if there are no specific equipment failures (e.g., checking and maintaining refrigerant levels, 

replacing filters, checking water distribution lines for leaks, cleaning, sanitizing, and descaling).

The maintenance cost does not include the costs associated with the replacement or repair of 

components that have failed (as discussed above). 

DOE approximated annualized maintenance costs for automatic commercial ice makers

as a 3-percent fixed percentage of the total MSP for each equipment class. Because data were not 

available to indicate how maintenance costs vary with equipment efficiency level, DOE used a 3-

percent preventative maintenance costs that remain constant across all equipment efficiency 

levels. Table 8.2.12 shows the annualized maintenance costs by equipment class for each 

efficiency level. 

0.089

0.091

0.093

0.095

0.097

0.099

0.101

0.103

0.105

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045

US Weighted Average Real Cost/kWh (2010$)

Year

Electricity Price Projections

AEO 2011 Low Growth AEO 2011 Reference AEO 2011 High Growth
8-20

Table 8.2.12 Annualized Maintenance Costs by Equipment Class for Each Efficiency Level

Equipment Class

Annualized Maintenance Costs for 

LCC by Efficiency Level

$/yr

IMH-W-Small-B $107.76 

IMH-W- Med -B $178.46 

IMH-W-Large-B $343.22 

IMH-A-Small-B $107.96 

IMH-A-Large-B $209.36 

RCU-Small-B $186.16 

RCU-Large-B $365.08 

SCU-W-Small-B $116.70 

SCU-W-Large-B $117.27 

SCU-A-Small-B $116.70 

SCU-A-Large-B $116.96 

IMH-W-Small-C $177.53 

IMH-W-Large-C $250.61 

IMH-A-Small-C $148.95 

IMH-A-Large-C $250.61 

RCU-Small-C $197.37 

RCU-Large-C $294.79 

SCU-W-Small-C $0.00 

SCU-W-Large-C $114.89 

SCU-A-Small-C $114.27 

SCU-A-Large-C $161.71 

8.2.3.5 Lifetime

As discussed in section 8.1.2, DOE defines lifetime as the age at which a typical

automatic commercial ice maker is retired from service. DOE estimated equipment lifetime 

based on discussions with industry experts, and concluded that a typical lifetime of 8.5 years is 

appropriate for most automatic commercial ice makers. Because some equipment has remaining 

useful life, there is a market for equipment that has been removed from service. DOE

understands, however, that the salvage value to the original purchaser is generally very low, and 

thus has not taken this into account in the LCC. 

8.2.3.6 Discount Rate

The discount rate is the rate at which future expenditures are discounted to establish their 

present value. DOE derived discount rates for the automatic commercial ice maker analysis by 

estimating the cost of capital for the types of companies that purchase automatic commercial ice

makers. The cost of capital is commonly used to estimate the present value of cash flows to be 

derived from for a project or investment. Most companies use both debt and equity capital to 

fund investments, so their overall cost of capital is the weighted average of the cost to the 

company of equity and debt financing. 

DOE estimated the cost of equity financing by using the Capital Asset Pricing Model 

(CAPM).

5

 The CAPM, among the most widely used of models that estimate the cost of equity 

financing, assumes that the cost of equity is proportional to the amount of systematic risk 

associated with a particular company. The cost of equity financing tends to be high when a 
8-21

company faces a large degree of systematic risk and it tends to be low when the company faces a 

small degree of systematic risk.

DOE determined the cost of equity financing by using several variables, including the 

risk coefficient of a company, β (beta), the expected return on “risk free” assets (Rf), and the 

additional return expected on assets facing average market risk, also known as the equity risk 

premium or ERP. The risk coefficient of a company, β, indicates the degree of risk associated 

with a given firm relative to the level of risk (or price variability) in the overall stock market.

Risk coefficients usually vary between 0.5 and 2.0. A company with a risk coefficient of 

0.5 faces half the risk of other stocks in the market; a company with a risk coefficient of 

2.0 faces twice the overall stock market risk.

The following equation gives the cost of equity financing for a particular company:

ke = Rf + (β x ERP)

Eq. 8.7 

Where: 

ke = the cost of equity for a company (%), 

Rf = the expected return of the risk free asset (%), 

β = the risk coefficient, and 

ERP = the expected equity risk premium (%). 

DOE defined the risk-free rate as the 40-year geometric average yield on long-term 

government bonds. DOE calculated the risk-free rate using Federal Reserve data for the period 

1971 to 2010,6 with a resulting rate of 6.74 percent. DOE used a 3.23-percent estimate for the 

ERP based on a calculation with data downloaded from the Damodaran Online7 site (discussion 

forthcoming).

The cost of debt financing (kd) is the interest rate paid on money a company borrows. 

DOE estimated the cost of debt by adding a risk adjustment factor (Ra) to the risk-free rate. 

+= RRk afd ,

Eq. 8.8 

Where:

kd = the cost of debt financing for each firm (%), 

Rf = the expected return on risk-free assets (%), and 

Ra = the risk adjustment factor to risk-free rate for each firm (%). 

The risk adjustment factor depends on the variability of stock returns represented by 

standard deviations in stock prices—DOE took values from Damodaran Online individual 

company cost of capital worksheets (discussion forthcoming).8
8-22

The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for a company is the weighted average 

cost of debt and equity financing: 

k =ke x we+ kd x wd

Eq. 8.9 

Where: 

k = the (nominal) cost of capital (%),

ke = the expected rate of return on equity (%),

kd = the expected rate of return on debt (%),

we = the proportion of equity financing in total annual financing, and

wd = the proportion of debt financing in total annual financing. 

The cost of capital is a nominal rate, because it includes anticipated future inflation in the

expected returns from stocks and bonds. The real discount rate or WACC deducts expected 

inflation (r) from the nominal rate. DOE calculated expected inflation (3.83 percent) over the 

same 1971–2010 historical period used for the other data calculations. 

To estimate the WACC of automatic commercial ice maker purchasers, DOE used a data 

set of companies involved in each of the building types being analyzed, drawn from a database 

of U.S. companies given on the Damodaran Online individual company worksheet cited earlier. 

The Damodaran database includes most of the publicly traded companies in the United States.

DOE divided the companies into categories according to their type of activity (e.g., 

foodservice or food sales). DOE used financial information for all of the firms in the Damodaran 

database that would be likely to utilize one of the seven building types in the use of an automatic 

commercial ice maker. DOE used all observations from the Damodaran data set for which 

complete data were available. One building type, education, was not identifiable in the list of 

publicly traded companies in Damodaran’s database and, therefore, DOE calculated WACC 

using an approach explained below. 

Table 8.2.13 outlines the building type and ownership categories as well as the number of 

companies used for determining discount rates. For five of the seven building categories, there is 

a mixture of large companies with stock traded on major U.S. stock exchanges, and smaller 

companies that are not publicly traded—e.g., single-store or small, local chains of convenience 

stores or restaurants. The cost of capital for small, independent grocers, convenience store 

franchisees, gasoline station owner-operators, and others with more limited access to capital is 

more difficult to determine than for publicly traded companies. Individual credit worthiness 

varies considerably, and some franchisees have access to the financial resources of the 

franchising corporation. During research leading up to the 2009 commercial refrigeration 

equipment rulemaking, DOE contacted a sample of commercial bankers regarding cost for debt 

financing and the contacts yielded an estimate for the small operator weighted cost of capital of 

about 200 to 300 basis points (2 to 3 percent) above the rates for large grocery chains. DOE 

adopted the average value of 2.5 percent for use for small operators across all seven building 

types. 
8-23

Table 8.2.13 Derivation of Typical Discount Rates by Building Type* 

Building Type 

Description

Major Chain Local or Non-Chain Governmental No. Obs.**

WACC Percent of 

Stock

Small 

Firm 

Premium

Percent of 

Stock

Muni 

Bond Rate

Percent of 

Stock

Discount 

Rate

HealthCare 8.09% 68% 2.50% 0% 2% 32% 3.82% 5

Lodging 11.07% 50% 2.50% 50% 2% 0% 5.26% 46

Foodservice 9.00% 50% 2.50% 50% 2% 0% 5.61% 50

Retail 8.17% 75% 2.50% 25% 2% 0% 4.06% 12

Education 3.70% 25% 2.50% 0% 2% 75% 2.05% 21

Food Sales 7.69% 80% 2.50% 20% 2% 0% 3.37% 25

Office 8.99% 25% 2.50% 50% 2% 25% 4.64% 913

Source: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) WACC calculations applied to firms sampled from the Damodaran Online 

web site. Assumptions for weighting factors for convenience and food service reflect lack of reliable data sources.

*In the preliminary stage, DOE evaluated only major chain and governmental firms. In the NOPR stage, DOE will calculate the 

discount rates as shown above.

** Obs. are the number of observations that DOE used in calculating discount rate data.

For buildings with an education application, DOE identified little representative data in 

the Damodaran database. Data in the Damodaran database is representative of privately operated 

schools, but the database lacks data on cost of capital for public schools. DOE used data from 

representative 10-year AA municipal bonds as a proxy for the Damodaran data.11, g

8.2.3.7 Compliance Date of Standard 

The compliance date is the future date when a new standard will become operative (i.e., 

the date on which manufacturers must be compliant with the new DOE standard). Under 

42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(2)(B), the compliance date of any new energy conservation standard for 

automatic commercial ice makers will be 3 years after the final rule is published. DOE calculated 

the LCC for all customers as if they each would purchase a new automatic commercial ice maker

in the year the standard takes effect. Consistent with its published regulatory agenda, DOE

assumed that the final rule would be issued in 2013 and that, therefore, the new standards would 

take effect in 2016, and used these dates in the preliminary analysis. For the LCC analysis, the 

year of equipment purchase is 2016. However, all dollar values are expressed in 2010$. 

8.3 PAYBACK PERIOD INPUTS 

8.3.1 Definition

As previously stated in section 8.1, the PBP is the amount of time it takes the customer to 

recover the higher purchase price of more energy efficient equipment through lower operating 

costs. Numerically, the PBP is the ratio of the increase in purchase cost to the decrease in annual 

operating expenditures. This type of calculation is known as a “simple” payback period because 

it does not take into account changes in operating cost over time or the time value of money, that 

is, the calculation is done at an effective discount rate of zero percent.

 

g DOE realizes the education data in the preliminary analysis is not a robust set of data and will refine the data 

during the NOPR stage. 
8-24

The equation for PBP is: 

PBP =∆IC/∆OC 

Eq. 8.10 

Where: 

PBP = payback period in years,

∆IC = difference in the total installed cost between the more efficient standard level and the 

baseline equipment, and

∆OC = difference in annual (first year) operating costs.

PBPs greater than the life of the product mean that the increased total installed cost of the 

more energy efficient equipment is not recovered in reduced operating costs over the life of the 

equipment, even when no discount rate is applied. 

8.3.2 Inputs

The data inputs to PBP are the total installed cost of the equipment to the customer for 

each efficiency level and the annual (first year) operating costs for each efficiency level. The 

inputs to the total installed cost are the customer’s equipment price and the installation cost. The 

inputs to the operating costs are the annual energy and water costs, the annual repair cost, and the 

annual maintenance cost. The PBP calculation uses the same inputs as the LCC analysis 

described in section 8.2, except that electricity price trends and discount rates are not required

because the PBP is a “simple” (undiscounted) payback and the required electricity and water 

prices are only for the year in which a new efficiency standard is to take effect—in this case, the 

year 2016. The electricity price used in the PBP calculation of electricity cost was the price 

projected for 2016, expressed in 2010$. Discount rates are not used in the PBP calculation. 

8.4 LIFE-CYCLE COST AND PAYBACK PERIOD RESULTS

The results of the LCC and PBP analysis are presented in this section. Mean values of 

LCC savings and PBP are presented along with a summary of the distribution of these values. 

8.4.1 Life-Cycle Cost Results

Figure 8.4.1 shows the change in LCC over the four efficiency levels for the IMH-ASmall-B equipment class. The LCC values on this chart are mean values obtained from the LCC 

analysis. This curve is presented here as an example to illustrate the typical relationship between 

installation cost and LCC values over all the efficiency levels in an equipment class. The 

installed costs increase steadily from the baseline to the highest possible efficiency level and the 

LCCs decrease from Level 1 to the highest possible efficiency level. 
8-25

Figure 8.4.1 LCC and Installed Cost Variation over Efficiency Levels for IMH-A-Small-B 

Equipment Class 

As stated earlier, DOE calculated the LCC savings for a range of building types, 

WACCs, and geographic locations. Figure 8.4.2 illustrates an example of the ranges of LCC 

savings for the IMH-A-Small-B equipment class. Appendix 8B includes similar plots of LCC 

savings for all equipment classes analyzed. Table 8.4.1 presents the numerical values associated 

with Figure 8.4.2. Figure 8.4.2 illustrates the mean and median values on the plot using red and 

blue markers, respectively. The elongated, large rectangular box represents the 25th and 75th

percentile values. The lower edge of the elongated rectangle represents 25th percentile, which 

means that 25 percent of the customers would experience LCC savings of $291 or less if the 

standard were set at Level 2, $319 or less in LCC savings if the standards were set at Level 3, 

and so on. The median value of LCC savings is equal to the 50th percentile. The upper edge of 

the elongated rectangle represents the 75th percentile. The two ends of the vertical black line for 

each efficiency level represent the 5th percentile (lower end) and 95th percentile (upper end). 

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Life Cycle Cost $10,437.80 $10,067.13 $9,896.20 $9,752.46

Installed Cost $4,222.26 $4,238.26 $4,260.66 $4,310.26

 $-

 $2,000.00

 $4,000.00

 $6,000.00

 $8,000.00

 $10,000.00

 $12,000.00

IMH-Air Cooled, Small, Batch: Life Cycle and Installed Costs
8-26

 Figure 8.4.2 Ranges of LCC Savings for All the Efficiency Levels for the Equipment Class 

IMH-A-Small-B 

Table 8.4.1 LCC Savings Distribution Results for Equipment Class IMH-A-Small-B 

Efficiency Level 2 3 4

LCC Savings

2010$

Mean $372.16 $462.01 $524.15

Median (50th Percentile) $348.07 $460.47 $521.70

5th Percentile $226.31 $126.57 $106.88

25th Percentile $291.39 $318.79 $268.25

75th Percentile $441.73 $599.79 $711.57

95th Percentile $578.60 $828.82 $1,036.61

Table 8.4.2 and Table 8.4.3 summarize the mean and median LCC savings, respectively,

for all equipment classes analyzed.

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

 2 3 4 5 6 7

Life-cycle Cost Savings($)

Mean Median Efficiency Level

`
8-27

Table 8.4.2 Mean LCC Savings for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels

Equipment Class

Mean LCC Savings

2010$*

Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B 243.76 278.98

IMH-W- Med -B 498.73

IMH-W-Large-B 735.46 801.32

IMH-A-Small-B 372.16 462.01 524.15

IMH-A-Large-B 625.28 675.10 883.14

RCU-Small-B 683.77 856.93 933.54

RCU-Large-B 842.31 1,062.49 1,092.62

SCU-W-Small-B 94.85 146.25 173.65 214.35

SCU-W-Large-B 185.35 399.47 450.19 453.86 425.55 659.02

SCU-A-Small-B 158.97 229.31 331.49 438.47 456.83

SCU-A-Large-B 146.05 231.09 336.82 416.00

IMH-W-Small-C – 399.60 528.44 618.43 813.26

IMH-W-Large-C – – 286.81 204.51

IMH-A-Small-C 367.90 427.57 425.33 442.86 333.04

IMH-A-Large-C – – 384.30 570.01 848.66 1,101.70

RCU-Small-C – 678.35

RCU-Large-C – 810.55

SCU-W-Small-C**

SCU-W-Large-C – – 132.25 186.12

SCU-A-Small-C – – –

SCU-A-Large-C – – – 132.44 188.73 (39.92)

* A value of ”–“ means that there are no affected customers at this efficiency level. Values on this table represent LCC savings 

for customers affected by the standard, and a ”–“ means that in the base-case efficiency distribution, all customers are expected to 

be purchasing equipment that is more efficient. Blank cells mean no LCC savings were calculated for this efficiency level 

because design options were unavailable to constitute an additional efficiency level.

** Data available to DOE shows there are no existing SCU-Water-Small-Continuous products available, so this class is not 

currently defined in the models.
8-28

Table 8.4.3 Median LCC Savings for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels

Equipment 

Class

Median LCC Savings 

2010$*

Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B 226.28 275.43

IMH-W- Med -B 466.08

IMH-W-Large-B 688.76 750.19

IMH-A-Small-B 348.07 460.47 521.70

IMH-A-Large-B 585.86 677.26 853.14

RCU-Small-B 640.06 843.71 904.41

RCU-Large-B 788.03 1,045.99 1,082.80

SCU-W-Small-B 88.27 133.98 161.54 196.34

SCU-W-Large-B 173.39 373.85 453.34 449.88 329.55 562.37

SCU-A-Small-B 148.38 205.33 307.10 406.73 443.57

SCU-A-Large-B 135.71 210.18 312.52 393.65

IMH-W-Small-C – 369.77 458.61 513.17 690.54

IMH-W-Large-C – – 267.18 154.46

IMH-A-Small-C 340.61 430.28 314.08 325.66 219.38

IMH-A-Large-C – – 359.31 526.71 802.95 1,030.05

RCU-Small-C – 632.06

RCU-Large-C – 755.36

SCU-W-SmallC**

SCU-W-Large-C – – 123.55 173.92

SCU-A-Small-C – – – 

SCU-A-Large-C – – – 122.16 168.64 (75.06)

* A value of ”–“ means that there are no affected customers at this efficiency level. Values on 

this table represent LCC savings for customers affected by the standard, and a ”–“ means that 

in the base-case efficiency distribution, all customers are expected to be purchasing equipment 

that is more efficient. Blank cells mean no LCC savings were calculated for this efficiency 

level because design options were unavailable to constitute an additional efficiency level.

** Data available to DOE shows there are no existing SCU-Water-Small-Continuous products 

available, so this class is not currently defined in the models.

8.4.2 Payback Period Results 

Figure 8.4.3 presents the distribution of the PBP results for efficiency levels above the 

baseline for the equipment class IMH-A-Small-B. Table 8.4.4 presents the numerical values 

associated with this plot. The red marker represents the mean and the blue marker represents the 

median PBP for each efficiency level. The lower edge of the elongated rectangular box 

represents the 25th percentile, which means that 25 percent of the customers would experience a 

PBP of 0.27 years or less if the energy conservation standard were set at Level 2, 0.43 years or 

less if the energy conservation standard were set at Level 3, and so on. The upper edge of the 

rectangular box represents the 75th percentile. The two ends of the vertical line represent the 5th

percentile (lower end) and 95th percentile (upper end). Table 8.4.5 and Table 8.4.6 summarize the 

mean and median PBPs, respectively, for all efficiency levels for all the analyzed equipment 

classes.
8-29

Figure 8.4.3 Mean Payback Period for All Efficiency Levels for the Equipment Class IMHA-Small-B 

Table 8.4.4 Payback Period Distribution Results for IMH-A-Small-B 

Efficiency Level 2 3 4

Payback 

Period 

years

Mean 0.33 0.53 0.90

Median (50th Percentile) 0.33 0.52 0.90

5th Percentile 0.22 0.36 0.61

25th Percentile 0.27 0.43 0.74

75th Percentile 0.37 0.60 1.03

95th Percentile 0.45 0.72 1.25

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

 2 3 4 5 6 7

Pay Back Period (Years)

Median Mean Efficiency Level

`
8-30

Table 8.4.5 Mean Payback Period for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels

Equipment Class

Mean Payback Period 

years*

Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B 1.38 1.17

IMH-W- Med -B 0.59

IMH-W-Large-B 0.20 0.28

IMH-A-Small-B 0.33 0.53 0.90

IMH-A-Large-B 0.24 1.19 1.24

RCU-Small-B 0.22 0.54 0.67

RCU-Large-B 0.23 0.71 0.83

SCU-W-Small-B 1.15 1.45 1.65 1.85

SCU-W-Large-B 0.63 0.59 0.60 0.60 0.68 0.76

SCU-A-Small-B 0.73 1.06 1.15 1.14 1.13

SCU-A-Large-B 1.25 1.20 1.19 1.24

IMH-W-Small-C 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.17 0.37

IMH-W-Large-C 0.36 0.37 0.50 1.03

IMH-A-Small-C 0.67 0.74 0.78 0.80 1.71

IMH-A-Large-C 0.40 0.36 0.35 0.33 0.67 0.99

RCU-Small-C 0.19 0.63

RCU-Large-C 0.17 0.77

SCU-W-Small-C**

SCU-W-Large-C 0.61 0.68 0.69 0.65

SCU-A-Small-C 1.75 1.57 1.45

SCU-A-Large-C± - 0.85 1.12 1.35 1.55 3.20

* Blank cells imply there are no associated efficiency levels.

** Data available to DOE shows there are no existing SCU-Water-Small-Continuous products available, so this class is not 

currently defined in the models.

± The “-” value for Level 2 indicates that the first efficiency level improvement has a $0 capital cost.
8-31

Table 8.4.6 Median Payback Period for All Equipment Classes and Efficiency Levels

Equipment Class

Median payback period 

years*

Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B 1.37 1.16 

IMH-W- Med -B 0.59 

IMH-W-Large-B 0.20 0.27 

IMH-A-Small-B 0.33 0.52 0.90 

IMH-A-Large-B 0.23 1.17 1.23 

RCU-Small-B 0.22 0.54 0.67 

RCU-Large-B 0.23 0.71 0.82 

SCU-W-Small-B 1.14 1.44 1.64 1.83 

SCU-W-Large-B 0.63 0.59 0.59 0.60 0.68 0.76 

SCU-A-Small-B 0.72 1.05 1.14 1.13 1.12 

SCU-A-Large-B 1.24 1.19 1.18 1.23 

IMH-W-Small-C 0.08 0.12 0.15 0.17 0.37 

IMH-W-Large-C 0.35 0.37 0.49 1.02 

IMH-A-Small-C 0.66 0.73 0.77 0.79 1.70 

IMH-A-Large-C 0.40 0.36 0.34 0.33 0.67 0.98 

RCU-Small-C 0.19 0.62 

RCU-Large-C 0.17 0.76 

SCU-W-Small-C** 

SCU-W-Large-C 0.61 0.67 0.68 0.65 

SCU-A-Small-C 1.74 1.55 1.43 

SCU-A-Large-C± - 0.84 1.11 1.34 1.53 3.17 

* Blank cells imply there are no associated efficiency levels.

** Data available to DOE shows there are no existing SCU-Water-Small-Continuous products available, so this class is not 

currently defined in the models.

± The “-” value for Level 2 indicates that the first efficiency level improvement has a $0 capital cost.

8.4.3 Rebuttable Presumption Payback Period

EPCA establishes a rebuttable presumption for automatic commercial ice-making 

equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii) and 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(4)) The rebuttable presumption 

states that a standard is economically justified if the Secretary finds that the additional cost to the 

customer of purchasing a product complying with an energy conservation standard level will be 

less than three times the value of the energy savings during the first year that the customer will 

receive as a result of the standard, as calculated under the applicable test procedure. This 

rebuttable presumption test is an alternative path to establishing economic justification.

To evaluate the rebuttable presumption, DOE estimated the additional cost of purchasing 

more efficient, standards-compliant equipment, and compared this cost to the value of the energy 

saved during the first year of operation of the equipment. DOE interprets that the increased cost 

of purchasing standards-compliant equipment includes the cost of installing the equipment for 

use by the purchaser. DOE calculated the rebuttable presumption payback period (RPBP), or the 

ratio of (a) the increase in installed cost above the baseline efficiency level, to (b) the first year 

energy cost savings. When RPBP is less than 3 years, the rebuttable presumption is satisfied; 

when RPBP is equal to or more than 3 years, the rebuttable presumption is not satisfied. This 
8-32

PBP calculation does not include other components of the annual operating cost of the equipment 

(i.e., maintenance costs and repair costs). The RPBPs calculated can thus be different from the 

PBPs calculated in section 8.4.2. 

DOE calculated the RPBPs for the range of installed costs and energy prices discussed in 

sections 8.4.1 and 8.4.2, which are representative of the same seven building types and all 50 

states plus the District of Columbia. DOE calculated the RPBP for each higher efficiency level 

within each equipment class. 

Table 8.4.7 shows the nationally averaged RPBPs calculated for all equipment classes 

and efficiency levels. 

Table 8.4.7 Rebuttable Presumption Payback Periods by Efficiency Level and Equipment

Class

Equipment Class

Rebuttable Payback Period 

years*

Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7

IMH-W-Small-B 1.25 1.06

IMH-W- Med -B 0.54

IMH-W-Large-B 0.18 0.25

IMH-A-Small-B 0.30 0.48 0.82

IMH-A-Large-B 0.21 1.07 1.13

RCU-Small-B 0.20 0.49 0.61

RCU-Large-B 0.21 0.65 0.75

SCU-W-Small-B 1.04 1.31 1.50 1.67

SCU-W-Large-B 0.57 0.54 0.54 0.55 0.62 0.69

SCU-A-Small-B 0.66 0.96 1.04 1.04 1.02

SCU-A-Large-B 1.13 1.09 1.07 1.12

IMH-W-Small-C 0.07 0.11 0.14 0.15 0.33

IMH-W-Large-C 0.32 0.34 0.45 0.94

IMH-A-Small-C 0.60 0.67 0.70 0.72 1.55

IMH-A-Large-C 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36

RCU-Small-C 0.17 0.57

RCU-Large-C 0.15 0.69

SCU-W-Small-C**

SCU-W-Large-C 0.55 0.61 0.62 0.59

SCU-A-Small-C 1.59 1.42 1.31

SCU-A-Large-C± - 0.77 1.01 1.22 1.40 2.90

* Blank cells indicate that there are no associated efficiency levels.

** Data available to DOE shows there are no existing SCU-Water-Small-Continuous products available, so this class is not 

currently defined in the models.

± The “-” value for Level 2 indicates that the first efficiency level improvement has a $0 capital cost.

8.5 DETAILED RESULTS

Appendix 8B presents detailed results from the LCC analysis. Plots similar to Figure 

8.4.2 and Figure 8.4.3 are presented in the appendix for all equipment classes. In addition, 

summary tables with all the necessary data in one table for each equipment class are presented. 
8-33

Table 8.5.1 is the summary table for IMH-A-Small-B equipment class. This table presents the 

mean values of installed costs, annual operating costs, LCC, LCC savings, and median PBP 

values for all the efficiency levels. It also presents the percentage of customers who experience 

net cost, no impact, and net benefit. The average LCC savings and the percentage of customers 

experiencing a net benefit or cost are based on a range of efficiency choices. In the base case, 

DOE does not assume that all customers buy equipment at the baseline efficiency (Level 1). 

DOE assumes that some are buying at higher efficiency levels. The LCC savings is an average of 

the savings achieved by customers who, in the base case, were buying less efficient equipment 

than the efficiency level examined. DOE assumed that customers with no impact in the base case 

are already buying more efficient equipment, so the efficiency level in question would not affect 

those customers. 

Table 8.5.1 Summary of Results of LCC and PBP Analysis for IMH-A-Small-B Equipment 

Class 

Efficiency 

Level 

Number

Efficiency 

Level 

kWh/yr

Life-Cycle Cost, All Customers Life-Cycle Cost Savings

Median 

Payback 

Period, 

years

Installed

Cost

2010$

Total

Discounted

Operating

Cost

2010$

LCC,

All 

Customers

2010$

Affected

Customers'

Average

Savings

2010$

% of Customers that 

Experience

Net

Cost

%

No 

Impact

%

Net

Benefit

%

1 5639 4222 6216 10438 0 NA NA NA NA

2 5078 4238 5829 10067 372 0 41 59 0.33

3 4797 4261 5636 9896 462 0 24 76 0.52

4 4516 4310 5442 9752 524 0 8 92 0.90
8-34

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