How to Save Money on Your Commercial Refrigeration Running Costs (Part 2)
If you are operating a food outlet or café selling fresh food & drinks, then the chances are that a large amount of your electricity costs are likely to come from your refrigeration equipment. In fact, in 2012, Australians spent nearly $5 billion on refrigeration-related energy bills.*
By taking the following steps, you may be able to reduce your electricity costs considerably, whilst at the same time, doing good for the environment. They are also a good rule of thumb to ensure you are getting the best performance out of your refrigeration units.
- Ensure appliances are placed on a level surface, as this will help the doors remain properly sealed when closed.
- Try to place units away from heat sources, sunlight and allow for adequate ventilation.
- Set the temperature at 3°C to 4°C for fridges, and at -15°C to -18°C for freezers, unless what you are storing has a particular requirement outside those temperature ranges.
- Turn off the lighting in coldrooms & display cabinets when not in use and/or after business hours.
- Try to minimise the number of times you need to access the coldroom whilst restocking & taking stock out.
- If your coldroom or freezer opens directly into a kitchen, having a pvc strip curtain fitted will assist the room maintaining temperature whilst stocking and accessing
- Check door seals, worn gaskets can be a contributing factor to poor performance, and increased energy costs
- Keep your freezers frost-free! Any ice build-up greater than about 5mm in thickness will act as an insulator, leading to increased energy consumption and cost. Where necessary, defrost regularly as excessive ice build-up will reduce the operating efficiency of your refrigeration units. **
If you require assistance with your refrigeration, you need some answers to poor performance or high running costs, please call Subzero Projects to discuss a routine maintenance check.
- Consider replacing older fridges with more energy efficient models. If you are replacing fridges that are more than 15 years old, you could potentially reduce refrigeration expenses by up to 40%!**
Choosing the right commercial refrigerated equipment
Cheap refrigeration cabinets are often very inefficient, and can cost shopkeepers thousands in electricity over the life of the fridge. Not to mention the life expectancy of an inferior “cheap” unit may also only be a couple of years (as opposed to the life expectancy of a more reputable brand.
The so called “saving” becomes a false economy once you realize how much more it costs for the “cheaper” unit to run & how long you can expect the unit to last.
- When buying new refrigeration equipment check out the ENERGY RATING and opt for models with the highest number of energy stars possible.
- Choose products that are specifically designed for use in Australian and tropical conditions.
- Avoid units with extra features you are unlikely to use. Instead, select units that have only the features you are really going to need.
Silverchef
Want to replace your old equipment for a more energy efficient one? Subzero Projects are an accredited Silver Chef retailer, and we can help guide you through the funding process once you have found the equipment you want.
Silver Chef is the leading equipment funder to the hospitality industry and their funding solution; Rent-Try-Buy®, is designed to help you find the right commercial kitchen or catering equipment to suit your business needs.
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*Cold Hard Facts 2, p.85, prepared by ‘The Expert Group’ on behalf of the DCCEE.