With costs rising dramatically across many areas, both in the domestic and business sector, many people are looking to optimize efficiency and reduce outlay. Within the retail sector energy costs are a key concern especially when the equipment needed to stock and display refrigerated goods is vital to business.
While all refrigeration obviously requires energy to operate, cabinets with doors and chest freezers are inherently designed to contain the cold air thus reducing the pressure placed on the refrigeration system to maintain chilled conditions and lowering energy costs. Multidecks however offer a challenge.
Multidecks are a core piece of kit for storing and displaying chilled food and drink. Promoting ‘grab and go’ impulse purchases, multidecks typically have an open front with tiered shelving levels on which to display produce. The open fronted nature of this type of commercial fridge allows cold air to easily escape meaning refrigeration has to work harder to maintain consistent temperatures.
In an average case a mid-sized refrigerated open fronted multideck (approx. 1.3 m wide) will cost between £10 – £12 per day to run. Just imagine the cost involved in having a full multiplexed line of equipment! By making a key change to equipment, businesses can reduce energy costs of display refrigeration significantly.
Optimise Multideck Efficiency
By making one simple change to multidecks, businesses can reduce energy costs of display refrigeration by anywhere between 30 – 50%.
The simple ingredient is doors.
By investing in multidecks with doors energy consumption could be significantly lower during day-to-day operation. Glass doors effectively contain cold air, reducing pressure on chilling systems and therefore saving on the amount of energy used without confining or inhibiting the open and unobstructed view that makes multidecks the leaders in shop display refrigeration.
Although the initial outlay and expense when buying multidecks with doors is greater than with standard multidecks, the savings that can be made in the long run are huge and can help to ease the stress of operating a business in these challenging times.
Read more top tips to reduce energy costs for commercial refrigeration
- Good airflow around equipment is essential to prevent refrigeration systems from overheating thus allowing them to work effectively.
- Quality manufacture is vital. It delivers not only longevity but also good insulation properties and double-glazed glass where applicable to help to keep cold temperatures contained.
- Try to keep environmental temperatures around equipment as constant as possible and always within the manufacturer’s maximum ambient temperature guidelines. When refrigeration gets too hot it will become inefficient to run, create fluctuating, inconsistent storage conditions and will ultimately lead to breakdown.
- Don’t overstock commercial refrigeration. Allowing cold air to flow around the interior of the cabinet and the produce stored is just as important as external airflow for even and consistent cooling results.
- Don’t put warm or ambient products directly into fridges or freezers. Unless specifically designed for such a purpose and stated for use as such by the manufacturer, commercial refrigeration should not be used as a method to pull down the temperature of stock, more to hold pre-chilled goods in a consistent set environment.
- Clean condensers and vents every month or two to make sure that the refrigeration components are clear and able to work to optimum levels.
- Check any seals on closed cabinet refrigeration. Broken or failing seals will allow cold air to escape thus pushing up energy usage and causing refrigeration to work harder to achieve and maintain the desired conditions.
- Always follow the manufacturers guidelines and recommendations to achieve optimum fridge and freezer efficiency.
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