How to make your commercial refrigeration more energy efficient

Commercial freezers and refrigerators are vital for restaurants, grocery shops and other food-related businesses. However, energy consumption is something many owners and managers of such operations are concerned about. A recent UK report on domestic energy prices showed a 54% increase in household energy bills, expected to hit 80% before the year ends. For a commercial business owner, this surge presents major financial challenges.

Fortunately, whether you own commercial display fridges, convenience store display fridges, or commercial multidecks, you can benefit from a few energy-saving tips, including the following:

Keeping them clean

Commercial freezers can get filthy since you always have items coming in and out. Therefore, make it a point to regularly clean and sanitise your refrigerators. A dirty freezer can become a major health concern in a restaurant and food-service business, requiring superior hygiene. Also, bacteria growth is prevalent in commercial freezers and preventable by frequent cleaning. Bacteria contamination can compromise your food quality and cause energy waste on your appliance. According to research, filthy coils can increase energy usage in four single- and double-door commercial  refrigeration and freezer units by 83% to 100%.

Regular servicing

It’s vital to keep your machines in good working order. While frequent cleaning can be done in-house, it’s critical to have a certified technician visit your business and service your commercial refrigerators at least once or twice annually. Your staff can perform simple maintenance servicing. However, certain jobs are best left to professionals. The servicing may include:

Condenser coils

Commercial refrigerators are built to run at lower temperatures than domestic models. Therefore, the condenser coils must be cleaned regularly. If such surfaces get unclean or dusty, an insulating layer forms, causing heat retention and overheating, component failure and energy wasting.

Door gasket replacement

Many folks think that the door or entire freezer should be replaced when the door seal fails. In truth, only the seal may need to be changed. Most of the time, cleaning and restoring the seal would be enough. Employees should complete these tasks regularly to prevent cold air from escaping the freezers.

Defrosting

Do you know your commercial fridge’s or freezer’s usual defrost cycle? Your unit may have three to four defrost cycles per day, scheduled at certain times, and should eventually kick in when there is enough frost build-up. Around 15-20 minutes should allow the heaters sufficient time to defrost the coils. Commercial refrigerators that are inefficient and frost-damaged have greater running expenses. You can use a manufacturer-recommended on-demand or smart defrost mechanism with a sensor to indicate when it is time to defrost. This can contribute to lower energy costs through increased energy efficiency.

Holding at optimum temperature

Maintaining your food stock at the proper temperature is crucial to retain the freshness and quality of your products. Setting the temperature too high or too low might ruin the contents. Maintain consistent temperature stability and routine cleaning to guarantee optimal food quality. The recommended temperature for commercial refrigerators for proper storage is -18°C, while commercial refrigerator temperatures should be held in the range of 1°C to 7°C .

Not under or over-filling the unit

While a full fridge or freezer is more efficient than a vacant one, overfilling it may cause the air vents to become clogged. As a result, air circulation will be restricted, putting additional strain on the condenser and motor, leading to more energy consumption. Your unit is likely overcrowded if you’re having trouble viewing the inside at the rear. Similarly, you won’t do your energy bills any favour by running your commercial refrigerators when they’re empty. Consider storing all your food items in one or two freezers rather than keeping all your commercial freezers running.

Keeping doors closed

It is common knowledge that you shouldn’t open your commercial refrigerator door. Doing it regularly for just five seconds a time can shoot up your energy bills. Leaving your convenience store display fridges open can affect their system’s cycle and overall efficiency. It may frequently increase your energy expenditure. Opening a freezer and placing a container on the shelf can account for up to 23.2% of the total load.

However, because commercial kitchens are frequently busy, keeping the door shut to save electricity in such a bustling working environment will be difficult. A solution is to install electrical trim warmers on your retail freezer doors to keep the clear glass to limit the need for customers open to see your merchandise.

Now more than ever, supermarkets, restaurants and any other business in that industry must reconsider their energy usage and consumption. Even basic changes such as installing night curtains on open fridge displays or turning off lighting after the store closes can boost your energy efficiency dramatically. Investing in energy-efficient cooling systems can also assist you in achieving your energy efficiency goals.