Coolers and freezers are used in a variety of businesses: restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, hotels and more. Refrigeration is important, but the operating costs can leave you in a cold sweat. Fortunately, there's a variety of cool, cost-saving technologies that can help take the heat off your energy budget.
Anti-sweat heater controls
Anti-sweat heaters prevent moisture from forming on glass doors. Left uncontrolled, they run constantly, yet they're only needed for short periods. Humidity-sensing controls save energy and money by making the heaters run less often and reducing the load on the refrigeration system to compensate for the extra heat. Controls are relatively inexpensive and easy to install and maintain.
Efficient evaporator fan motors
Converting standard shaded-pole motors with electronically commutated motors (ECM) in refrigerated display cases, walk-in coolers and freezers can reduce energy costs significantly. ECMs are more energy efficient than shaded-pole units and much easier to program and control.
Floating head pressure controls
In fixed head pressure systems, condensing pressure is maintained by a condenser fan, regardless of the system load. This wastes energy when ambient temperatures are cold. Allowing the compressor head pressure to vary (float) with outdoor conditions reduces refrigerator compression ratios, improves system efficiency and helps extend the life of the unit.
Auto-closers for walk-in or freezer doors
Auto-closers automatically shut doors when they're accidentally left open. They save energy by keeping refrigerated air where it's needed.
Strip curtains
These clear, flexible, overlapped strips are located at the opening of a walk-in cooler, freezer or reach-in display case. They reduce air infiltration when the door opens, saving energy by reducing refrigeration load.
LED lights
Lighting display cases and walk-in freezers take up a surprising amount of energy. LED bulbs provide an energy-efficient alternative to fluorescent and other conventional lighting technologies. LEDs are a perfect fit for many refrigeration applications because they're highly efficient, long-lasting and durable, with excellent cold-temperature performance.
Thermal energy storage
Finally, there are technologies that mount inside your walk-in freezers on the ceiling or in otherwise unoccupied and away from foot traffic spaces. These technologies serve as thermal mass, and when frozen, they can maintain temperatures more effectively when there is a lot of leakage through the door or during equipment outages or planned downtime.
Looking to save more? Upgrade your older refrigerator or freezer with an ENERGY STAR®-certified unit. ENERGY STAR units are, on average, 20% more efficient than standard models.