Nowadays, environmental sustainability plays an increasingly important role in our daily lives, influencing both individual behavior and organizational practices.
In this context, the commercial refrigeration sector is also rising to meet these expectations, with the goal of creating zero-impact supermarkets.
Arneg is actively contributing to this progress, as demonstrated by its collaboration with Basko—a supermarket chain that is part of the Sogegross Group—in Villalvernia, Italy.
Arneg, indeed, implemented an integrated CO₂ refrigeration system, avoiding the use of HFC refrigerants, which have a high global warming potential if released.
CO₂, by contrast, is a safe, non-flammable natural gas with minimal environmental impact and excellent energy efficiency. It is affordable, widely available, and well-suited for heat recovery applications.
This solution uses high-performance plate heat exchangers to capture waste heat and raise water temperatures to 50°C for sanitary use and heating. The recovered heat powers underfloor heating, air conditioning, and fan coil units—entirely free of charge. Arneg’s collaboration with Basko in Villalvernia has resulted in significant energy savings and enhanced sustainability. By adopting a CO₂ refrigeration system, the need for harmful HFCs was eliminated, and energy consumption was reduced through efficient heat recovery. The same system now provides hot water, heating, cooling, and dehumidification, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. This innovative approach has not only cut costs but also lowered the carbon footprint, aligning with Basko’s environmental goals.
