Commercial or non-domestic refrigeration applications span a wide range of processes and applications in the food chain and consume approximately the same quantity of electricity as the combined total of all residential lighting and refrigeration in Australia and New Zealand. Commercial refrigeration is estimated to account for 4% of emissions from Australia’s energy sector and 6% of emissions in New Zealand.
Examples of technologies include refrigerated cabinets, walk-in coolrooms, industrial cold storage, beverage cooling, vending machines and ice makers. End users that would benefit from improved energy efficiency measures include supermarkets, food processer’s, dairy industry fishing fleets, schools, cafes and restaurants and refrigerated transport.
A ten year strategy for commercial refrigeration products, outlined in the paper “In From The Cold” and jointly developed by Australian and New Zealand governments, aims to improve the energy efficiency of equipment throughout the sector. By facilitating a market transformation, the strategy will deliver increased energy efficiency of systems, components and refrigerants.
As shown in Figure 1, the electricity consumption of commercial refrigeration is largest in supermarkets, and process and cold storage.
<a href="http://refcatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/refrigeration_.gif"><img class="alignnone wp-image-534" src="http://refcatalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/refrigeration_.gif" alt="refrigeration_" width="574" height="416" /></a>
Refrigerated display cabinets (RDCs) and refrigerated storage cabinets (RSCs) are used in supermarkets, petrol stations and smaller food and beverage vendors such as ‘corner stores’ and delicatessens to chill food and drink for sale. These technologies are a significant component of the supermarket and process & cold storage sectors. Some types of RDCs have been regulated for their energy use since 2004 with Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). Any increase or introduction of minimum energy performance standards will be subject to costs and benefits assessment and consultation.
The E3 committee is focusing its efforts on energy efficiency improvements for these appliances.
Refrigerated Display Cabinets (RDCs) are intended to store and display for sale chilled and/or frozen foodstuffs and beverages. These cabinets allow the stored products to be either directly viewed through an opening in the cabinet or through transparent doors, lids or covers. The doors are normally kept closed but enable users to access any of the contents without stepping inside the refrigerated space. They are typically used in retail applications such as supermarkets, petrol stations, liquor outlets and smaller food and beverage vendors such as ‘corner stores’, ‘dairies’ and delicatessens.
Refrigerated Storage Cabinets (RSCs) are specifically designed to store, but not to display for sale, chilled and/or frozen foodstuffs. They predominantly have solid faced doors, lids or drawers that are generally kept closed, but allow access to the contents without having to step inside the refrigerated space. RSCs are typically used in catering applications and non-retail areas of supermarkets, butcheries, restaurants, hotels, cafes, professional kitchens and institutional facilities where they are used mainly for storage.
Source: <a href="http://www.energyrating.gov.au/products/commercial-refrigeration" target="_blank">energyrating.gov.au</a>
