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| Top 10 Tips For Improving Refrigeration Energy Efficiency |
 Williams offers simple, cool advice...
As the UK's leading manufacturer of commercial refrigeration, Williams has unrivalled experience of both the use and abuse of fridges. There's no doubt that, with a little adjustment, many caterers could improve their fridge's efficiency.
Here the company offers some no-nonense advice on how to ensure your fridge keeps operating with maximum energy efficiency, plus what to look out for if you're about to buy new equipment.
More energy efficiency from the fridges you already have.
1. Location, location, location - One of the commonest forms of 'fridge abuse' is, quite simply, putting it in the wrong place, so that there is inadequate ventilation. This means it has to work much harder to maintain temperature. Make sure your fridge has plenty of ventilation and make sure staff don't block it (for example, by storing trays beside the cabinet's ventilation panels.)
2. Make the kitchen cooler - Making better use of the kitchen's ventilation could drop the ambient temperature by a degree of two, which means the fridges will need less energy (plus, your staff will be more comfortable). Equally, putting your fridge in a cooler part of the kitchen, away from the hot cooking equipment, will mean it doesn't have to work so hard.
3. Overloading - Another common abuse is to overload fridges. This affects the internal airflow, reducing the cabinet's or coldroom's ability to chill effectively. Again, the system will constantly work to try to rectify the problem and energy will be wasted.
4. Internal layout - Make sure your shelves are properly spaced out and, if you're storing big boxes, make sure they don't block the airflow.
5. Shut that door! Obvious but, almost unbelievably, another common abuse. Always shut the fridge, freezer or coldroom door and NEVER prop them open! If you're constantly going in and out of a coldroom, fit a plastic strip curtain to keep the cold in.
6. Turn off the burners - A common practise in kitchens is to leave gas burners on. This raises the kitchen temperature and causes fridges to work much harder than necessary. So turn burners off when they're not in use.
Choosing energy-efficient refrigeration...
7. ECA accreditation - It saves energy and saves you money. If you can, choose a fridge that's ECA accredited. This government-sponsored scheme means the fridges are recognised as energy efficient plus, if you are an SME, you can claim 100% tax allowance in the first year when purchasing the cabinets.
8. Save energy with drawer and half door cabinets - Fridges using drawers and half doors (as opposed to full doors) are increasingly popular because they hold temperature better, since you only access the part of the fridge you need. They won't suit everyone, but are simple and effective energy savers.
9. With insulation, go thick - The thicker the insulation, the less cold the fridge looses and the less warmth (from the kitchen) it gains. So the less energy you use to maintain temperature.
10. Consider remote refrigeration systems - This is where several cabinets and coldrooms are powered from one refrigeration system, usually sited outside, often on the roof. Systems like the Williams Glycol are not only more energy efficient, they also chill more quickly and remove the heat and sound produced by stand-alone fridges from the kitchen.
In the future...
Right now manufacturers are developing more energy efficient refrigeration. Williams is launching new control panels that use intelligent technology to deliver dramatic energy savings of 10 - 15% |
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18th Floor Crown Plaza Commercial Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 329 1082 Fax: +971 4 332 8860 |
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