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Best Practice Guide |
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Food and Beverage Growers and Processors |
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RefrigerationEnergy Use BasicsEnergy use characteristics
Besides process cooling, refrigeration systems are critical for cold storage. The United States has approximately 2.9 billion cubic feet (cu. ft) of cold storage, with total capacity increasing each year. Of this, California has the largest gross warehouse capacity, mainly for the agriculture and dairy sectors, but also to support the needs of several other industries and manufacturers. Among the U.S. pacific coast states, there are almost 310 million cu. ft. of cooler storage in public warehouses and 1.3 billion cu. ft. of freezer space. Energy efficiency measures do more than just reduce utility bills. Several measures prolong the useful life of expensive capital assets such as condensers and compressors. Other measures might improve product quality, production efficiency or worker comfort. While the economic impact of these indirect benefits may be difficult to calculate, it is worth noting and reporting the results along with energy and cost savings. How does a refrigerator work?
Resources Northwest Food Processors Association ENERGY PORTAL, online information on process efficiency for refrigeration and freezing. Industrial Refrigeration Best Practices Guide. Prepared by Cascade Energy Engineering for the Northwest Food Processors Association and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. The Industrial Refrigeration Consortium (IRC) is a collaborative effort between the University of Wisconsin Madison and industry. The goal of the IRC is to improve the safety, efficiency, and productivity of industrial refrigeration systems and technologies. A Guide to Help You Reduce the Energy Use of Your Industrial Refrigeration System. Pacific Gas and Electric Company website. Hochstein, A. Closing in on the Ideal: Door engineering that maximizes energy efficiency and handling productivity for today's cold storage facilities. Rite-Hite Corporation website. Thermal Energy Storage Strategies for Commercial HVAC Systems. Application Note, Pacific Gas and Electric. Northwest Food Processors Association Efficiency Practices and Emerging Technologies websites offer useful information and tips for the food processing industry. California Energy Commission websites on Food and Fiber Processing Technologies and Energy in Agriculture. |