Boosting Restaurant Profits With Energy Efficiency

Refrigeration Systems: Refrigerators and Freezers

How often do you think about your refrigerator? Refrigerators tend to have tank-like durability, which can make them easy to forget about. But just because your refrigerator is working doesn't mean that it's working well-at least not when it comes to energy efficiency. As with any other mechanical equipment, refrigerator performance can dip over time. A few upgrades and a bit of maintenance can have a positive impact on your electricity bills.

Turn off door heaters. Simply switch off the door heater on your reach-in refrigerator or freezer and you could save up to $75 annually per door. Turn the switch back on if you notice significant frost around the door or if there is water dripping on the floor from the front of the refrigerator-never do anything that compromises safety or performance.

Allow for air circulation. Refrigerators remove heat from inside the box and reject that heat out through the coils on the top or bottom of the unit. Don't push your reach-ins into tight spaces where that heat will build up or the unit will end up working harder and using more energy.

Clean condenser and evaporator coils. If you take a look at your refrigerator's condenser you'll see that the fins are magnets for dust and grime. Debris like this builds up on the fins, blocks air flow across the coils and drags down refrigeration efficiency. Dirty coils can also lead to early equipment failure and are sited by one manufacturer as the number one reason for service calls. Similarly, check and clean evaporator fins; find them behind the evaporative fans in your walk-in.

Close the lid on your food wells. Leaving the lid up on your prep table could increase electricity consumption by up to 50 percent.

Check and set defrost cycles. Defrosting is an energy-intensive process that can vary dramatically from restaurant to restaurant, so it's important to take some time to figure out which defrost settings are right for you. The key is to only defrost for as long as you need, which in most cases is no more than 15 minutes, four times daily. Find your defrost time clock: Use the pins on the outside ring to set the number of defrost cycles, and use the center dial to set how long each defrost cycle lasts. One restaurant owner observed by Southern California Edison's engineers saved more than $800 annually by shortening the length of each defrost cycle from 70 minutes to 15 minutes.

Replace old gaskets. Add new door gaskets to any refrigerator that has torn or loose door gaskets. In some areas, utility rebates are available for gasket replacements, and there are service companies that will "turnkey" replace all the worn gaskets in a restaurant.

Upgrade your walk-in. Strip curtains and automatic door closers are inexpensive, easy-to-install upgrades suitable for just about any walk-in. By some estimates, strip curtains alone can cut outside-air infiltration by 75 percent. Utility rebates that cover a big chunk of the upfront costs to purchase a strip curtain are often available. With a rebate, the payback on a strip curtain is usually well under one year.

Use efficient lights. Swapping out incandescent lights for low-temperature CFLs in your walk-in is a smart move. Incandescent lighting gives off much more heat than CFLs, forcing your refrigerator to work harder.

Shade remote condensers. Direct sunlight can really put a dent in the efficiency of a remote condenser. (Remote condensers are usually associated with walk-ins and can often be found on rooftops.) Use a few strategically placed panels to shade the condenser from direct sun during the hottest part of the day, while still allowing for good airflow into and around the condenser unit.

Insulate suction lines. On refrigeration systems with remote condensers, suction lines transport refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor. Adding inexpensive insulation to suction lines can help keep them from absorbing heat during the transfer process, ultimately making the entire refrigeration process more efficient. Check with your utility-rebates may be available to offset the cost of the insulation.

Add night curtains to display cases. Open-case refrigerators may be a great way to put products at the customer's fingertips, but they're typically not a top choice when it comes to energy efficiency. Cut down on energy waste by installing night curtains, which will help trap cold air inside the refrigerator case while you're closed. The curtains are relatively inexpensive, and utility rebates are available in many parts of the state.

Recharge low refrigerant. Operating a walk-in with too little refrigerant puts extra strain on the compressor, driving energy costs up and increasing the risk of equipment failure. Fortunately, it's fairly simple to keep track of your refrigerant level; simply look for the sight glass-the small window into the refrigerant line-on the condenser. If you see bubbles while the system is running, then it's probably time to arrange for a recharge.

Switch to efficient fan motors. Installing efficient fan motors-specifically, the "electronically commutated" (ECM) variety-on a small, two-fan walk-in freezer has been shown to save about $200 a year per fan. Naturally, the bigger the refrigerator and the greater the number of fan motors replaced, the greater the electricity savings will be. If you're in the market for a new walk-in, then California law requires you to install efficient fan motors. If you have an existing walk-in, consider swapping out the old fan motors for newer ECM models. Don't wait until your old fan motors fail: It's actually cheaper to plan ahead and upgrade to ECMs early rather than waiting for an emergency service call. Rebates are available in many parts of the state for ECM motors; check with your utility to see if you are eligible.

Buy ENERGY STAR. Starting January 2006, California law requires that any new reach-in refrigerator or freezer sold is at least ENERGY STAR qualified or equivalent. Compared to standard models, ENERGY STAR labeled commercial solid door refrigerators and freezers can lead to energy savings of as much as 45 percent. Utility rebates are available in many areas for the most efficient models.

Pick your plan

When it comes to utility plans, being picky can be a good thing. Most utility providers offer an array of rate plans, so take the time to find out which one is right for you. Simply call your provider-they can help guide your decision by examining your billing history.