Glass Door Merchandisers

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Introduction

Glass door merchandisers are typically found in grocery and convenience stores to display beverages and refrigerated foods. They range in size from 10 to 70 cubic feet and are available in swing or sliding-door configurations. Most have one or two doors. Glass door merchandisers are medium-temperature (35° to 40°F), portable refrigeration devices.

Technology Options

Glass door merchandisers may be more energy efficient if they are designed with components such as high-efficiency evaporator and condenser fan motors, hot gas anti-sweat heaters, high-efficiency compressors, thicker wall insulation or improved lighting. All of these features can significantly reduce energy consumption and utility bills. Many units have T12 fluorescent lighting with magnetic ballasts in the 20 to 40 W range. Almost all units have triple paned glass with a low-emissivity coating.

A glass door merchandiser's energy consumption typically ranges from 2 to 30 Megawatt hours (MWh)/year. The display lighting may consume nearly as much energy as the compressor on these units. If the unit is located in a well-lit area, consider removing the light, which could result in 10% to 30% energy savings.

To achieve maximum energy efficiency in operating glass door merchandisers, maintain the interior temperature at the proper setting for storing product. Make sure that door gaskets and auto closers are maintained in good operating condition since worn door gaskets and faulty auto closers allow warm air to enter the cabinet increasing energy consumption and would provide a poor product for customers.

Efficiency Benefits

Energy-efficient glass door merchandisers help to reduce not only the cost of operation, but also the air conditioning load. These units release heat into the ambient air, which must be removed by the facility's air conditioning system during cooling seasons. Thus, units that release less heat will ease the air conditioning load, further reducing the facility's energy consumption and costs.

Manufacturers

Several companies make glass door merchandisers: Beverage-Air, Turbo Air and True Manufacturing.

Purchasing Tips

Select an appropriate-sized unit for the intended use. Oversized units will increase the initial cost and lead to excessive expense due to energy losses and under-utilized capacity.

When purchasing a unit, inquire about the annual energy consumption, usually expressed in kilowatt-hours per year, kWh/yr. Inquire about energy efficiency options such as T8 display lighting with electronic ballasts, or lighting control options such as a switch or timer for off hours. Compare competitive models and choose the unit that meets your businesses needs with least amount of energy.

Emerging Technology

Manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to reduce the energy consumption of their equipment. Some of the potential energy consumption reductions may result from improvements in compressor performance, evaporator and condenser fans and motors, insulation, lighting and/or lighting controls.