Investing in an Energy-Saving Commercial Refrigerator: What You Need to Know

Energy Star products are designed to save consumers and business owners large sums of money. They are also designed to help lower your carbon footprint with minimal effort. If you own a restaurant business, that can all start by investing in an energy-saving commercial refrigerator.

For restaurant owners who want to make their business more eco-friendly, Energy Star products are a good place to start. You will save money on your energy bills by lowering your energy consumption levels.

It is also simply better for the environment. Many food service entrepreneurs have switched to energy conservation techniques and methods in the last ten years. Doing so will help reduce their annual expenditures by lowering their energy use levels, saving money while helping the environment at the same time. Branding your business as one that takes real steps to help the environment will also help draw environmentally-conscious consumers to your location.

Here, we will focus on investing in an energy-saving commercial refrigerator and the things you need to consider before investing in one.

Fridge Power Consumption

Your refrigerator will likely be running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, switching to an energy-efficient unit makes sound business sense. An energy-efficient model can be 5 to 6 times more efficient than a comparable conventional unit of the same size.

Even compared to some of the latest models on the market, an energy-efficient fridge will still utilize at least 10% less energy. 10% may not seem like much today, but it will quickly add up over time, as most refrigerators are used for upwards of a decade.

Look for Fridges With the Energy Star or EnerGuide Labels

ENERGY STAR® fridges are truly state-of-the-art models. They are so efficient that a unit’s upper freezer can require less energy than a light bulb of roughly sixty watts.

Older fridge models tend to lack the proper casing insulation and compressor efficiency. ENERGY STAR® models tend not to have these problems, which explains why they can save their owners so much money.

Moreover, the EnerGuide label is also something to look for when shopping for a new refrigerator. The label will show you the annual energy consumption level (in kilowatt-hours).

If you cannot find the ENERGY STAR® high-efficiency label on the product, then you can check the EnerGuide label as an alternative.

ENERGY STAR® fridges have many benefits that can translate into lower energy consumption and overall costs for residential and commercial establishments.

However, not all models are created equal, so you must do due diligence to find the right model for your business or home.

Look for Refrigerators With a Freezer on the Top or Bottom

A refrigerator with a freezer on the base or the top will expend less energy than most side-by-side units sold today. Top-freezer models will consume roughly 13% less energy, while bottom-freezer models will typically consume 16% less energy than separate freezers.

If possible, we suggest you find a refrigeration unit with a freezer on the top or the bottom.

Make Sure Your Next Refrigerator is Correctly Sized

Generally speaking, the larger the model will be, the more power it will require to operate. With rare exceptions, you can expect most energy-efficient units to range from sixteen to twenty cubic feet with rare exceptions.

If you own a large business, then a single unit may not suffice. If you need to buy more than one refrigerator or freezer, ensure that it is no larger than what you need to run your business properly. It needs to be energy-efficient but also as compact as possible.

Also, if you have an older refrigerator, cooler, or freezer in the basement or garage, then now may be the time to get rid of it. You can try recycling the unit, or you can try selling it. You can also donate it to a local charity. They will usually accept it if the unit is still in working order.

Maximizing Your Return on Investment

If you are still dragging your old model from home to business or business-to-business, it may be time to upgrade. Some people will move to a new place, notice that the previous owner left their old fridge, and simply hang onto it for years. In truth, they probably left the unit behind for a reason. We suggest you replace an obsolete or antiquated fridge with a new model with superb energy-efficient qualities or properties.

Using older commercial fridges may save you money in the short-term, but over time, as they waste more energy to function and break down more often, your overall costs will far surpass the price of getting a new unit, especially if it is energy efficient, like models with the ENERGY STAR® and EnerGuide labels.

If you are planning on moving soon, you should focus on getting rid of the least energy-efficient devices. Power-consuming devices adversely impact the environment, not to mention your wallet, so you should try and sell, donate, or recycle them if you can.

Other articles from totimes.ca – mtltimes.ca – otttimes.ca