With an ever increasing need to consider the environmental impact from business operations, it’s important to think about what changes can be made to older and inefficient aspects of your current set-up.
One of the biggest energy consumers for businesses is often heating and cooling solutions, and for the world of food and perishable goods retail, that includes refrigeration.
That’s why it is worth retailers taking the time to weigh up if now is the right time to switch to more energy efficient forms of refrigeration units.
By making the switch businesses can make significant strides in minimising their carbon footprint
Sian Bird Marketing graduate
What is commercial refrigeration?
Commercial refrigeration units are specialised cooling systems designed to store and preserve perishable goods.
This is done by using a refrigerant to remove heat from a cabinet or even the indoor space and relocating it to an outdoor space via a fan in the condensing unit.
These units are commonly used in businesses such as supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, corner shops and food production and storage.
They are vital for preventing spoilage, maintaining product quality and for meeting food safety standards.
The increasing need to consider greener refrigerants
Refrigeration is an essential part of modern life, but with rising concerns about global warming it is important for retailers to make the shift towards greener natural refrigerants and energy efficient equipment.
Mitsubishi Electric has recently entered the UK refrigeration market with the innovative ECOV R744 Series, now offering retailers the opportunity to make this much needed shift.
This range of condensing units use R744, commonly referred to as CO2, which is a natural refrigerant. It has one of the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) of any refrigerant with of 1. This is a significantly lower GWP when compared to traditional refrigerants such as R448A which has a GWP of 1390.
R744 is compatible with a wide range of refrigeration units when combined with the right technology, making it ideal for custom solutions – as well as meeting the latest F gas regulations.
By making the switch from conventional systems that rely on HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants, businesses can make significant strides in minimising their carbon footprint, contributing substantially to the fight against climate change.
The ECOV Series empowers businesses to not only comply with energy conservation policies but also to actively participate in the global movement towards a more environmentally responsible and resilient future.
The ECOV series
The ECOV units are designed to be reliable, simple to install, and highly energy efficient so they can help our clients meet key CSR and net zero targets. The wide range of evaporating temperatures, the small footprint and super low noise levels make it ideal for small outlets.
All ECOV units can be connected to multiple refrigerated display cabinets or cold rooms evaporators - making them an ideal choice for smaller retail shops, convenience stores and cold storage rooms in pubs, cafes, and restaurants, along with cold chain distribution centres.
How do I maintain commercial refrigeration equipment?
Once you’ve invested in cleaner refrigerants and energy efficient equipment, ensuring that its maintained correctly is imperative to ensuring it continues to perform as efficiently as possible. This should be done in the following ways:
- Regularly clean and defrost evaporators.
- Check door seals for damage and ensure they close properly.
- Clean condenser coils to maintain efficiency.
- Schedule routine maintenance by qualified technicians.
- Regularly clean out pump drainage to ensure water is drained properly.
How can I improve the energy efficiency of my commercial refrigeration system?
Making the step of upgrading to a more energy efficient model of 'refrigeration condensing unit is only the first step, in addition to this you should consider implementing controls and sensors to manage temperature settings efficiently.
The ECOV range have direct Modbus connectivity, allowing the unit to easily communicate with various monitoring systems.
In addition, it has an innovative heat recovery port allowing for rejected heat to be used elsewhere in the building for minimal space heating and hot water demand.
Further details on the innovative ECOV range can be found at our dedicated webpage.
Sian Bird is a marketing graduate
