Operate Your Fridge, Freezer or Ice-Maker Efficiently

Affordability

Many of the steps to make your refrigeration more energy-efficient are easy to implement and can help your equipment last longer, saving you on energy and maintenance bills.

Cost savings

Improving how you use your refrigeration can be free to implement and can result in notable savings.

Environmental considerations

Running your system more efficiently requires little to no new equipment. This kind of change creates no impacts from new manufacturing, shipping or disposal, meaning every watt of energy saved benefits the environment.

What you need to know

• Set operating temperatures of refrigerators and freezers only as low as necessary and check regularly to maintain consistent temperatures.
• Optimize the defrost cycle based on seasonal, humidity and load requirements by resetting cycle frequency or installing an automatic control.
• Purge non-condensables (air, gases from oil breakdown, water, organic acids, etc.) from the refrigeration system at each purge point to make systems run more efficiently.
• Operate the system at the lowest condensing pressure possible with existing condenser capacity.
• Raise the evaporator temperature to the maximum level possible.
• Install motion sensors or train personnel to turn off lights in unoccupied refrigerated areas.
• Shut down refrigeration in areas where extensive loading and unloading occurs.
• Install a strip curtain on all walk-in freezers and coolers.
• Consider a walk-in cooler controller. A controller saves energy by automating the cooler's fan control, slowing the air within the cooler when full speed is not required, which also reduces the heat produced by the fan. Anecdotal evidence suggests they help protect produce quality as well (less dehydration).
• Choose efficient ice-makers and refrigerated vending machines.

FAQ

How can I avoid heat build-up in my refrigeration system?
Use as few lights as possible and/or use low-wattage lights, such as compact fluorescents (CFLs), to illuminate interiors. In addition, use night covers on refrigeration and freezer units to keep out unwanted heat.