ENREGY LABELLING
Energy labelling simplifies the specification process
Karl Hodgson, Adande Refrigeration’s recently appointed managing director, looks at the importance of energy labelling and explains how it can be used to make better purchasing decisions.
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n 2021 it became mandatory for labels indicating an energy rating to be displayed on commercial refrigeration equipment. The energy label data
relating to refrigerated cabinets must also be published on the websites, literature and technical documents of all equipment manufacturers and suppliers, making it readily available to end users and specifiers. Despite this initiative, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that not all retailers are using the information available to make the best decision when specifying refrigeration products. The energy label displayed on chilled multi deck cabinets shows a range of parameters determined under the industry test standard EN ISO23953, simplifying a comparison of the performance characteristics of similar models. The label includes the name of the supplier and the model number. A graphic representation highlights the cabinet’s energy efficiency class on a scale from ‘A’ to ‘G’, with ‘A’ being the most efficient, allowing an at a glance comparison. The label also indicates an annual kWh energy consumption figure measured under the industry test standard EN ISO23953. By multiplying this figure by their electricity kWh tariff operators can calculate the annual cost of energy consumption and from that figure work out daily, weekly or monthly charges. The label indicates the total chilled display area of the cabinet in m2, as well as the highest and lowest temperatures of the M-packs measured in the chilled cabinet during the test procedure.
The advantages of efficient retail refrigerated displays The majority of conventional open front cabinets have an energy class rating of ‘E’ or ‘F’. Our research indicates that typical electricity tariffs rose from 28 pence to 41 pence per kWh during the second half of 2022 representing an increase of approximately 46.5%. In real numbers, this means that the annual cost of running a conventional 1250 mm open front refrigerated multi deck display rocketed by nearly £1,000 for an ‘E’ rated cabinet or by approximately £1,200 for an ‘F’ rated cabinet. By switching to more efficient refrigerated display equipment, retailers can make significant reductions in energy expenditure to boost their bottom line.
The UK has been leading the way with its commitment to
achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2021 legislation was introduced aiming to cut emissions to 78% of the 1990 level by 2035, the world’s most ambitious climate change target. To achieve these targets, pressure will fall
30 March 2023 •
www.acr-news.com
on those commercial and industrial sectors who use the most electricity and grocery retailers fall into this category. It is generally accepted that food retailing operations use approximately 2% of the UK’s total electricity consumption and refrigeration can account for over 50% of a store’s usage, depending upon shop format, size, food offer and environmental control systems employed. By switching to more efficient refrigerated displays, retailers will be able to reduce demand significantly, helping in the race towards net zero.
Superior chilled display cabinets typically feature
narrower temperature bandwidths and stable humidity levels. These characteristics have been proven in laboratory tests to maintain food at optimum quality for longer periods. This reduces the amount of produce which may be price discounted or thrown away, creating cost savings for the retailer. The reduction of waste also has positive implications for maximising the use of available food resources and limits the generation of carbon resulting from its disposal.
Energy labelling – a comparison The labels shown provide a comparison between two commercially available integral 1250 mm multi deck display cabinets. 1. The label on the left relates to the ‘B’ rated Adande Bora cabinet with glass end walls, powered by our Aircell patented airflow management system, whilst the label on the right is from a comparable cabinet widely available in the UK, which has received an ‘F’ energy efficiency rating.
2. Under industry standard test conditions, the ‘B’ rated cabinet had an energy consumption figure of 2,716 kWh/annum. Assuming a tariff of 41 pence per kWh, this means that the ‘B’ rated cabinet will use £1,113 of electricity per year. On the other hand, the ‘F’ rated cabinet had an energy consumption value of 8,702 kWh/ annum costing £3,567, meaning that the Bora cabinet creates an annual energy saving £2,454 compared to the ‘F’ rated cabinet. With further increases in electricity prices expected in the months ahead even greater savings in running costs will be achieved. These will be considerably more when compared with older cabinet models. In stores with more than one unit or across chains with multiple stores, the potential cost reduction is substantial. These significant savings mean that the Bora model will provide a tangible return on investment in under two years.
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