REFRIGERATION: Adapting, evolving, thriving - The future of refrigeration
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Chilled to perfection
In-store refrigeration is an integral aspect of the consumer experience and is one of the biggest investments stores will make. This is why choosing services, solutions and products that can enhance or improve a store’s refrigeration energy efficiency, increase their sustainability and improve profitability are good for your bottom line. Retail refrigeration systems have advanced significantly, with end-of-life equipment now far outpaced by the improved technology and data of newer refrigeration systems. The result is sustainable refrigeration and in-store cooling systems. Improved food safety and hygiene is another big plus when it comes to better systems, and an enhanced cold chain results in less food waste as well as higher quality chilled products.
Smart energy management
Noda, an international company that offers an all-in-one energy management solution for the commercial built environment, believes retailers need to embrace energy management. For them, the answer is simple, “Energy management offers retailers practical ways to meet sustainability goals, reduce environmental impact and lower operational costs.”
Noda notes that the most effective ways to track and manage energy use include regular energy audits to assess energy consumption and identify areas of concern. In addition, HVAC and lighting can be optimised based on occupancy and use, and installing LED lighting and setting energy benchmarks and controls using energy data can deliver “measurable energy reduction targets.” They also suggest implementing automated solutions and smart controls, as well as automating energy-saving actions, such as adjusting lighting and temperature settings based on real-time needs. Smart energy monitoring systems are an important tool when it comes to reducing costs, meeting sustainability goals and staying competitive.
Mila Vicquery, Energy Partners GM of Sustainability, says, “Innovative energy-efficient solutions for retail and wholesale operations combine smart controls, automation and proactive maintenance to cut costs and improve sustainability. For example, smart building system automation means integrating Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and a building management system (BMS) to enable continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of HVAC, lighting and plant room operations. This ensures that temperature setpoints are optimised and it prevents unnecessary loads, especially in warehouse environments where lighting and HVAC are major consumers.
”Energy Partners develops, operates and invests in industrial energy solutions that help drive critical operational performance, and their notable clients include Pick n Pay, Commercial Cold Holdings and Kaap Agri. The company’s sustainability division is growing their focus on the refrigeration sector, recognising the need for increased efficiencies in this area. Vicquery adds, “In grocery stores where refrigeration accounts for about 50% of energy use (and up to 80% in cold storage), using advanced control systems and predictive maintenance can significantly reduce energy consumption.” Local retailers have embraced this concept.
According to the Woolworths Good Business Journey Report for 2024, “Accurate data measurement and tracking are integral to understanding our overall footprint and identifying areas of improvement. Therefore, we actively monitor electricity usage across our facilities using online electricity meters in most of our facilities,” says the report. Smart monitors that integrate with IoT make automated monitoring and tracking easy and effective, allowing for real-time troubleshooting, predictive and preventative maintenance and informed decision-making. This saves time, saves money, and reduces costs.
The use of energy management systems and timers that control the switching on and off of equipment has also shown great success in walk-in beverage chillers across SPAR and TOPS stores.
Natural refrigerants:
An environmentally responsible approach Converting supermarket refrigeration systems and in-store cooling systems to natural refrigerants that have a low global-warming potential (GWP) of 1 are an environmentally protective move that is slowly becoming legislation at a global level. CO2 systems are also known for their high heat transfer capabilities, resulting in increasingly efficient cooling and heat recovery processes – a win in terms of energy efficiency and reduced costs. While smaller wholesalers and retailers are forced to take a more conservative approach to moving to natural refrigerants because of the costs associated with replacing or retrofitting existing systems, major retailers have pushed ahead.
