Tag Archives: commercial refrigeration service

Energy Optimization

In Commercial Refrigeration and HVAC

It has been stated that 30% of the energy used to heat or cool a building or a commercial refrigeration unit is wasted. This is caused by old commercial refrigeration equipment, inefficient HVAC equipment, leaks in the system, over-sized compressors, out of date refrigerants, and commercial refrigeration units that were not designed correctly from the start. All of these issues can have drastic impact on a company’s bottom line due to the ever increasing cost of energy.

How Does Energy Optimization Work?

There are many ways to improve the efficiency of a commercial refrigeration or HVAC system. Some of them are expensive and some of them are not. The first step in improving the efficiency of your system and thereby reducing your energy costs would be an Energy Optimization Audit.

A technician certified in energy optimization can provide you with an audit that will clearly specify how to improve your heating and cooling efficiency. Ways to improve your energy optimization could include the following:

Refrigerant Retrofits
Eliminating Leaks In Your HVAC, Ventilation & Commercial Refrigeration Systems
Installing Energy Efficient Lighting In Your Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
Installing Modern Control Units
Installing Variable Speed Motors On Heating and Cooling Equipment
Upgrading To More Efficient Compressors For Your Commercial Refrigeration & HVAC Equipment
Scheduling Regular Maintenance On Existing Refrigeration & HVAC Equipment

The recommendations from your Energy Optimization Audit can be simple and inexpensive ways to lower your energy costs or they could be more expensive. Simple, inexpensive ways to improve the efficiency of your commercial refrigeration or HVAC system could include regularly scheduled maintenance and eliminating leaks. More expensive recommendations to improve your energy efficiency could include replacing the compressors in your refrigeration equipment or HVAC system or possibly complete system upgrades.

The Results Of An Energy Optimization Audit

The bottom line is that energy savings means better business. If you’re wasting energy, and therefore money, needlessly it will continue to be a drag on your company’s profitability. An efficient business is a successful business. An Energy Optimization Audit will give you the tools, resources, and possibly even rebates necessary to improve the energy efficiency of your business.

Finding a qualified technician to provide you an Energy Optimization Audit on your commercial refrigeration and HVAC system could be as easy as calling your energy supplier or contacting the company that provides your maintenance and service.

GreenChill Partnership And Commercial Refrigeration Service

Commercial Refrigeration Service And GreenChill Compliance

GreenChill is a partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and food retailers who use refrigerated equipment to reduce refrigerant emissions and thereby decrease the damage they can cause to the ozone layer. As part of this process, retailers are also encouraged to update their refrigerants during commercial refrigeration service to non-ozone depleting substitutes in their refrigerated equipment.

Commercial Refrigeration Service And Refrigerant Conversion

Conversion from older refrigerants in refrigerated equipment like HCFC-22 and other HCFCs is a major part of GreenChill Compliance. HCFC-22 is known to cause significant damage to the ozone layer when it is inadvertently released during commercial refrigeration service. To prevent this in the future the GreenChill Partnership as well as the Montreal Protocol, a treaty signed by the United States, has called for the phase out of HCFC-22 and other damaging HCFCs. This will force the transition to newer, non-ozone depleting refrigerants during commercial refrigeration service.

As of 2015, there will be no import or production of ozone damaging HCFCs except for refrigerated equipment manufactured before 2010. While retailers who own older equipment will still be able to get their refrigerant recharged during commercial refrigeration service, by 2020 two of the most widely used HCFCs (142b and 22) will no longer be imported or produced. By 2030 it is expected that all damaging refrigerants are eliminated in refrigerated equipment in the United States because there will be no import or production of any HCFCs by 2030. At that time, almost all commercial refrigeration service will be done on equipment using non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

Two Main Approaches For Retrofitting Refrigerated Equipment During Commercial Refrigeration Service

The first approach to retrofitting retail refrigerated equipment during commercial refrigeration service involves replacing the refrigerant only. This approach is more cost effective and results in minimal changes to the refrigerated equipment. The second approach involves installing new mechanical systems during commercial refrigeration service which is obviously more costly. In addition to migrating to a non-ozone depleting refrigerant, the commercial refrigeration service could include installing new compressors, condensers, and cases.

Regardless of which approach is undertaken any retrofit should include improving the leak tightness of the refrigerated equipment during the commercial refrigeration service. Emissions of the refrigerant whether old or new is still a large issue because even if they are non-ozone damaging refrigerants newer refrigerants like HFCs are still considered greenhouse gases. So to prevent exchanging one environmental problem for another refrigerated equipment owners need to use the retrofit conversion process during commercial refrigeration service as a way to reduce refrigerant leaks and prevent refrigerant emissions.

Proper commercial refrigeration service of your refrigerated equipment has never been more important. Not only are there reliability issues that need to be considered, but preventing damage to the environment during commercial refrigeration service needs to be addressed as well.

Refrigeration Equipment | Commercial Refrigerator Service

Commercial Refrigerator Service

Refrigeration equipment is a vital part of any food service establishment’s operations, so commercial refrigerator service should not be taken lightly. When looking for a technician to provide your commercial refrigerator service, you’ll want to find one that has certified training in the service of refrigeration equipment. The non-profit organization North American Technician Excellence, or NATE, specializes in certifying technicians in commercial refrigerator service and the field of refrigeration equipment.

Why A NATE Technician For Your Commercial Refrigerator Service?

NATE certification tests represent real working knowledge of HVAC and refrigeration equipment. They provide testing that allows technicians to be certified in specific knowledge areas like commercial refrigerator service. The NATE testing process recognizes different levels of expertise and includes a core exam and a specialty exam in a field like commercial refrigerator service. This exam process simplifies the field of refrigeration equipment into different knowledge areas. So technicians become experts at specific fields rather than becoming a jack-of-all trades in HVAC and refrigeration equipment.

Staying Up To Date In The Field Of Commercial Refrigerator Service

The HVAC and refrigeration equipment fields are constantly changing. So it’s important for commercial refrigerator service technicians to remain up to speed with the latest developments. Changes like new refrigerants for your refrigeration equipment, new codes and standards for commercial refrigerator service, and changes in engineering and technology require that your commercial refrigerator service technician remain up to date. To accomplish this, NATE requires re-certification testing to keep technicians on the cutting edge of the refrigeration equipment industry.

An up-to-date NATE certification provides a wealth of benefits to HVAC and refrigeration equipment technicians and the companies they serve. You wouldn’t go to a doctor that quit studying medicine after medical school. So why would you call on a commercial refrigerator service technician whose knowledge about refrigeration equipment is out of date? When you contact a NATE certified commercial refrigerator service technician, you can be comfortable in knowing that they have invested the time and energy into achieving and maintaining their certification in refrigeration equipment and commercial refrigerator service.

When looking for someone to provide you with quality commercial refrigerator service, take the time to look for a technician that has been NATE certified. NATE certified technicians are skilled professionals who have proven their knowledge of HVAC and refrigeration equipment by successfully completing NATE certification testing in specialized areas like commercial refrigerator service.

The Importance Of Commercial Refrigeration Service

Commercial Refrigeration Service

commercial refrigeration service Being a restauranteur or retail grocer, you probably understand how important commercial refrigeration is to your business. Commercial refrigeration equipment would include any free standing or built-in unit(s) that provide cold storage for your company’s perishable goods. Commercial refrigeration includes both refrigerators and freezers which are available in a wide variety of configurations including walk-ins, reach-ins, and commercial refrigeration display cases.

Why Is Commercial Refrigeration Service So Important?

Because perishable goods are an important part of the revenue and profits for your company, it is important to keep your commercial refrigeration operating properly through scheduled commercial refrigeration service. You know what happens when your commercial refrigeration breaks down suddenly. You are scrambling to find some way to get it running again before thousands of dollars of product goes bad and can’t be sold to customers. Of course you can rely on emergency commercial refrigeration service, but this is much more costly than scheduled maintenance and the availability of emergency commercial refrigeration service when you need it most is a big unknown.

The other reason you need to keep your refrigeration equipment in top operating condition through regular commercial refrigeration service is because of the energy costs related to operating it. For most restaurants and small grocers, the energy costs related to operating their commercial refrigeration equipment make up a large part of their overhead. When your equipment is operating inefficiently due to lack of proper commercial refrigeration service, then your energy costs can go up significantly.

The Peace Of Mind Provided By Commercial Refrigeration Service

Properly maintained commercial refrigeration equipment provides peace of mind to restaurant owners and retail grocers. Quite a bit of your working capital is invested in the perishable goods that regular commercial refrigeration service helps keep at the proper temperature. When you rely on emergency commercial refrigeration service, then you are playing a risky game of chance which could cost you thousands.

Being incredibly user friendly due to the variety of sizes and types, commercial refrigeration units offer safe food storage options when commercial refrigeration service is done on a regular basis. Your refrigeration equipment was a large investment for you when you started your company, so when you take care of it like you would a fancy car or custom built home with regular commercial refrigeration service it provides you with a reliable solution for your cold storage needs.

Whether your refrigeration equipment is new or old, a good commercial refrigeration service company can provide you the maintenance needed to keep it in top working order.