Energy Efficient Refrigeration Systems Tips for Facility Managers

by Phoenix Energy Technologies on Jan 20, 2020

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For some companies, commercial refrigeration units can constitute more than 50% of their total overall energy bills. Since commercial refrigeration units consume enormous amounts of energy, finding ways to reduce the overall energy blueprint of these units is critical for facility managers looking to reduce their overall energy footprint — especially for managers handling multiple facilities.

Luckily, there are some steps that every facility manager can take to lower their overall refrigeration energy consumption.

1. Leverage Energy Data

To properly manage the energy contained in refrigeration units, facility managers need to be able to track and record the energy data and utilize that data appropriately. How much energy are your units consuming? Can you optimize float? Are you seeing high defrosts or long recovery times? Do the space temps ever achieve setpoint? Are your door gaskets leaking? These are the types of questions you can answer when you analyze your facilities' energy data.

But, properly managing that data can be a pain point. If facility managers deal with a plethora of disparate systems, finding ways to centralize and normalize that data can be a headache. Make sure that the solution you choose is capable of taking in data from all of your energy sources, normalizing that data, and analyzing it to inform you about your overall energy blueprint.

2. Minimize Wastage

Many businesses approach energy management as a cost. In other words, energy management is seen as an expensive compliance procedure lined in red tape. After all, the easiest way to reduce energy loads is to invest tons of money into new, energy-efficient systems, right?

We think this approach is counteractive. When facility managers think of energy management as a cost associated with new equipment, they fail to realize the real value trapped inside of energy and unnecessary equipment wear and tear. It's not only about compliance. Energy management can be a massive cost saver. But it's not all about new systems.

Your building profile, off-peak hours, and even the earth's natural rhythm impacts your energy profile. And, leveraging energy data intelligently to keep refrigeration units running within the comfort zone can be a massive boom for your overall operations.

3. Pay Attention to Energy Spikes

While fancy new equipment can certainly help lower your overall energy blueprint, simply monitoring and adapting to energy loads is the most significant cost saver for facility managers looking to meet compliance requirements and boost ROI. But what happens when the equipment is at-fault for energy waste?

From malfunctioning sensors to broken door gaskets, failing refrigeration units can be serious power hogs. Optimizing both the mechanical capabilities of equipment (i.e., ensuring that refrigeration units, sensors, their compressors and condensers are functioning optimally) and automating energy workloads is the ideal energy management approach for facilities.

But how do you know when your refrigeration unit isn't working correctly? After all, most units don't give warning signs. They often just up-and-fail. But, by tracking real-time energy usage via IoT sensors, you can discover those hidden issues that may signify equipment failure — like energy spikes. With proactive analytics, you can fine-tune your equipment while simultaneously tracking equipment for failures and unnecessary use. This can save you money on both energy costs and equipment — since repairs are often cheaper than replacements.

Are You Ready to Optimize Your Refrigeration Unit's Energy Workflows?

PhoenixET's Adaptive Energy Management solution combines IoT sensors, data systems, and AI to track and monitor real-time energy usage and adjust refrigeration levels to optimal user settings. Our Enterprise Data Xchange (EDX)® platform lets you connect all of your energy-consuming equipment to one normalized interface with accurate reporting features and plenty of energy-saving analytics.

Are you ready to experience the difference that smart energy can have on your facilities? Request a demo today.