If you were ever to stop and think about how much energy is wasted in supermarkets or convenience stores with open-fronted chillers or chest freezers, it would become clear why there is such a demand for new standards in the industry, and a very real need to make big savings in energy. With waterless urinals in an ever increasing array of supermarket toilets and solar panels in Northern Ireland by provided by businesses like http://www.solarpanelni.com/ and other areas of Great Britain’s shop roofs are these global chains finally making the huge differences our World needs.
And once you consider how those savings would quickly add up even in supermarkets alone up and down the country, it is understandable why the industry is keen to make the changes.
Significant Savings
Similar measures in the United States will make savings estimated to be in the region of the equivalent of taking 30 million cars off the road.
The changes in standard look set to change the whole landscape of this sector, and up to 20% of products currently sold in Europe might not meet the requirements – in which case, they will have to be taken off the shelves. This is great news for customers, who will get much more clarity around what they are buying and will be able to make informed decisions before parting with their money.
The Food Service Equipment Journal outlines the new requirements from EU policy makers for energy labels to displayed on commercial refrigeration equipment by manufacturers which come into effect from 1 July 2016. Specialist retailers will be well placed to advise on appropriate commercial refrigeration for your business.
The A to G scale will be a great improvement for consumers, who will be in a much stronger position to make comparisons before committing to buy. This is just the start. By 2018, an A+ rating will be added, with a higher still A++ the following year, meaning that manufacturers will need to continue their investment in efficiency savings and performance enhancement. It is expected that standards will take some time to stabilise. The most inefficient models will gradually be eliminated altogether.
Decision-Making
There is no need to delay a purchase of refrigeration equipment, because it is always a good idea to consider energy-efficiency, running costs and emission rates. Some products are already meeting the levels required and achieve high efficiency levels. If there is any risk to food safety, buyers are strongly advised not to delay any new purchase and should instead take into account figures and statistics available now.
If your equipment can hold on, regular servicing is always recommended. The Health and Safety Executive goes into more detail about working practices for field service engineers.
There are various industry bodies that can advise commercial buyers on how to proceed if there is any doubt. The step forward in innovation will ultimately be a good thing for the industry, even if it seems worrying at this stage. For forward-thinking manufacturers, these improvements will not cause any major issues, as the design and testing departments have been working on efficiency and performance for many years as part of a continual improvement programme. Consumers will continue to benefit.