RETROFITTING REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASES WITH DOORS FOR LOWER ENERGY CONSUMPTION

With the rising energy prices, many supermarket operators are increasingly focusing on the energy consumption of their refrigerated display cases. If the investment in new equipment is not economically feasible yet, modernization can still be a worthwhile option. Refrigerated display cases can be retrofitted with doors, glass covers, LED lighting, and energy-saving fans to reduce energy consumption. For example, open units can be fitted with doors afterward, or refrigerated and freezer chests can be equipped with sliding glass covers. The result is not only lower energy consumption – and thus lower costs – but also reduced cooling of the sales area. Of course, it should also be considered that this affects the climate in the sales area and leads to less dehumidification.

Epta offers retrofitting with doors or sliding glass covers for all refrigerated and freezer units. For the GranVista Next/SkyView Plus refrigerated display case from the Costan/Bonnet Névé brands, a retrofit kit is available, which makes the unit look visually identical to the factory-closed version: without a top panel, with the same antibacterial door handles, frameless doors, and highly efficient lighting. Additionally, the doors seamlessly integrate into the unit, ensuring that it ultimately has the same energy efficiency values as the factory-closed refrigerated display case.

Strengthening of the Eco-design Directive

Starting from September 2023, the Eco-design Directive, which regulates the labeling of products with the EU energy label, will be tightened. For refrigerated and freezer cabinets, this means that devices rated in energy efficiency class G may no longer be sold. Mini-freezers for packaged ice cream with a volume of 600 liters or less, equipped with a sliding lid and typically located, for example, in the checkout area of supermarkets or at gas stations, must achieve at least energy efficiency class E from September onwards.