Sustainability Talk
Green Power
May 24, 2010The “Coolest” Energy Saving Gizmo
It started when Energy Trust of Oregon partnered with National Energy and Conservation on a study to make large-scale refrigeration a whole lot more efficient. Given HOTLIPS’ commitment to innovation and conservation, they asked us to participate along with other like-minded Oregon companies that use big refrigerators.
The project tests the Cool Expert MIC, a device that monitors and adjusts energy used in walk-in coolers. “It’s a box that you just plug in, no retrofitting required,” says HOTLIPS owner Dave Yudkin. After monitoring HOTLIPS energy use at the Hawthorne store’s walk-in and commissary for a month beforehand, NEC will install Cool Experts to detect and manage frost, compressors and cooler fans, and automatically use the data to reduce temperature variations. “The system is continually learning,” says Kim Elsey, managing director at NEC. “It’s already common in Europe, with a 30% reduction in energy use, on average. We’re hoping to make it standard in the U.S.”
Currently, refrigerators across the U.S. use analog technology, turning on and off in a pattern that’s not adjustable. “But that’s not how people use their refrigerators,” says Dave. The Cool Expert will cut down on energy use, and the more stable temperature reduces food spoilage and even extends the life of refrigeration components. Dave predicts that “every restaurant, grocery store and refrigerated warehouse will ultimately have this. There’s no reason it won’t explode and have a huge impact.”