INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
NEWS
Energy test case study
proves long-term savings
Staycold International was recently
challenged to demonstrate the
energy efficiency of their cabinets
by a local quick service restaurant (QSR)
chain, who had a requirement to reduce
the energy consumption in their stores.
The QSR had the following refrigeration
units to work with:
• 2 x Double sliding door beverage
coolers from a competitor (similar to
their SD890 units)
• 1 x 1.8m Underbar with pizza top
(similar to their SHDU1800-PHC)
THE TEST
It was decided that Staycold would
supply 1 x SD890-HC beverage cooler,
the latest of their range of 890 sliding
door units with hydrocarbon refrigerant
gas. This unit would be run side by side
with one of the current units in the store,
so that a real time comparison could be
made between the two.
Staycold also supplied one of their
new Underbar units, the SHDU1800-PHC
that would also be used as a comparison
to the current 1.8m pizza top unit already
in the outlet.
Both the units supplied by Staycold
SD890-HC and SHDU1800-PHC are their
most efficient variants of each model,
utilising hydrocarbon refrigerants (zero
ODP and low GWP) and have high
efficiency, EC fan motors on both the
evaporator and condenser.
Although this level of specification
has an impact on the purchase price
of the units compared to the current
models the outlet is using, Staycold were
confident that a case could be made
regarding the total cost of ownership
once electricity costs is bought into play.
The units are also equipped with
an energy saving digital controller
(EMD) which can be programmed to
further reduce energy consumption
automatically dependant on unit use.
It was decided by Staycold, that this
functionality would be disabled so that a
like-for-like comparison could be made
in the test – in other words, the use of the
unit and their conditions would be as
close and equal as possible.
RESULTS
The test was conducted in July 2020, and
the energy consumption was metered
over a few days.
The information below indicates results
for the beverage coolers:
Staycold SD890-HC purchase price
R 14 500.00
Competitor purchase price
R 11 730.00
Customers and consumers should
be urged to consider not only the
CAPEX outlay of a unit,
but also the OPEX costs
Table 1: Beverage cooler results
Considering an average kWh cost of R2.00, it can be seen that the Staycold model would
reduce energy costs by 33% compared to the competitor model
If we extrapolate that over time, we get the following TCO comparison between
running two Staycold units compared to two x competitor units:
Table 2: TCO comparison (cumulative cost) [not bold and not sub-head]
If the Staycold unit was able to utilise its energy saving controller then the energy costs would
reduce by about 25% further due to the ECO mode function
The graph below incorporates this, and it can be seen that the ROI is between 1.5
to 2 years and by the end of the 7th year, companies have saved enough to buy
another cooler.
The information below is the results from the underbar comparison:
Staycold SHDU1800-PHC purchase price: R21 250.00
Competitor purchase price: R25 422.00
Considering an average kWh cost of R2.00, it can be seen that the Staycold model
would reduce energy costs by 57% compared to the competitor model, and if we
extrapolate that over time, we get the following TCO comparison:
Table 3: Underbar comparison
From the above figures it can be seen that there is an argument for choosing a more energy
efficient product, with a 7-year saving almost equating to the cost of a new unit.
Table 4: Purchase and Electricity cost over seven year period
Staycold
Part of the testing also included a new underbar unit.
By choosing Staycold, companies can ensure that they not only get a great quality, reliable
and durable product, but also a product that over time will reduce their energy costs.
CONCLUSION
In light of all the information above, customers and consumers should be urged to
consider not only the CAPEX outlay of a unit, but also the OPEX costs, as the impact
of an inefficient unit on their business’ bottom line is quite real in reduce their energy
costs by a significant amount and is also better for the environment as a whole.
CLA
COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2020 www.coldlinkafrica.co.za 7