Innovative and efficient – ProCold is awarding the most energy efficient professional and commercial refrigeration equipment in five categories

The winners were awarded on March 7th at the international EuroShop fair in Düsseldorf. An appliance in each of five categories was awarded “ProCold winner 2017”:

• Vertical chilled storage cabinets
• Beverage coolers
• Ice-cream freezers
• Vertical supermarket refrigerated display cabinets
• Refrigerated glass-fronted vending machines

Common to all winning products is their high energy efficiency compared to other products in the category and their use of natural refrigerants. Energy efficiency was confirmed through independent tests based on the latest standards and (draft) regulation for the European Energy Label within the European ProCold competition.

Stamatis Sivitos, the responsible project officer from the European Commission, explains: “This award clearly demonstrates how energy efficiency is always worth pursuing and how it goes hand in hand with product innovation.”

Professional cold products consume a significant amount of energy. Plug-in devices are used in almost every supermarket, hotel, restaurant, bar or canteen. An average efficient product leads to high energy-costs for the users. The energy consumption related to inefficient cold products can be reduced by 30% to 50% if the most efficient products are used. In some cases efficient and closed products can save several thousand Euros during their lifetime.

Direct users often don´t know that plug-in products consume a significant amount of energy. ProCold has shown with this product competition that manufacturers are willing and able to produce very efficient cold products. The project will continue its mission to encourage the use and the development of the most efficient products and therefore contribute to energy savings and environmental protection across Europe. More information on energy efficient product in this sector can be found at www.topten.eu/pro-cold.

And the winners are…

Find out more about the winning products in each of the five categories below:

Vertical chilled storage cabinets

Products in this category are intended for use in professional kitchens. They meet high demands regarding food hygiene and they function well in high ambient temperatures of 30°C. Since 2016, EU regulations on Energy Label and Ecodesign cover these products.

The winning model in this category is the Gram Superior Plus K 72 G. According to the technological director of Gram “it is combining a stylish exterior design with energy efficiency refrigeration based entirely on HFC free technology – securing Gram´s customers the greenest possible choice in the market place”.

With an energy consumption of 285 kWh/year, this refrigerator is about five times more efficient than the average product in this category. The Gram Superior Plus K 72 G can be found on topten.eu.

Beverage Coolers

Beverage coolers are procured in large numbers by food and beverage industry and branded, loaned or leased to retailers, kiosks, take-aways, canteens, sport facilities etc.

The winning model in this category is the Liebherr FKDPv 4503. “The winning model in this category is the Liebherr FKDPv 4503. “This product offers perfect performance even under extreme climate conditions. The combination of modern technical parts, high-performance and environmental friendly refrigerants plus a precise control system is making this model very economic”, says Lucas Nerud, Managing Director Liebherr-Hausgeräte Lienz GmbH.

The winning Liebherr beverage cooler consumes a yearly amount of 449 kWh, which is way below the energy consumption of an inefficient beverage cooler, ranging around 2.600 kWh/year. The Liebherr FKDPv 4503 can be found on topten.eu.

Ice cream freezers

These products are very often used in shops, kiosks, restaurants and have to operate in very hard environmental conditions. Their energy consumption varies depending on their size and ranges from 450 kWh per year up to over 2.000 kWh.

The winning model of this category is the Liebherr GTEP 3302. Lucas Nerud, Managing Director Liebherr-Hausgeräte Lienz GmbH describes this product: “These ice cream freezers are very energy efficient and guarantee maximum cost effectiveness. The high-quality insulation, the powerful compressor and the harmonised refrigeration-components deliver the perfect cooling performance.”

The product consumes 589 kWh per year. In comparison, an inefficient ice cream freezer consumes four times more energy per year. The Liebherr GTEP 3302 can be found on topten.eu.

Vertical supermarket refrigerated display cabinets

Typical use is in supermarkets, retail, canteens, bakeries etc. where employees will access the foodstuffs.

The winning model of this category is the Carrier Optimer 0948LG R290. According to Carrier the product displays “low operating costs because of the low energy consumption. With its harmonised design the product is the perfect solution for small markets in need of a complete equipment.”

The Carrier Optimer 0948LG R290 consumes 3.030 kWh per year – 10.000 kWh less than an inefficient model!

The Carrier Optimer 0948LG R290 can be found on topten.eu.

Refrigerated glass-fronted vending machines

Glass fronted vending machines are only used for refrigerated foodstuffs, used very commonly in offices, public spaces, etc.

The winning model of this category is the Sielaff GF Robimat XM. The marketing manager of Sielaff explains: “In order to avoid cold and heat transfer, the sealing of the complete chilled area in the Robimat XM has been improved. By changing the refrigerant to R744 (CO2) with a GWP-value of 1.0, the efficiency of the cooling has been increased by 5%, which is relatively an improvement by 8,9 % (when compared to using R134a). Furthermore, the Robimat XM also demonstrates exceptional recycling capability.”

This glass-fronted vending machine shows a measured yearly energy consumption of 1.628 kWh. With a product like this energy consumption and electricity bills of the users can be reduced easily.

About „ProCold“

ProCold is a EU project aiming to improve energy efficiency in plug-in cabinets and to speed up the switch to climate-friendly refrigerants. The project provides help for manufacturers, suppliers, food and beverage companies, retailers, gastronomy, hotels, public authorities, media and other stakeholders.

Partner of ProCold are: ADEME – Agence De l’Environment et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (France), AEA – Austrian Energy Agency (Austria), Bush Energie (Switzerland), Guide Topten (France), Oeko-Institut – Institute for Applied Ecology (Germany), Politecnico Milano – Dipartimento di Energia (Italy), Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation (Portugal), SEVEn (Czech Republic), and SSNC – Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Sweden)

More information and country representatives: www.ecotopten.de/professioneller-einkauf and www.topten.eu/pro-cold

This ProCold project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 649293. It is coordinated by ADEME (The French Environment and Energy Management Agency).

The sole responsibility for the content of the «ProCold» project lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EASME nor the European Commission and the project partners are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

About Oeko-Institut

Oeko-Institut is a leading independent European research and consultancy institute working for a sustainable future. Founded in 1977, the institute develops principles and strategies for ways in which the vision of sustainable development can be realised globally, nationally and locally. It has offices in three cities in Germany: Freiburg, Darmstadt and Berlin.