July 2016 sees new energy labelling on commercial refrigeration come into force

We are sure that by now you are used to seeing energy labelling on domestic white goods which inform buyers of how energy efficient an appliance is. Up until recently, there were no such requirements for energy labelling on commercial appliances. But thanks to a new EU Ecodesign Directive which came into force on 1st July 2016, that has all changed for commercial refrigeration equipment.

The new EU Ecodesign Directive states that all Professional Refrigeration Storage Cabinets (PRSC’s) sold within the EU marketplace must legally pass strict Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) in order to be sold within the EU. Each product will be given a rating between ‘A’ and ‘G’ (with ‘A’ being the most energy efficient) and must display a label showing the energy rating each product has achieved. This ultimately means that any PRSC which isn’t awarded at least a ‘G’ rating cannot be legally sold within the EU. And in a bid to continue improving energy efficiency within the EU, the energy thresholds will be amended again by introducing the ‘A+++’ class from 1st July 2019.

You are probably wondering how this affects your school… Well PRSC’s include refrigerators and freezers with solid doors and built-in compressors – the type of refrigeration equipment that thousands of schools nationwide use in their school kitchens and even in the Food Technology departments every day. With this new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling in place, foodservice operators, including schools, will be able to reduce their energy consumption by upgrading to energy efficient products. After all, the more energy efficient a product is, the lower its running costs will be. It also enables buyers, like schools, to make an informed choice when selecting new equipment. As every product is tested to the same standards, schools can compare products ‘like for like’ and select the most energy efficient model.

Gram Commercial are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-performance refrigeration equipment for professional users and put a strong emphasis on ensuring their products offer good environmental and energy efficient properties. They strive to be a world leader in this area. As such, Gram offer a vast range of commercial refrigeration equipment which has already been tested in line with the new EU Ecodesign Directive, including single door and double door storage cabinets and storage counters.

At Utility Rentals, we understand that commercial refrigeration equipment can be costly and therefore offer the full range of Gram products to schools via our affordable rental contracts. The cost can be spread across 3 or 5 years; whichever best suits the school and will not only include delivery of the appliance to the required kitchen or classroom, as well as installation of the new appliance, but also the disconnection and removal of any old appliances necessary. We also include a full parts and labour breakdown warranty to protect your school against any unexpected repair costs.

To find out how your school could get its hands on brand new, energy efficient commercial refrigeration equipment, get in touch with a member of the Utility Rentals team on 01628 667373 – we’d love to help!