Electricity costs are consistently at the top of the expense list for restaurants, supermarkets, and other establishments. But owners and managers are wrong to believe that turning off refrigeration equipment at night is a good alternative to reduce electricity costs. With today's technology available for controlling the cold chain, such as smart digital thermostats, electronic expansion valves, and supervisory systems for remote management, it is possible to control the entire installation remotely and ensure the optimization of energy use in an intelligent manner.

"Turning off freezers and cold rooms at night is a practice that can pose serious health risks to customers consuming goods stored at inappropriate temperatures," emphasizes Fábio Tedesco, an Application Engineering consultant at Full Gauge Controls. He also points out that by keeping equipment off during the night, when it is turned back on in the morning, the energy consumption will be much higher due to compensation because the food will be warm. In other words, there is no real benefit, and there is a high chance of damaging the goods (or even losing them entirely), which could cause severe food poisoning.

Always attentive to trends in the refrigeration market, Full Gauge Controls developed Sitrad in 1997, a remote management software that plays an important role in this type of situation. The brand's controllers can be connected to the system, thus providing a complete solution for the user. "Sitrad has numerous features, including the ability to generate consumption graphs, expense reports, and more, allowing total control over refrigeration installations," highlights Tedesco. The generated data is encrypted, ensuring total information security. As a result, the data can be presented to clients and regulatory agencies, such as Anvisa and the FDA, the U.S. institution responsible for food and drug control, which has such requirements. "Sitrad also enables intelligent equipment management, meaning that by analyzing the data, one can determine the periods when the system can be deactivated without the temperature rising to a point that could damage the goods, which we call intelligent shutdown with an economic setpoint: it reduces compressor starts, saving without risking the stored items," he emphasizes. The download must be done on the website www.sitrad.com) and there is no usage fee. In addition to controlling data and generating reports, the tool sends alarms (via email or SMS) whenever a parameter is outside what was established, allowing quicker problem resolution. To access the information, just use a device (tablet, computer, or mobile phone) connected to the Internet.

In addition to supervisory software, electronic expansion valves are another important ally when looking for energy efficiency. Depending on the design of each refrigeration system, they can result in up to 30% reduction in consumption. "At Full Gauge Controls, we have the VX-1025E, which saves on equipment start-ups (which can be smaller units), factors responsible for saving electricity," he explains. The manufacturer also offers other products for climate control, heating, and solar heating, in addition to refrigeration, with features that also aim to help reduce electricity bills. Among them is the TC-900E Log controller. This instrument has a light sensor, which detects when the lights in the establishment are turned off and activates the energy-saving mode for the equipment.

These are just a few of the solutions currently available, accessible to various types and sizes of businesses. Utilizing them, along with technology and emphasizing the importance of employing good refrigeration practices, is what will allow for a conscious reduction in energy consumption in a safe and effective manner.