Do commercial fridges use a lot of electricity? Yes. Refrigerated cabinets operate 24/7, so they cannot be switched off when a venue closes. This guide covers their share of a power bill, how to calculate a specific unit’s cost and the operating changes that reduce electricity use. It applies to reach-in commercial fridges and freezers, including display cabinets, rather than walk-in cool rooms.
TL;DR
Yes, commercial fridges do use a lot of electricity. Refrigeration is usually the largest electricity load in a food business. The Australian Government’s refrigeration guide estimates that it accounts for 25% to 85% of total company energy use and around half of the energy used in food and grocery stores. To see how much your appliance uses, check a registered cabinet’s predicted daily consumption, then calculate its annual cost using the tariff on your electricity bill.
What Share of Your Power Bill Refrigeration Uses
In food and grocery stores, refrigeration is the largest energy load, accounting for around half of total consumption.
The percentage varies between venues because equipment, trading hours, cabinet condition and operating practices differ. Commercial fridges run continuously, while cooking equipment and lighting are switched off outside operating hours.
How to Work Out Your Commercial Fridge’s Running Cost
Commercial refrigerated cabinets covered by Australia’s GEMS scheme must be registered. Search for the model in the Energy Rating Registration Database to find its predicted daily energy use in kilowatt-hours.
Daily kWh × 365 × electricity rate in cents per kWh ÷ 100 = annual cost in dollars
A cabinet using 8 kWh per day at a rate of 30 cents per kWh costs approximately $876 a year. Use the rate printed on your venue’s electricity bill, as commercial tariffs differ by state, network area, retailer and plan.
Not every unit appears in the database. Built-in cabinets, roll-in models, pass-through cabinets and icemakers sit outside the refrigerated cabinet scheme.
Which Habits and Maintenance Tasks Reduce Power Use?
Prioritise these low-cost operating and maintenance changes:
- Set temperatures no colder than required. Government ranges are 0 to 4 °C for chilled storage and -18 °C to -20 °C for frozen storage. Food safety requirements take priority.
- Keep cabinets around two-thirds full without blocking airflow. Maintain the required clearance, keep grilles clear, cool hot food safely before loading and use night covers.
- Isolate the power before cleaning condenser coils with a vacuum and coil brush. Test door seals with paper, then clean or replace loose seals.
- Switch off cabinet lights and anti-condensation heaters after hours where controllers permit. Follow the manufacturer’s servicing schedule.
FAQs
Do commercial fridges have an energy star rating in Australia?
No mandatory Energy Rating Label applies to commercial refrigerated cabinets. Suppliers may display a voluntary star rating, while minimum energy performance standards still apply under the GEMS Refrigerated Cabinets Determination 2024. Compare star ratings only between cabinets of the same type and size operating at an equivalent temperature.
What temperature should a commercial fridge and freezer be set to?
Government design ranges are 0 to 4 °C for chilled storage and -18 °C to -20 °C for frozen storage. Select a set point no colder than required and follow all applicable food safety requirements.
Is it worth replacing an old commercial fridge to save power?
Government guidance recommends considering replacement once a refrigeration system is more than 10 years old. An efficient new system could reduce energy use by up to 30%, although actual savings differ. The NSW Energy Savings Scheme and Victorian Energy Upgrades may offset replacement costs. Compare Artisan™ commercial freezers when assessing newer equipment.
