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Solution Features & Benefits
We hear these questions most frequently
How can NRM's solution save so much energy?
Did you know commercial refrigeration systems are sized for the hottest days of the year? But the “hottest days” only happen about 20 times per year, which means all systems are oversized for the other 340~ days. The CoolTrol® smart controls take advantage of that fact to adapt your system’s cooling based on need. It also manages defrost more closely to what is required, and monitors temperatures. Along with those controls, NRM implements multiple other efficiency enhancements.
My refrigeration tech says it's not safe to turn off my evaporator fans. Is that true?
In an unsafe manner, yes. But with NRM’s solution, it is perfectly safe. Implemented in over 50,000 systems to-date, the smart controls keep fans running when refrigeration is ON and only cycles them OFF whenever refrigeration is OFF. Every running fan motor generates heat into the cold space, which requires the system to keep calling for cooling. Why keep what are essentially heaters running once temperature set point is reached?
What kind of guarantee can you provide me that these savings are real?
NRM has earned the utility’s trust and confidence, which is the greatest guarantee we can offer. In some programs, NRM has been providing solutions since 1997 with the local utility company’s backing. We would not continue to win these contracts year over year if we didn’t produce deliver the projected savings. But also, the smart controls track equipment runtimes and operational histories. You’ll see in plain numbers how much less your system runs.
Why is the utility company paying me money to use LESS energy?
Many towns, cities, and states are adopting laws and regulations to get both citizens and companies to use less energy. Considering it is more economical and practical to encourage consumers to use less energy than to build a new power plant, more areas will start to undertake similar programs.
In these programs, utilities collect a fee on your electric bill based on usage. It may be a line item shown as “public benefit charge” or “energy conservation charge”. This money accumulates and is used to fund the incentives that pay for energy-efficiency optimizations.
While the funds are only available for qualifying projects, it is there for businesses to take advantage of.
So, it’s a smart investment to participate in the programs and get incentives to upgrade your refrigeration. You’re already paying in to it, you might as well use it.
How much incentive do I qualify for?
The incentive depends on how much energy a project can save.
Think of it as the utility buying capacity from you to prevent overtaxing the energy grid. The power you save now becomes available to new customers later. To find out what you might qualify for, we recommend a no-cost assessment of your current refrigeration system. This enables us to calculate savings that we then present to your utility company, who then allots the amount they will pay for your capacity.
If your systems already are considered partially or totally energy efficient, there may be little or no opportunity for reducing energy or qualifying for an incentive.
What level of technical proficiency is required to use CoolTrol®?
CoolTrol® functions specifically for you: the end user. The smart controls are equipped with software developed by NRM and designed to intelligently operate equipment at optimum energy efficiency. It has many user-friendly features, and a superior user interface compared to traditional refrigeration thermostats that are primarily designed for technicians, not end users.