Decreasing Energy Costs as a Produce Facility — a PMA Webinar
Last month, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) hosted an educational webinar about ways in which produce businesses can decrease energy costs, and pursue sustainability goals. Three guest speakers shared their expertise and described the tools and measures they implemented to achieve their desired results. There is a growing focus on being more cognizant of energy […]
Curious where your state ranks in average energy costs?
As we roll through the dog days of summer, air conditioners are working hard everywhere, and businesses with refrigeration systems are scrimping pennies to battle the heat to maintain temperature in their cold spaces. Whether the walk-in coolers (or freezers) are storing soft drinks, fresh produce, or frozen proteins, specific temperatures need to be met […]
Governor Wolf Establishes Statewide Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Goals in PA
The beauty of undertaking energy goals is that it is never just a 1:1 trade-off. There are numerous ancillary benefits, ranging from the obvious, giant elephant in the room that is the reduction of carbon emissions all the way to improved worker happiness because their employer’s heating and cooling systems run more precisely and efficiently. […]
Engineer’s Corner: An Opinion on Calculated Versus Deemed Savings Approach
In nearly every state, energy efficiency programs exist to help business owners, residents, government institutions, schools—and most other entities that utilize energy—conserve said energy and prevent waste. Through these programs, retrofitting of equipment loads such as refrigeration, lighting, and HVAC, is incentivized either monetarily or by other mechanisms that ease the cost of an energy […]
Energy Audits Reveal Areas Where Cold Storage Facilities Can Save Money
Cold storage facilities, the kind found in the produce, fresh foods, and floral industries, offer huge opportunities for energy savings. A recent article in Fresh Digest looks at how one company helps. It isn’t a secret that both companies and state utilities are looking for ways to make energy consumption more efficient. From state mandates, to incentives programs […]
A Clean Energy Twofer: More Jobs and Lower Emissions
Regardless of what one thinks of the impact and scale of climate change, or whether or not fossil fuels have a place as energy sources moving forward, two things are undeniable: clean energy reduces the amount of emissions that go into our atmosphere, and the sector will be providing ample job opportunities well into the […]
5 Reasons Why Energy Efficiency is a Smart Corporate Investment
Continuously rising energy costs. A planet that’s heating up as a result of human impact. Shrinking margins and the oversaturation of markets. At the surface level, these issues may seem unrelated. But these threats, along with a multitude of other factors, try to deter your business from reaching its peak everyday. Reducing emissions and adopting renewable […]
5 Quick Food Safety Tips for Commercial Kitchens
Refrigeration is essential for food safety in commercial kitchens where large quantities of perishable food is stored, such as in cafeterias and restaurants. The FDA and USDA set strict guidelines, but a few simple steps can help keep commercial kitchens organized and prevent waste. 1. Always use old stock first. it’s called the first in, […]
4 Reasons to Think About Your HVACR System More Seriously
Commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment is one of those behind-the-scenes essentials that most owner-operators depend on but don’t think much about. Walk-in coolers and freezers can be large, intimidating behemoths that might account for the largest portion of a facility’s electricity consumption.Compressors, evaporator fans, and defrost heaters require a certain level of technical know-how to […]
3 Things to Consider in New Construction of Cold Storage Facilities
For processors, distributors, wholesalers, and suppliers, there is a dizzying amount of choices for the construction of a new cold storage facility. But they shouldn’t necessarily pick the first, or the cheapest, option they have. Below, according to an article in the Produce Processing publication, are three things that should be considered before anything is built. Research. It’s […]