Should You Purchase A CO2 Commercial Refrigeration System?
Posted on: 1 January 2018
While commercial refrigeration comes in a wide variety of styles to suit different needs, the type of refrigerant used to keep stored items cold was always limited to a handful of manmade gasses that aren't exactly great for the environment. However, manufacturers have begun offering commercial refrigeration appliances that use CO2 gas to keep items cool. Here's a little information about these products to help you decide whether you should invest in buying them.
Carbon Dioxide Appliances are Eco-Friendly
The primary benefit of CO2 commercial refrigeration units is the fact that they're environmentally friendly. Carbon dioxide is abundant in the atmosphere, so it is unnecessary to make the gas in a lab. More importantly, CO2 doesn't deplete the ozone layer when released into the environment and doesn't contribute to the increase of greenhouse gasses since the carbon is essentially recycled (no new carbon is made; the carbon extracted from the environment is simply released back into the atmosphere).
Another benefit of CO2 systems is that carbon dioxide is cheap to obtain since it's so plentiful. According to one report, HFC refrigerant (the most common found in commercial refrigeration systems) costs approximately $6 per pound. However, CO2 costs about $1 per pound in comparison. On top of that, a carbon dioxide refrigeration system can be more energy efficient in certain situations, saving companies up to 18 percent off their energy bills.
Lastly, unlike HFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons), carbon dioxide-based refrigerants aren't at risk of being banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at any moment. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are very damaging to the environment, and the EPA has been steadily making moves to retire the use of them in refrigeration appliances. Since CO2 is environmentally neutral, there's no risk of this happening with carbon dioxide-based refrigeration units, so you won't have to invest in overhauling your system when the EPA finally initiates a phaseout.
Some Drawbacks to CO2 Refrigeration Systems
However, CO2 refrigeration units aren't perfect. One significant drawback is the technology isn't as prevalent in the United States as it is in other areas of the world. Thus, it may be difficult to find repair technicians who can fix the system when it breaks. Additionally, although carbon dioxide is cheap to purchase, it is currently more expensive to install for the same reason, though the cost will usually decrease as more and more companies purchase these systems.
For more information about CO2 refrigeration systems or assistance with purchasing the right equipment for your company, contact a local appliance supplier, such as Refrigeration & Food Equipment Inc.
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