Two out of three commercial refrigeration installations are seriously defective, according to Dr Michael Bellstedt, managing director of Minus40 Pty Ltd.
When it comes to commercial refrigeration, Bellstedt warned there are a lot of short-cuts being taken and bad practises that do not improve energy efficiency.
He said there is ample opportunity to improve the environmental performance of refrigeration systems, both through improved energy efficiency and through the use of environmentally-benign natural refrigerants.
Bellstedt leads a consulting and engineering firm based in Sydney and was speaking at an event jointly organised by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Commonwealth Bank.
The event was organised to promote energy efficient upgrades utilising CEFC financing options.
“If you have an R22 system that is more than 10 years old and haven't had an energy audit in three years then your eligible for an upgrade; right now you are missing out on big savings,” Bellstedt said.
Although R22 is the most commonly used refrigerant in use today it is being phased out from January 1, 2016.
“A lot of people don't even realise they have an R22 system which will be costly post-2016,” he said.
“A decade ago it was only $10 to $15 a kilo to buy, now R22 is $150 a kilo which is why there is a lot of stockpiling going on to sell it next year.
“There is no quick drop-in replacements but it is a great opportunity to access funding and replace R22 with an energy efficient alternative.”
Bellstedt said ammonia is the oldest refrigerant in the world but it is also the best.
He said it has zero impact on the environment and has the greatest potential for energy efficient savings. CEFC chief investment officer, Ted Dow, told the audience to consider how managing energy costs could transform their
operations.
“Australia’s more than 2 million small and medium-sized businesses are also the nation’s largest employer group and are the backbone of our economy. Research has shown that even a one per cent improvement in Australia’s energy efficiency could boost our economy by up to $1.5 billion,” he said.
“For many small businesses, with planning, a 20 per cent energy cost saving is an achievable goal. Imagine the positive impact that kind of boost could have rolled out across our economy.”
Describing the CEFC as Australia's green bank, Dow said businesses need to accelerate clean energy projects.
He said the CEFC has invested $1.4 billion in clean energy projects in the last two years and “we have done it profitably”.