Out with the Old (Fridges): Upgrade Your Permanent Refrigeration

Over the past few decades, many large American corporations have publicly pledged themselves to reducing a certain percentage of waste — especially carbon emissions — by a certain calendar year. Unfortunately, not all those companies are achieving the objectives they set for themselves. One major big box retailer recently disclosed they will be unlikely to meet their 2025 and 2030 emissions goals. 

A key factor driving these reduction revisions has to do with refrigeration. Grocers and retailers depend on chillers, coolers, and refrigerators of all kinds, especially on the sales floor. While it’s true that many outdated design decisions (check out this podcast to learn more) are still negatively influencing the form and function of these cooling systems, there’s an even more pressing problem.  

Specifically, the refrigeration systems themselves are aging and becoming less reliable. Leaky and inefficient, these old fridges are a major source of carbon waste, including both regular carbon dioxide as well as potent hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that accelerate climate change.

The Problem with Aging Refrigeration

For those companies that rely on refrigeration, cold storage, and cold chain logistics as part of everyday business, aging technology is a source of major headaches. Picture it: even a “small” supermarket is built with miles of piping delivering refrigerants and cold air to all the coolers and freezers. As those pipes age, seals wear down and microscopic leaks begin to form. 

Leaks mean the system needs to work harder to maintain temperature, which consumes more power. At the same time, most high-performance refrigeration systems, like the ones keeping food cold at your local grocer, use refrigerants loaded with HFCs. These compounds are some of the most dangerous forms of waste in terms of their ability to affect the climate. So even small leaks can quickly become a huge issue for everyone. 

Fixing the leaks amounts to fixing the whole system, and that’s exactly what some companies are starting to do — or else are committing to do more of. As organizations invest in newer, cleaner, more efficient refrigeration systems, they expect to see reductions in total emissions. The progress may not be linear, however, with one year seeing a significant decrease, the next a slight increase, and the one after another decrease.

Making the Problem Worse

A reason for this expectation of uneven progress is the “how” of fixing and upgrading these old refrigeration systems. As manufacturers, grocers, and other retailers work on their permanent cooling technology, they’ll need temporary solutions to handle the job of preserving food and ingredients.  

For some, that temporary solution may turn out to be an off-site refrigerated warehouse. Of course, that means an increased reliance on delivery vehicles to move goods to and from the cold warehouse. It also adds an extra layer of complexity to operations as no inventory (or, at least, much less) is being kept conveniently close to the store. 

Others may find themselves using temporary on-site cold storage units as stopgap solutions while permanent upgrades are completed. Too often, however, these temporary units are old and outdated themselves. Built from repurposed container boxes and powered by thirsty diesel generators, these traditional cold storage reefer units are no help when it comes to lowering emissions. 

Either way, these companies now find themselves reliant on “solutions” that are anything but.  

What if, on the other hand, there was a capable, convenient, sustainable alternative? 

Fixing the Problem of Old Refrigeration

What these organizations need is a temporary on-site cold storage solution that keeps inventory safe and convenient, while also costing less to operate and producing fewer emissions. With that solution in place, it’s easier to invest in upgraded permanent storage.  

Fortunately, that solution does exist, and it comes from Portabull Cold Storage. Our fleet of electric- and hybrid-powered cold storage units are purpose-built for the job of keeping stuff cold and doing it efficiently. Thanks to durable construction, advanced Carrier© cooling, and lightweight motors and fans, our next-gen cold storage is more affordable and less wasteful than any other temporary fix. That’s why we’re the only cold storage provider that helps companies attain ESG goals. 

When your company uses Portabull units to replace permanent storage during repairs, renovations, and upgrades, you don’t have to put up with increased carbon emissions from another source. You also don’t have to sacrifice operational flexibility, or even financial flexibility. Portabull delivers solutions that let you stay nimble when dealing with the ever-changing climate of the future. 

For help finding the temporary solution that will help solve your permanent storage problems, click here.