In a hospitality business, refrigeration is often running 24/7, quietly working in the background but significantly impacting your operating costs, carbon footprint, and food safety. As energy prices continue to fluctuate and sustainability moves from a buzzword to a business imperative, it’s worth asking if your refrigeration is working for your bottom line, or against it.
The Hidden Cost of Inefficient Refrigeration
Commercial fridges and freezers can be some of the biggest energy users in your business. In fact, outdated or inefficient refrigeration systems can consume more power than lighting or cooking equipment; sometimes more than you realise.
If you're running multiple refrigeration units across kitchens, display areas, or clinical environments, even a modest drop in energy use per unit can result in thousands of dollars in savings each year. Two products that use only 1.1kWh/24h energy difference will have $121 difference in their yearly energy bills.

Why Efficiency Matters Now More Than Ever
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Energy prices are rising: In an industry where margins are tight, reducing energy waste helps protect profits.
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Consumer shift to greener businesses: Energy-efficient operations contribute to both the company's sustainability goals and public image.
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Regulations are getting stricter: Energy performance standards for refrigeration equipment (such as Australia’s GEMS compliance requirements) are tightening, and compliance is no longer optional.
What to Look For in Energy-efficient Refrigeration
When choosing refrigeration for your business, it pays to look beyond the price tag. Here’s what matters most:
- Verified energy consumption: Check independent databases like GEMS for kilowatt per hour (kWh) data per 24 hours of use.
- Smart lighting and control: Features like programmable lighting schedules and remote temperature monitoring reduce energy use without compromising performance.
- Natural refrigerants: These are better for the environment and often indicate a more modern, efficient cooling system.
- Reliability and warranty: A longer warranty often reflects greater confidence in build quality and efficiency over time.

The Payback is Measured in Months, Not Years
Thanks to advancements in design and technology, energy-efficient refrigeration doesn’t mean sacrificing performance or aesthetics. The latest generation of commercial refrigerators can deliver significant savings with a payback period as short as 12–24 months, depending on usage and local energy rates.
Even better, those savings continue year after year, meaning you’re not just investing in equipment, you’re investing in long-term financial and environmental performance.

A Smarter Refrigeration Choice
SKOPE is an industry leader in commercial refrigeration and has been helping businesses improve their refrigeration performance for decades. Their latest range, ActiveCore 3, represents the next evolution in energy-efficient refrigeration, combining verified low energy usage, smart app-based control, and full GEMS compliance.
But regardless of brand, the key message remains: your refrigeration equipment is one of the most impactful places to make smarter, greener choices.
Is It Time To Rethink Your Refrigeration Strategy?
Explore the cost-saving potential of energy-efficient solutions and discover how your next refrigeration investment can deliver more than just cold storage; it can power real business value.