When a refrigeration system fails, many times the cause can easily be diagnosed. However there are occasions when the cause cannot easily be determined - either the true cause is unclear or the technician is unsure of a problem. How do you work through these jobs? One method used by some techs is to “read and record.”

It is one thing to install efficiently running refrigeration equipment. But it also has to be energy efficient – according to a wide range of standards. That’s why Emerson recently issued a white paper called Status of Energy Regulations for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment.

When Stop & Shop was looking for ways to incorporate sustainable technology into its new multimillion dollar West Hartford, Conn., store, it focused on energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. In fact, the store, which opened in December 2010, is a 38,000-square-foot model of sustainability.

A company from Vermont called Freeaire Refrigeration has come up with a technology, according to the company, designed to reduce electrical consumption “by eliminating unnecessary operation of every part of a system” and, for colder climates, adding an element that allows the use of cold outside air.

The process of brazing ACR tubing is a common task for many refrigeration technicians. Although this is relatively simple, there are some system problems that can occur if some basic brazing procedures are not followed.

Two supermarket chains have announced recent environmental-related developments regarding a newer refrigerant and energy efficiencies.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Fuel Cell Technologies Program will host a webinar with the Clean Energy States Alliance and the Technology Transition Corp. titled “Fuel Cells for Supermarkets” on April 4 from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar will detail the experiences that supermarkets in four states have had with stationary fuel cells.

The need for energy efficiency and the desire for intelligent energy efficiency have created a hunger for data. This trend started 10 years ago (or more) in the building controls industry and is now being seen in the refrigeration controls sector.

It is a familiar lament for those who work on supermarket refrigeration. There is a problem. The owner wants it fixed immediately. The technician can apply a quick fix, but that won’t deal with potential recurring problems - and the fact that the equipment may not be operating all that efficiently or even be all that up-to-date.

Anthony, a manufacturer of glass refrigerator and freezer doors as well as display cases, has announced that it has completed a licensing agreement with Glacier, a maker of beverage doors and package doors for commercial refrigeration systems. Anthony is a portfolio company of Aurora Capital Group and Glacier is a business unit of Universal Industries.