Reflective Glass Effect on Energy Consumption and Food Quality in Delicatessen Cabinets

Retail supermarkets are responsible for around 3% of total electrical energy consumed in the United Kingdom and the most energy is used in refrigeration systems, particularly for operation of open displays such as delicatessen cabinets which consume approximately 50%. Although the cabinets are energy intensive, they are commonly used in supermarkets for displaying unwrapped chilled food stuffs. These cabinets are associated with the weight loss and quality deterioration of food stuffs being reported frequently as the cause for their high operational costs. This paper presents an investigation on the cause and rectification of weight loss in delicatessen cabinets. Specifically, the paper describes the effective use of low emissivity glass in reducing the impact of the thermal infrared radiation on the food temperatures and energy consumption.