Strip-Curtains.com Blog

Often customers inquire on how much strip doors can save them in the near term. It is difficult fo us at strip-curtains.com to advise as to the exact savings since there are various variables that need to be considered. However savings are realized and this article  from B.C. hydro showcases a school ( Douglas College ) and the

savings per year that they predict on the installation of their strip curtain doors…..see below :

“Douglas College Cafeteria
Print This Page
College cafeteria cuts costs with a quick cooler fix
Nina WinhamFor bchydro.com
With three restaurant facilities and up to 7,000 hungry students to serve, Louie Girotto has good reason to think about energy efficiency in food service settings.
Girotto one of the Facilities Services Managers at Douglas College, which operates campuses in New Westminster and Coquitlam, that include two cafeterias and a deli. Between them, the food service facilities include four walk-in freezers and five walk-in coolers (refrigerators). That’s why a particular offer under the Power Smart Product Incentive Program (PIP) caught Girotto’s eye.
“One of the Power Smart incentives for saving energy is to install a plastic curtain across the door of your walk-in freezers – a strip curtain,” he says. “What that does is help keep the cold in the freezer – you don’t lose a whole lot of cooling when you open the door and walk through. It saves energy, and also reduces the run time of the equipment (by not having to make up for lost energy), so that should save wear and tear on the equipment.”
Strip curtains on walk-in refrigerators and freezers can cut outside air infiltration by as much as 75% and can have a payback of less than one year. One study found that adding strip curtains to the doors of a 240 sf walk-in refrigerator reduced energy consumption by 3,730 kWh per year – about 9% of total energy consumption for the unit.
Douglas College installed a total of 60 feet (width) of strip curtain on medium temperature coolers, and 40 feet on low temperature coolers (freezers) for an estimated savings of 85,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year – about $4,700 of annual savings on its electricity bill. In addition, the Product Incentive Program incentive [PDF, 53 Kb] trimmed $428 off the cost of the upgrade.
Operating a public sector institution, Girotto is always on the lookout for energy efficiency opportunities. Previously, he implemented energy management software on all 1,150 computers in student computer labs, to ensure they’re shut down at night, for an estimated savings of 172,000 kwh per year – or $9,460 per year.
Girotto found the strip curtain idea when he took a few moments to scan the range of PIP incentives available. “I was just going through the incentives and noticed that one, and said, ‘That would work for us.’ Right on the website you input how big your cooler door is, and it comes up with a calculation of what you should save. We arranged for one of our contractors to do the job – it was pretty quick and easy.”
Restaurants are one of the most energy-intensive commercial operations. Save money with more ideas for restaurant energy efficiency. Learn about walk-in cooler controllers, managing energy costs for restaurants, and other tips for maintaining refrigeration efficiency and improving food service lighting.
Not sure how to get started with our Product Incentive Program? Contact the Power Smart Help Desk by email or call us at 604 522 4713 (Lower Mainland) or toll-free 1 866 522 4713.”