Practices to Improve the Sustainability of Australian Cold Storage Facilities
This paper addresses the urgency of enhancing the sustainability of cold storage warehouses in Australia, crucial for food preservation and reducing energy consumption and emissions. The authors conducted convergent interviews with experts to develop a hierarchical framework of best to essential sustainability practices for refrigerated warehouses.
Key findings include:
Refrigeration Systems: Transition to more sustainable refrigerants like ammonia, which has zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), is emphasized. Low-charge ammonia direct expansion systems are highlighted as future-focused, offering lower ongoing costs and emissions.
Insulation and Building Design: Improved insulation techniques, especially using polyisocyanurate (PIR) panels, are crucial. Design elements like building orientation and using materials that reflect solar radiation can significantly enhance energy efficiency.
Air and Water Infiltration: Managing infiltration through high-quality doors and strategic use of anterooms (airlocks) to buffer temperature and moisture content is critical.
Automation and Control: Implementing advanced control systems and technologies like automatic storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and variable-speed drives (VSDs) can lead to significant energy savings and operational efficiency.
Sustainability Best Practices: The study advocates for a layered approach to adopting technologies, with each layer building on the previous one. Essential practices should be implemented universally, while more advanced systems and controls can be adopted progressively based on specific needs and capabilities.
Policy and Industry Engagement: Stronger policy measures and industry engagement are necessary to encourage widespread adoption of these practices. The study suggests more active dissemination of success stories and failures to foster a more robust adoption framework.
The document concludes that a strategic, informed approach can significantly enhance the sustainability of cold storage operations, contributing to broader environmental goals and operational efficiency.
Attached for you is the "Practices to Improve the Sustainability of Australian Cold Storage Facilities", which has been published in the Sustainability journal.
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