Golden North is a manufacturer of premium ice cream and frozen yoghurt. Its South Australian facility at Laura consumes 6930 gigajoules (GJ) of electricity per annum, about 75% of which is used by the refrigeration plant. Energy assessment identified numerous areas for savings through energy efficiency improvements, including replacing inefficient compressors with a single crew compressor (and using variable speed drives to ensure it runs efficiently); installation of hot water exchangers for oil cooling and installing variable speed fans.

Aquatic Centres use an enormous amount of energy. But with efficiency measures, YMCA Spark pilot site Peter Krenz Aquatic Centre managed to cut electricity use by 8.5% and identified opportunities to save a further 20%. This Aquatic Centre found that by being more energy efficient and making some smart energy investments, they could have a reduction off their energy bills of at least $30,000 per year.

Radevski Coolstores in the Goulburn Valley Victoria is a major supplier of apples and pears to Coles. It undertook a $1.15 million upgrade of 2 cool store systems, to allow the plant to operate on ammonia as a refrigerant, and to use condenser fan speed control (using variable speed drives) to further improve performance. The results were significant: one site recorded 60% reduction in its maximum electrical demand, and the upgrades will cut the company’s energy costs by 25%. 

The ‘Watts in Your Business’ project conducted by Apple and Pear Australia Ltd completed energy audits of 30 packhouses and orchards Australia-wide. This fact sheet shows how changing irrigaton in orchards can cut energy use and save money.

At Victoria’s Sunfruit Orchards, 3 of its 4 pumping stations represent 25% of the business’s total electricity consumption.  An audit showed that installing a variable speed drive onto the irrigation motor in the orchard, at a one-off capital cost of $3700 would save $1510 a year with a payback period of 2.5 years.

The ‘Watts in Your Business’ project conducted by Apple and Pear Australia Ltd completed energy audits of 30 packhouses and orchards Australia-wide. This fact sheet shows how refrigeration changes can cut energy use and save money.

Downs Aluminium Casting is a small, family owned and operated non-ferrous foundry located in Toowoomba, Queensland. The company produces aluminium castings for the construction, power and marine industries. In 2013 it installed a 27kW solar PV system. An audit shows other improvements – including by installing a variable speed drive to the dust extraction system - could improve the company’s energy efficiency.