”In a traditional Brazilian supermarket, refrigeration accounts for half of the energy costs,” explains Luiz Renato de Oliveira Chueire, Director General of Eletrofrio Refrigeração, a market-leading company that builds commercial refrigeration systems in south Brazil. ”In fact, for supermarkets, energy costs are the second largest item right after workforce wages,” Chueire continues. Adding to this, energy costs in Brazil have gone up by around 20 percent in 2014 and Chueire expects a further 20 percent rise in 2015. Therefore, any possible way to reduce costs and energy consumption is obviously very welcome, and Brazilian supermarket chains are currently investing heavily because of this.

An easy way to make refrigeration more efficient is by retrofitting open refrigeration systems with doors or lids. Another way is by manufacturing the cabinets to offer permanent glass coverage from the start. ”Permanent glass coverage has an energy savings potential of up to 50 percent compared to open refrigeration islands,” says Chueire. SCHOTT Flat Glass was the first company in Brazil to produce highly reliable glass lids and doors to accommodate both approaches. Because the cold air is kept inside the freezer, ice formation inside it is also reduced, thus decreasing the need for defrosting from typically twice in 24 hours to twice a week. Less defrosting means constant, low temperatures and thus lower energy consumption. But besides energy savings, the installation of a covering also offers advantages in relation to food quality because the glass lids protect frozen food from harmful infrared rays.
Furthermore, less defrosting and less heat stress on the food also reduces the formation of frost on – and dehydration of – frozen goods. Lastly, the glass covers also improve overall hygiene, as dirt and grime are kept away from the food.