Comparing Energy Efficient Bottle Coolers on a Budget

Energy efficiency is a big buzz word in the current climate, especially with high energy prices and an increased focus on the environment.  Businesses need affordable equipment that won't cost the earth to run. 

Everyone ultimately wants to invest in the best commercial refrigeration available, however tight budgets don't always allow for this. So what happens if you have a limited budget but you don't want to compromise on energy efficiency heavily or increased running costs?

We've compared five of the most cost effective commercial bar fridges on the market with a market leader, taking into account key specifications as provided by manufacturers.

• Size: 894x900x530 (HxWxD)
• Door Type: Hinged
• Capacity: 203 litres
• Warranty: 12 Months Parts Only
• Max Ambient Temperature: 25°C

See below table for energy rating, kWh/annum and estimated running costs

• Size: 900x905x515 (HxWxD)
• Door Type: Hinged
• Capacity: 200 litres - 166x330ml bottles
• Warranty: 12 Months Parts & Labour
• Max Ambient Temperature: 38°C

See below table for energy rating, kWh/annum and estimated running costs

• Size: 892x865x496 (HxWxD)
• Door Type: Hinged
• Capacity: 193 litres - 262x330ml bottles
• Warranty: 36 Months Parts & Labour
• Max Ambient Temperature: 32°C

See below table for energy rating, kWh/annum and estimated running costs

• Size: 900x900x500 (HxWxD)
• Door Type: Hinged
• Capacity: 228 litres - 180x330ml bottles
• Warranty: 24 Months Parts & Labour
• Max Ambient Temperature: 32°C

See below table for energy rating, kWh/annum and estimated running costs

• Size: 900x900x520 (HxWxD)
• Door Type: Hinged
• Capacity: 208 litres - 180x330ml bottles
• Warranty: 24 Months Parts & Labour
• Max Ambient Temperature: 41°C

See below table for energy rating, kWh/annum and estimated running costs

• Size: 900x900x575 (HxWxD)
• Door Type: Hinged
• Capacity: 234 litres - 225x330ml bottles
• Warranty: 36 Months Parts & 24 Months Labour
• Max Ambient Temperature: 43°C

See below table for energy rating, kWh/annum and estimated running costs

Now the design specifications have been dealt with, it's time to get into the nitty-gritty of raw data and figures, to see how much it's going to cost to buy initially, and more importantly, run the equipment. We've summarised additional crucial points based on the price and energy efficiency of these products in the table below. 

*prices correct at time of publish

To calculate the estimated energy use/running costs of each bottle cooler we used our calculator (below) which takes into account the kWh/annum (as supplied by the manufacturer), and bases costs on the average energy rate that a restaurant may expect to pay in the UK. 

Energy prices and kWh/annum can be edited in the calculator below to give a more tailored result.

This representative data shows that, as expected, the premium back bar fridge may be more expensive to buy initially but has the best energy rating and the lowest energy costs to run on a yearly basis out of the bunch.

Note though that the cheapest bottle cooler only drops one grade in the efficiency ratings and doesn't cost considerably more to run over the same course of a year based on estimated figures. 

While the general census is that market leading equipment will have a longer lifespan, and that is often true, if you're shopping with a strict budget in mind, you don't have to make do with a significant drop in energy efficiency and pay massively inflated operating costs to get equipment that can still get the job done. 

There is no fixed lifespan for equipment and while experts may be able to give an indication of the expected lifetime, it is ultimately just a (very rough) estimate. How long commercial refrigeration lasts is highly reliant on multiple variables including;

• what it's used for
• where it's positioned
• how it is used
• manufacturing quality
• level of cleaning, maintenance and service

This is the same for the cheapest bottle coolers and market leading products alike.

To put it in other terms - You could buy a budget car and a premium car - both could last decades - both could equally experience a fault after you've driven off the forecourt. 

It's the same with commercial refrigeration. Although all commercial refrigeration is built to perform in business settings, you could theoretically experience issues with any product, regardless of how much you spend. What you get with premium equipment at premium prices, however is the prestige of the brand, the years of experience behind the team of designers and manufacturers, a high level of service and in some cases a longer warranty to back this up, higher quality manufacturing materials and build quality, extra features that may not be available on standard entry level units, and more durable refrigeration components and thicker insulation. This will typically lead to a potentially longer lifetime. 

This isn't to say that low cost back bar bottle coolers aren't valuable though. They are a great option when budgets are tight or you only need a short term fix - if you're looking for a back bar cooler now, not necessarily for 10-20 years time. 

The low price doesn't mean that you're losing out on performance or efficiency. Yes, energy ratings may be slightly lower than the market leaders and you might not get all of the bells and whistles feature wise, but you're still getting a product that can keep your bottles and cans chilled and that can operate with reasonable ongoing running costs. You may not get decades of use from it, but it will give you solid performance while it's in use.

Get more top tips to make sure your commercial refrigeration is operating efficiently.

If you're looking to buy a bottle cooler that should serve your business far, far into the future, and you have the budget to spend or are open to commercial leasing or other payment solutions, then investing in the best is recommended. You make one purchase and it lasts potentially up to 15 or more years.

When you need a quick fix and want to pull back the spend, then budget bottle coolers are a great option. Always bear in mind though, that for the lifetime of a well maintained premium brand you may end up replacing your entry level unit 3 or maybe more times. The combined spend for multiple budget bottle coolers will eventually add up to the total of a one-off purchase of a leading brand, especially if said bottle cooler has a long and prosperous life thanks to responsible use and good maintenance. 

The choices available don't only include the extremes of the price spectrum. There are plenty of bottle coolers from mid-range brands such as Tefcold that combine efficiency and a reasonable price point. See more A & B rated fridges and freezers from Tefcold.

Whether your priority is low price or high prestige - cheap bottle coolers or the best bottle coolers for pubs and bars in term of expected lifetime of the equipment - you don't have to sacrifice on efficiency or energy use and running costs to find what you need.