Summary

The Association of Dutch Cold stores Nekovri has published a guide for the design, construction and operation of energy efficient cold stores. The publication was motivated by the results of a previous study, which showed that the Dutch cold stores have unnecessarily high energy losses. In some cases, transmission losses through the building shell account for over 40% of a company's energy consumption. The most common cause is obsoleteness of the buildings. Another source of inefficiencies is an unbalanced approach of all relevant factors during the design stage.
A balanced design of a cold store demands an integrated approach of logistical, technical, hygienical and architectural aspects. The ´Construction Guide Cold Stores´ is intended to be an aid to this integrated approach. It offers elaborate advice and information, ranging from the composition of a design-team to the judicial aspects of building permits and subsidies. Of course, considerable attention is given to the technology of cooling and freezing. Several methods are described, as are the advantages and disadvantages of several refrigerants. A separate chapter deals with energy efficient operation of the cold store, and incorporates the principles of energy management.