Are you interested in saving money? If you said YES please read on…
During 2023, FPG commenced an engineering project to support the transition of refrigerated cabinets from refrigerants such as R134a and R449a to R290. As part of the transition, FPG also introduced Embraco controllers with Variable Speed Drives (VSDs). For more on VSDs, read our story Variable Speed Drive Technology.
Testing has been a significant undertaking. Our goal is to determine the optimal composition of refrigeration components to deliver maximum energy efficiency while achieving average core product temperatures +2°-+4° C for Climate Class 3. It’s an iterative learning process.
The good news is reflected in the massive energy efficiency gains we’re seeing.



What does this all mean?
The changes to R290, Embraco controller and VSD create big energy savings over the life of the cabinet and reduced demand on natural resources used for the generation of power.
When it comes to savings, how big is big? Let’s make some assumptions about the operation of each cabinet:
- Operated for 14 hours per 24-hour day
- Operated 365 days a year
- Price of power per kWh: NZ$0.20
- Cabinet lifetime is 10 years (conservative!)
Visair Refrigerated with R290 VSD compared to R449a: a saving in power cost of $545 per year per cabinet, equating to $5,450 over 10 years.
Inline Barista with R290 VSD compared to R134a: a saving in power cost of $89 per year per cabinet, equating to $890 over 10 years.
Custom Horizontal Split Refrigerated with R290 VSD compared to R134a: a saving in power cost of $270 per year per cabinet, equating to $2,700 over 10 years.
Many of our customers operate fleets of cabinets across retail chains that can number in the hundreds, or even more.
A saving of $5,450 per cabinet over 10 years for a fleet of 100 cabinets equates to $545,000. That is significant, especially when the upfront price of the cabinet is held the same irrespective of refrigerant. Factor in the relentless rise in power prices means savings could be even greater.
FPG’s recommendation? Always, always consider the total cost of life.