Refrigerated display cabinets are important for marketing/selling goods that need to be kept cold while displayed, but they are notoriously energy-intensive. Taking necessary maintenance measures can help save energy and reduce yearly bills. For instance, when cabinets are not regularly cleaned or maintained, efficiency and performance suffer. Equally, retrofitting the curtains or blinds of refrigerated cabinets can reduce electricity demand.

In the UK, for example, refrigerated display cabinets use around 5 800 GWh a year, which corresponds to a third of all electricity used for refrigeration in the food chain. Some high-efficiency cabinets are currently sold on the market, but it is also possible to improve the energy performance of existing refrigeration display systems.

Apart from good cleaning and maintenance practices, efficient retrofitting opportunities can be found by replacing or upgrading the transparent doors, LED lights, motor fans, and strip curtains. Installing high-efficiency T5 lighting and night blinds is also recommended.