Energy Use of vending machines

Vending Machines - Vending machines are large energy consumers because they are on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year even if no one is around to use them. Not only do they keep the product cool (or warm), but they use lights (and sometimes sounds) to attract people to purchase items. According to the Seattle City Light Conservation, vending machines consume 7-14 kilowatt-hours/day, depending on size, meaning each vending machine may cost about $300 a year to run! In order to make vending machines more energy efficient, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point installed a device called Vending Miser on all vending machines. It is reported that one Vending Miser will reduce the power consumption of a cold drink vending machine by an average of 46% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,200 lbs. of CO2and 3,600 grams of NOx each year (based on occupancy and the Environmental Information Administration's national average of greenhouse gas emissions and electricity generation). SnackMisers are also installed on snack vending machines.

Energy use in facilities on dorms and campusts. (2009). Global Environmental Management, Retrieved from http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gem/SustainableEnergy/energy-statistics.htm

 

About energy start vending machines

ENERGY STAR qualified new and rebuilt refrigerated beverage vending machines can save building and business owners more than 1,700 kWh/year, or $150 annually on utility bills.

• New and rebuilt refrigerated beverage vending machines that have earned the ENERGY STAR are 50% more energy-efficient than standard machine models.
• ENERGY STAR qualified new and rebuilt vending machines incorporate more efficient compressors, fan motors, and lighting systems to keep beverages just as cold and the machine visible while using less energy.
• ENERGY STAR qualified new and rebuilt machines come with a low power mode option that allows the machine to be placed in low-energy lighting and/or low-energy refrigeration states during times of inactivity.

About Energy star vending machines. (n.d.). Buy Products that make a difference, Retrieved from http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=VMC

Reduced Energy Guide for vending

General Guidance on Energy Efficient Operation

Refrigerated Vending

• Do not place equipment against windows or in
direct sunlight.

• Always ensure ventilation grilles on cooling
equipment are unobstructed.

• Regular cleaning of the ventilation grilles should
be carried out.

Hot Drinks Machines

• Ensure ventilation grilles are unobstructed to
ensure overheating does not occur.

Shutdowns

Refrigerated Vending:

These devices take around 10 hours to achieve a serving temperature (3-4 degrees C) from switch on. To achieve this, the appliance will use roughly 3 days’ equivalent of energy. It is therefore recommended that these units are only shutdown if the period exceeds three days.

Hot Drinks Vending Machines

Hot drinks machines take little time to return their water to serving temperature. They can be switched off overnight and turned back on when the trading area is opening. Savings will be achieved from switching off overnight; however, the water is boiled around a quarter of the number of times during idle periods than it is during operation. It is therefore estimated that an overnight switch off will save around 1 kWh. A timer plug will take around 6 months to payback when fitted to a hot drinks vending machine to turn it off overnight.

http://www.nus.org.uk/PageFiles/4888/REG-6-Vending-Machines.pdf