• Office premises are sometimes unimaginable without a coffee machine, but which machine should you choose for the office?
• A coffee machine with a power of 1000–1500 W will be perfect for a small office.
• If you have a large office with many employees, and everyone wants a cup of coffee in the morning, consider a coffee machine with simultaneous preparation of two cups and a reservoir volume of 1.5 litres and more.
• For a larger office, you should choose a machine with an informative display, which shows information about the status of the coffee machine – whether there is enough water in the reservoir, whether it is necessary to add coffee beans, whether it is necessary to perform cleaning, etc.
• Regardless of the conditions for using the coffee machine, choose a machine that has an automatic cleaning function. In this case, the coffee machine will eliminate limescale deposits, coffee grounds and oils by itself and you will enjoy its operation for a long time.
• Like other appliances, the coffee machine continues to consume a small amount of electricity in standby mode. Turn off the machine when it is empty, there is no need to heat it anymore, and thus you will reduce your electricity consumption.
• Over time, deposits accumulate in the water tank, affecting the heating function of the device. Keeping it clean will reduce your machine's electricity consumption. It is recommended to clean the coffee machine at least once a month.

• The most efficient way to boil water is to heat it in an electric kettle.
• Kettles with a disk-shaped heating element embedded in the base of the kettle will work more efficiently.
• Electricity consumption is reduced if only the required amount of water is boiled in the electric kettle, and not the maximum possible amount. When boiling the minimum amount of water, the consumption is about four times less compared to boiling the maximum amount of water.
• The heating element of the kettle must be descaled regularly, because a 1 mm scale layer increases the electricity consumption by 10%.

• Microwaves use high frequency radio waves. When microwaves come into contact with food, they are not reflected, but penetrate inside the food, where, interacting with water molecules, they accelerate their chaotic movement. It is known that body temperature depends on the speed of chaotic movement of molecules or atoms – the faster they move, the higher the body temperature. Basically, a microwave oven heats all the food at the same time. This method reduces cooking time and energy consumption, especially when cooking small amounts of food.
• You should choose a microwave oven with a volume suitable for the needs of the office, which can be both free-standing and built-in kitchen furniture. In general, a small microwave oven with a power of 600–800 watts is more energy efficient than a larger one with a power of, for example, 850–1650 watts.
• In order to use electricity wisely and prepare high-quality products, you should choose a microwave oven with various cooking options and functions.
• Install the microwave oven further away from the refrigerator so as not to increase the refrigerator's electricity consumption. If you really must put the units side by side, place a sheet of foam insulation between them.
• A microwave oven works more efficiently when its interior surfaces are clean of food residue.

Choosing a refrigerator and using it

• A critical factor in choosing a refrigerator is its capacity – larger-volume refrigerators consume the most electricity. The volume of the refrigerator should be chosen taking into account the number of people who will use it, as well as the required amount of product storage. If your previous refrigerator was half-empty all the time, maybe you should purchase a smaller one.

Refrigerator settings and location

• Set the refrigerator temperature to +5 °C, and the freezer temperature to −18 °C. For every degree that is excessively lowered, the electricity consumption of the refrigerator increases by 5%. If the refrigerator has a temperature controller without specific temperature indications, the set temperature can be checked by placing a thermometer suitable for such temperatures in the refrigerator.
• Refrigerators in which you can adjust the temperature of the refrigerator part and the freezer part separately are particularly energy-efficient.
• The refrigerator should be placed away from heat sources – radiators, stoves and other devices that emit heat during operation, as well as from direct sunlight. It is also not recommended to place it too close to the wall, in the corner of the room or in a niche, as air circulation will not be ensured and electricity consumption will increase. There should be 5–10 cm of free space around the refrigerator for air circulation.
• If you choose a built-in refrigerator, you should note that only a device designed for this purpose may be built-in. When installing a free-standing refrigerator, electricity consumption will increase disproportionately. When choosing a refrigerator, remember that built-in refrigerators consume about 20% more electricity than free-standing appliances.

Recommendations on how to reduce the electricity consumption of the refrigerator in the office on a daily basis.

• Store food in sealed containers, so that unwanted moisture and aromas will not occur in the refrigerator.
• Do not put hot products in the refrigerator. Steam contributes to the formation of ice in the refrigerator's cooler, increasing electricity consumption.
• Do not leave the refrigerator door open for long periods of time, as this will allow warm air to enter the refrigerator, making it necessary to lower the temperature again.
• Check how tightly the refrigerator’s door closes. If it is difficult to pull out a sheet of paper pressed in the refrigerator door, everything is fine. If the sheet slips out of the door, we recommend cleaning the sealing rubber, if it is damaged, replace it so that warm air does not enter the refrigerator.
• Just like at home, it is recommended to clean the refrigerator regularly in the office, and clean the dust from the cooling grates at the back of the refrigerator at least once a quarter – they delay cooling.

• We recommend equipping water faucets with a water-saving nozzle – an aerator. It mixes water with air, reducing water consumption by up to 50%. If you are planning to buy an aerator, first check whether your water faucet is already equipped with one. This can be easily determined by looking at the water jet - if it is white and frothy, the faucet is already equipped with an aerator, if the jet is transparent, it is recommended to install an aerator.
• On the other hand, to reduce water consumption during the day, install a dishwasher in the office kitchen. Why? For example, if we compare the amount of water needed to wash the same number of dishes – 14 sets – 60–80 litres of warm water are consumed when washing them by hand, while 10–14 litres of cold water are consumed in the dishwasher. But in terms of electricity consumption, a dishwasher consumes 1–2 kWh on average, depending on the machine model and the specific washing program.
• On the other hand, to reduce water consumption during the day, install a dishwasher in the office kitchen. Why? For example, if we compare the amount of water needed to wash the same number of dishes – 14 sets – 60–80 litres of warm water are consumed when washing them by hand, while 10–14 litres of cold water are consumed in the dishwasher. But in terms of electricity consumption, a dishwasher consumes 1–2 kWh on average, depending on the machine model and the specific washing program.

Choosing a dishwasher and using it

• A high-end dishwasher is very economical – it uses only 6 to 8 litres of water at one time, washing 12 sets of dishes.

Recommendations on how to reduce the electricity consumption of the dishwasher in the office on a daily basis.

• A dishwasher uses the largest amount of electricity to heat the water, so you should use cycles with a lower water temperature for washing dishes.
• Slightly soiled dishes can be effectively washed at a temperature of 40 degrees and in shorter washing programs. On the other hand, programs with a higher washing temperature, for example 70 degrees, and a longer cycle are suitable for dirtier and grimy dishes.
• In order to use water and electricity efficiently, it is preferable to fill the baskets of the dishwasher completely with dishes, rather than washing only a few items. If this is difficult, you should choose a dishwasher with a single basket washing function.
• Dishwashers are very good at washing and drying dishes, provided that you put them correctly onto the racks, as the manual requires you to.
• If the dishwasher has two separate baskets, it is recommended to put dirtier and larger dishes in the lower basket, and slightly dirty and more fragile dishes in the upper one. You should also make sure that a suitable washing program is selected depending on the type of dishes and the degree of soiling.
• When using a dishwasher, it is recommended to choose an economical washing program, thus water consumption can be reduced up to two times during one cycle.
• In order for the dishwasher to work more efficiently – for a shorter time and with less electricity consumption – its filter should be cleaned regularly.
• One of the reasons why the dishes may still be dirty after washing is a clogged filter. A filter is embedded in the floor of the dishwasher compartment which cleans the washing water from large pieces of dirt, which is reused in the washing cycle. It is recommended that this filter be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary to ensure the highest performance of the dishwasher.
• It is recommended to use the optimal amount and ecological dishwashing detergents, because they are as effective as other detergents, but much friendlier to nature.

Professional refrigerators are used to store food products and animal feed at the appropriate temperature. These refrigerators are most often used in companies that need to store a large amount of food or animal feed. Professional refrigerators are not intended for household use or for displaying products to consumers.

Energy Labels

Climate classes from 3 to 5 are possible for professional refrigerators. Climate class is determined by dry bulb temperature and relative humidity. Dry bulb temperature and relative humidity are determined by the ambient conditions of the device.

The table indicates the ambient conditions of climate classes 3, 4 and 5 at which the refrigerator can operate effectively.

Refrigerators with a direct sales function are actually any refrigerated display case in a store that displays products intended for sale. The products in the cold display cases can be available to consumers in the form of self-service or through the service staff.

Direct sales refrigerators are designed to display a variety of food products, including beverages, for sale. Refrigerated display cases are able to provide both a cooling function and a freezing function, for example for selling ice cream.

Energy Labels

The energy efficiency label has also been developed for such refrigerators with a direct sales function, the upper showcases provide cooling of products, and the lower ones – freezing.

Electrical appliance manufacturer and model Energy efficiency class Projected power consumption, kWh/year Chilled products store capacity, in litres Average temperature of all compartments in freezing mode in degrees Celsius Maximum ambient temperature for operation of the device. Exceeding this, the device will not work efficiently

Energy labeling of refrigeration equipment in retail (except beverage refrigerators and ice cream showcases)

Electrical appliance manufacturer and model Energy efficiency class Projected power consumption, kWh/year Volume of frozen products in liters or total area of stands (m2) Average cooling mode temperature in all compartments in degrees Celsius Volume of frozen products in liters – total area of all refrigeration stands (m2) Average cooling mode temperature in all compartments in degrees Celsius

Freezing costs can reach 70% of the energy consumption costs of all shop windows.

When opening a new store or planning major equipment changes, think about energy-efficient refrigerators with built-in transparent glass doors.

If too many products are placed in the display cases (such as beverage cans), it requires more electricity to cool everything. Adjusting the amount of frozen products to the customers' activities, taking into account the relevant season or time period can save up to 15% of the electricity used by the machine for cooling.

• Set up regular defrost checks.
• Do not allow cold air to escape from the refrigerator. If the refrigerator is not equipped with a door, the cold air from the refrigerator settles on the floor and cools the air in the room. Compressor motors operate in cold mode. You can save up to 30% of the electricity used for refrigerators with curtains, blinds, sliding doors or hoods.

Most of the freezer windows are open, which significantly increases the thermal load on the cooling system. However, there are various ways in which the heat load can be reduced. You can choose from the following tools:

• curtain strips – transparent plastic strips that are placed one above the other and are attached to the front of the showcase shelves;
• sliding doors – transparent doors that are attached to the front of the showcase shelves;
• covers (bubble covers) – durable plastic sheets that are attached to the open surface of freezers;
• blinds – roller blinds that are attached to the shelf and are closed when the store hours are over.