This detailed case study shows how a comprehensive audit and collaboration between the auditor and local refrigeration specialist have significantly reduced cold room operating costs with annual savings of almost $20,000 and a payback period of a year and a quarter. Refrigeration energy consumption and demand have been almost halved. Added benefits include emission reductions of 46.1 t CO₂-e. 

The site near Rollingstone in North Queensland processes and packages fruit from local pineapple producers. Pineapples carrying field heat arrive on site where they are then washed and cooled ready for distribution. The facility requires a significant amount of energy to operate, particularly in relation to refrigeration systems, which account for 65% of site energy use. An audit of site energy consumption studied the viability of initiatives to reduce operating costs associated with produce packing facilities in the wet tropics, particularly refrigeration and packing shed energy utilisation.