Welcome to the RDT Blog.

If you're in the foodservice industry, you know your utility bill is one of your largest expenses. And of those energy eaters, your walk-in freezer and refrigerator can be some of the largest draws of your electricity.

Topics: refrigeration, food waste, energy efficiency, maintenance

January 1, 2020 and July 10, 2020 are the deadlines for manufacturers of commercial refrigeration to show that they are in compliance with the latest energy-efficiency standards as set by the Department of Energy in 2017.

Topics: energy efficiency, Energy Study, Regulations

Think of how many times you’ve grabbed an apple only to find a section of it bruised. What happened to that apple? Did you disregard the imperfection and use it anyways, or did you throw the entire piece of fruit away? Most people would have done the latter. It’s all too common in this day and age, and as we’ve discussed before, food waste statistics are jarring. So how can we take these food waste studies and do something about it?

Topics: food safety, refrigeration, food waste, commercial refrigeration

 

Multi-state, foodborne illnesses continue to affect American consumers, and not only from farm-to-supermarket. Downstream food service operations like those found in K-12 cafeterias, hotel restaurants, and at sports stadiums are often the site of consumer food poisoning incidents.

Topics: food safety, refrigeration, redundancy, maintenance

Record-breaking attendance, enlightening industry discussions, and even glow-in-the-dark bowling.

If you happened to miss out on the 2019 FCSI Education Provider Program's Refrigeration Training Seminar held at RDT's factory in Waxahachie, Texas, check out this short video recapping the event:

Topics: refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, Eco-Cool, consultants

In 2018, U.S. convenience stores boasted their 16th year in a row of record-breaking inside sales. The National Association of Convenience Stores reports that over 153,000 stores nationwide are offering food, merchandise, and fuel to approximately 160 million customers every day, which equates to roughly half the population of the U.S. served every day.

Topics: c-stores, trends

 

The world is caught up in the changes and causes concerning climate change. Closer to home, the state of California seems to be at the forefront of implementing environmental protection efforts to help mitigate some of these negative changes. One notable action is their effort to reduce the levels of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) released into our atmosphere.

Topics: energy efficiency, Regulations

Just a few degrees can separate food waste from profitable food. Store food in temperatures that are too warm and it will spoil. Store food in frozen conditions for too long and you run the risk of freezer burn. However, all that costly food waste can be eliminated through proper storing conditions in a commercial freezer. Which begs the question, are you saving money by maintaining the quality of the food in your walk-in freezer?

Topics: food safety, freezer, freezer burn, refrigeration, food waste, commercial refrigeration, Walk-Ins, commercial freezer

School cafeterias aren't what they used to be. These days, there's a major push to bring nutritious food to every child in America's K-12 school systems, but with these efforts, there is the daunting task of keeping costs to a minimum and serving food that kids will eat -- all at the same time.

Topics: energy efficiency, school, Energy Study

 

Preventive maintenance is essential if you want your refrigeration unit to last.

While some may think about service and call an expert only when things break down, simple tips can help operators eliminate downtime-related costs that result from refrigeration failures. Regular service and maintenance allows operators to stay on top of issues before they arise.

Topics: refrigeration, service technician, maintenance