The cost of keeping cold

Nation's Business, Feb, 1997

A refrigerated vending machine for beverages can cost a business $300 to $500 a year for electricity, according to E Source, Inc., an independent energy-information service in Boulder, Colo. Cleaning the coils at the back of a machine and providing adequate air circulation around it can improve efficiency and reduce cost, says E Source.

Turning off the machines" lights for extended periods, such as when the business is closed, can result in significant savings--especially if the machines are newer models with full-front lighted panels, which use more power.