Retailers show mixed responses to fridge door installation policy

Refrigerators are newly equipped with doors to help conserve energy at a Lotte Mart store in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, Feb. 13. Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

Opinions are split over the government's plan to require the installation of doors on all refrigerators at large retail shopping malls and convenience stores, according to market watchers, Sunday.

Chief among the proponents of the energy-saving campaign are retail chains and department stores, since the measure can cut down electricity bills substantially and bolster corporations' brand image as green, sustainable businesses.

But less enthusiasm is coming from convenience store operators with smaller premises, as it is difficult to apply the door modifications to refrigerators in smaller spaces.

Their responses come ahead of the plan by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to mandate doors on all refrigerators starting as early as the first week of August.

The ministry says the initiative will boost energy efficiency, as illustrated by a study that showed using fridges with doors with a temperature set to 5 degrees Celsius lowered electricity consumption to about one-third of those without doors.

The government has allocated 10 billion won ($7.7 million) to fund the campaign whereby it will shoulder up to 40 percent of the door installation costs, according to the ministry.

Only devices with verified safety, material and humidity standards will be eligible.

Large retail chains are ready to embrace the drive.

Lotte Mart has installed doors on the refrigerators at 60 of its branches as of July 23 and plans to install fridge doors at 15 more of its stores by the end of the year.

Similarly, E-mart said it installed doors on refrigerators at select branches in April. Homeplus followed suit in June.

However, convenience stores say they are not likely to follow the government guideline unless the ministry revises rules to factor in their concerns about the size of their stores and the inconvenience the policy may pose to customers as they negotiate already-cramped spaces.

The ministry said it will continue to collect opinions from businesses, store operators and the public.