Retail
Heating, Cooling and Thermostat Settings Heating, Cooling and Thermostat Settings
A significant user of energy in most workplaces, Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) should be designed to meet your business' requirements as efficiently as possible.
Refrigeration Cabinets and Small Refrigeration Units Refrigeration Cabinets and Small Refrigeration Units
There are lots of ways to ensure that refrigerated display cabinets, refrigerated storage cabinets, and other cold storage appliances are running as efficiently as possible.
Cool Rooms and Large Refrigeration Units Cool Rooms and Large Refrigeration Units
Cool rooms and walk-in freezers are large energy users, with waste often contributing at least 25% of the load - therefore a careful review of the efficiency of all installed refrigeration components is worthwhile.
Entrance Entrance
Consider ways that your store might be able to mitigate temperature loss through the front door. The simplest way is to keep the doors closed, so automatic or self-closing doors are recommended.
Lighting Lighting
Simple, no-cost lighting actions include ensuring there are no overlit areas (if so de-lamp them by removing some of the tubes or lights), and only leaving security lighting on overnight.
If not already done, upgrade all lights with LEDs, which may have rebates available. This is a cost-effective upgrade that can payback within just a few years due to the dramatic impact it has on running and replacement costs.
Double-glazed Windows Double-glazed Windows
Single-glazed windows typically account for up to 40 percent of heat loss (winter) and up to 87 percent of heat gain (summer). Adding a window film or upgrading to double glazing can be an effective way to reduce energy consumption. Check with the landlord to see what would be possible to do.
Insulation Insulation
Much of the warm or cool air we generate is lost through the ceiling, walls and floor. Roofspace is most often the easiest to retrofit. Pay particular attention to gaps around light fittings. Insulation can be fitted from above or below depending on the building.
Zoning Off Conditioned and Unconditioned Spaces Zoning Off Conditioned and Unconditioned Spaces
Where possible, create a physical barrier between areas which are air conditioned and those which aren't, such as a door or heavy curtain between the main store and back of store or office areas.
Hot Water System Hot Water System
Water usage isn't always the first thing that comes to mind when considering energy efficiency, but heating water and maintaining it at temperature can be a big cost to a business.
Click on each icon in the image above to get instant tips
Retail businesses can significantly reduce their energy consumption by implementing smart practices in various areas. For the typical general store retailer the biggest energy consumer is heating and cooling, followed by lighting. For supermarket retailers, the biggest energy consumer is refrigeration. Simple no-cost adjustments can be made to reduce energy use and cost, such as minimising lighting overnight, and adjusting the thermostat to 20 degrees in winter and keeping the doors closed (with a sign on the door reading 'Come in, we're open and it's warm inside').
Heating, Cooling and Thermostat Settings
A significant user of energy in most workplaces, Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) should be designed to meet your business' requirements as efficiently as possible.
- Where suitable, reversible ceiling fans are an excellent and cheap form of cooling and can also assist in winter to help destratify the air and push the warmth back to where it's needed, reducing the heating and cooling load. The most efficient cooling is through using fans in conjunction with an air conditioner.
- Regular professional maintenance is critical for HVAC systems, addressing filters, refrigerants, evaporator coils and condensers, fan motors, and the integrity of ducts and seals.
- It is important to set the thermostat within sensible limits (18-20°C during winter, 23-25°C during summer) and ensure the system is switched off outside work hours.
- Thermostats should be placed to reflect internal temperatures only - they should be positioned to avoid influence from external temperatures or other sources of heat or cold, such as on internal walls or away from the entry door to the store.
- When existing HVAC equipment is inefficient, or approaching its end of life, consider the implementation of efficient zoned reverse cycle electric systems with variable speed drives for motors, and smart controls to vary operation with demand.
- If you rent the premises and wish to upgrade the HVAC systems, the best course of action is to speak with your landlord - see Making a Plan.
Refrigeration Cabinets and Small Refrigeration Units
Many retail businesses have refrigerated display cabinets (RDCs), refrigerated storage cabinets (RSCs), ice cream freezer cabinets, and scooping cabinets. There are a few key tips to be aware of in lowering energy consumption for these items.
Strategic tips and upgrades to improve energy efficiency in refrigerated cabinets:
- Review the storage needs of your chilled products, and manage your fridges to meet them.
- Keep the doors closed when not accessing the unit.
- Utilise timers that pause refrigeration overnight or when closed for a period of time for non-perishable items like soft drinks.
- Use smart temperature controls to optimise cooling where external conditions and stock needs can change.
- Old RDCs (especially those predating 2012) are best replaced by new 'high efficiency' units, to take advantage of significant advances in recent units (see the Australian Government's Energy Rating website).
- Retrofitting glass doors on existing cabinets, where possible, will achieve significant energy savings. Install low emissivity and/or double glazed doors where possible, and consider upgrading existing doors to low-e/double glazing.
- Where glass doors are not practical, adding clear plastic strip curtains allows easy customer access and helps retain cooling in the units.
- Fluorescent cabinet lighting should be replaced with efficient LEDs.
- Other retrofits such as 'aerofoil' barriers that limit the loss of cold air are a straightforward intervention to reduce chilled air loss and are particularly effective when used overnight when closed.
As for all fridges, cleaning and checking seals, regular maintenance of fans, motors, condenser coils and fridge seals is particularly important for ongoing efficient operation.
Cool Rooms and Large Refrigeration Units
Cool rooms and walk-in freezers are large energy users, with waste often contributing at least 25% of the load - therefore a careful review of the efficiency of all installed refrigeration components is worthwhile.
Optimising the performance and longevity of older cool rooms, typically 10 years or more in service, often means a full system replacement. Upgrading to a new system not only ensures enhanced energy efficiency but also allows for specific design considerations.
Here are some tips for running your existing cool room as efficiently as possible:
- Ensure door seals are cleaned and seal well to retain cooling where needed.
- Install plastic strips to the door to reduce cooling loss when open.
- OHS standards specify that refrigeration (including cool rooms) is maintained at 4°C, and freezers at -18°C.
- Stack high use items near the door for quick access.
- Keep units at 80% full for best efficiency.
- Old equipment - including most plant older than 10 years - may be best replaced entirely, given the potential for energy cost savings. For equipment in reasonable condition, a range of retrofits can improve performance.
- Confirm that insulation panels are intact, sealed airtight at the joints, and include ceilings and floors. A minimum R-value of 4.5 is recommended for most applications. Ensure insulation on coolant pipes is in place and working well.
- Ensure that an adequate maintenance program is in place - that encompasses refrigerant levels, the fridge seals, condensers and evaporator coils, motor function, and doors.
- Where possible ensure that defrost time settings are out of key peak hours, this helps to minimise demand charges.
- Develop staff policies for loading and unloading practice that minimise cooling load, and avoid under and over-stocking and blocking the evaporator. Curtain strips are often useful in reducing air loss through doors. Alarms or automatic doors can help prevent doors being left open.
- Ensure coolroom lighting is efficient LEDs, controlled by sensors or timers if necessary to minimise use.
- Ensure that cooling temperatures aren't colder than needed for your stock. Food safety standards require refrigeration below 5°C, and freezers at -18°C.
- High efficiency motors and variable speed drives can be retrofitted to reduce energy consumption of fans, pumps and compressors. Control systems can be used with variable speed drives to reduce consumption, especially where cooling needs vary.
- Monitor energy use data regularly - either for your entire site, or via submeters - preferably in conjunction with refrigeration temperatures - to allow potential faults to be detected early.
- When introducing a new cool room system, it's crucial to plan for both current and future needs. This can include planning for sizing to meet existing demands while allowing for potential future expansions. Strategic placement of cooling equipment within the system ensures optimal performance and efficiency over time.
- Routine testing, thorough cleaning, and consistent maintenance are integral for cool room efficiency. Regularly logging refrigerant use and monitoring system temperatures enable proactive management, aiding in the early detection of potential issues and ensuring peak operational performance.
- Avoid glazing in cold rooms where possible. If they are needed, incorporate double glazed for refrigeration, and triple-glazed transparent windows for freezers to help maintain consistent temperatures and reduce energy losses. These windows enhance insulation, minimising heat exchange with the surroundings and contributing to overall energy savings.
Hot Water System
Water usage isn't always the first thing that comes to mind when considering energy efficiency, but heating water and maintaining it at temperature can be a big cost to a business.
Heat pump hot water systems
The most energy efficient way to heat water for your business is with a heat pump hot water system. Heat pumps employ the same technology as your fridge or reverse cycle air conditioner, using a refrigerant to absorb heat from the outside air and through a process of compression and expansion, are able to produce heat very efficiently.
For one unit of electrical energy, four or five units of heat energy can be produced, resulting in 60-75% less energy consumption than a traditional electric resistive hot water system. Additionally, Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are part of a Federal Government rebate scheme offered Australia-wide on the purchase of renewable energy technologies, which includes heat pump hot water systems. There are additional Victorian state government rebates through Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) available for installing these systems as well.
Heat pump hot water systems work well with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and offer a way of storing renewable energy (a thermal battery) for use that night or the next morning.
Upgrading your system
Whether your current hot water system is gas or electric, the upgrade can be relatively simple. As most hospitality businesses only rent the premises, it is a good idea to speak with the building owner well ahead of time, while your current hot water system is still functioning, and put a plan in place to replace the hot water system if and when it eventually breaks, with a heat pump. For more information, see Making a Plan.
Making the most of your current system
In the meantime, it may be worth insulating your current hot water system, as uninsulated hot water pipes can lose up to 3kWh/day, meaning you'll be paying several hundred dollars more on your energy bills each year. It is recommended that you ask your plumber how best to insulate the three main components of the system - the pipes, the pressure and temperature relief valve, and the cylinder. YourHome goes into detail about the best way to go about this for different systems.
To reduce the overall cost of hot water, it is recommended that businesses switch their tap heads to water efficient heads or install flow restrictors. We also suggest ensuring that dishwashers are maintained regularly and low energy or 'eco' mode is used where available. Modern commercial dishwashers use much less water than older models and usually heat their own water very efficiently.
Some retail sites use very little hot water (such as a clothing shop or newsagent), and these often have instant gas units. Upgrading these to heat pumps is often unnecessary, in terms of cost and space required, given the low usage. Where the hot water demand is low and generally only a basin or kitchen tap, a small electric instantaneous unit at the point of use is usually most efficient and more cost effective to do.
Solar PV
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are a powerful asset for retail businesses, harnessing sunlight to deliver sustainable solar power to the premises. Whether interconnected with the grid or a battery system, solar PV offers a reliable energy source while potentially enabling feed-in tariff benefits when excess power is redirected back into the grid.
Most roofs that are structurally sound, and unshaded, are suitable for hosting rooftop solar. You can get a quick free quote for solar PV from multiple suppliers, ensuring to take into account your current and future electricity usage.
There are various solar calculators available, such as the solar and battery storage sizing and payback calculator from Sunspot. Solar system sizing is flexible. Where funds are limited a smaller system is a worthwhile measure to cut emissions and running costs. A larger system can also be worthwhile, to accommodate future electrical loads. Additionally, the rebates are reducing over time, so the sooner you install it the better to start enjoying the benefits of solar PV.
If you rent the premises for your business, you will need to speak with the building owner about how you can work together to install a solar PV system. For more information, see Making a Plan.