Recommendations by Sector
RETAIL STORES
Energy Use
Sales floors are the most energy-intensive areas in retail buildings, so they
are the focus here. Of course, most retail stores also include warehouse space
and some office space, so users should go to those topics for further
recommendations. Lighting is the highest energy user in retail spaces (40%),
which also contributes to the cooling load. HVAC systems typically account for
35% of energy use and plug loads about 22%. Domestic hot water only consumes
about 3%.
Customers are good for business, and “people load” contributes to space
heating in winter. However, since people contribute both heat and moisture, the
cooling system must work to maintain a comfortable environment during the
shoulder months and summer. The challenge is to maintain an attractive,
comfortable environment while limiting energy use and peak demand.
Many retails spaces are leased from building owners who are not enthusiastic
about improving the energy efficiency of their property when tenants are paying
the energy bills. However, it is frequently possible to persuade landlords to
make energy-saving improvements a part of long-term lease agreements since these
not only improve the property but also save money and make the space more
attractive to present and future tenants. Indeed, such measures as lighting
retrofits are often good investments by tenants even in the absence of landlord
contributions.
Measures that are frequently found to be cost-effective include the
following:
Lighting
- Replace T-12 fluorescent fixtures with T- 8 or T-5 fixtures with
electronic ballasts. Bulbs with good color rendering properties for displaying
merchandise are widely available.
- Use higher-efficiency spots and floods for illuminating merchandise.
Incandescent and halogen lighting is quite inefficient and both produce
objectionable heat. In many cases they can be replaced by compact fluorescent
fixtures that provide better illumination, are much more efficient, and last
from 4 to 10 times longer than incandescent and halogen fixtures.
- Incorporate skylights and photocell controls. In many retail designs,
standard 4-foot by 8-foot bubble skylights are used. Usually, a
skylight-to-floor area ratio of 1:25 balances daylight with space conditioning
requirements. Energy savings and enhanced sales can both result.
- Install and adjust automatic dimming controls to take advantage of
daylighting.
- Install LED exit signs.
- Upgrade parking lot lighting to save energy and reduce environmental
impacts.
HVAC
- Install a demand-controlled ventilation system. When only a few people are
in a store, energy can be saved by decreasing the amount of ventilation
supplied by the HVAC system. A demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system
senses the level of carbon dioxide in the return air stream and uses it as an
indicator of occupancy. DCV can save energy during peak cooling periods when
many shoppers are at work and occupancy is low.
- Choose high-efficiency packaged A/C units listed by the Consortium for
Energy Efficiency in their Tier 2 guidelines (http://www.cee1.org/com/hecac/ac_tiers/impcttbl.htm).
- Install variable air volume air handling systems with variable speed
drives.
- Downsize to a new high-efficiency chiller in conjunction with lighting and
other retrofits.
- Use condensing boilers with large turn-down ratios whose efficiencies
improve with turn-down.
- Switch over to direct digital controls.
- Install premium-efficiency motors.
- Upgrade the energy management system; optimize settings to reflect usage,
respond to changing weather patterns, and control peak electric loads.
- Continuously commission the building.
Building Envelope
- Install high-efficiency glazing carefully chosen for each building
facade’s relation to the sun and other variables. When installing new glazing,
choose a product that has high transmission in the visible spectrum (to
enhance daylighting within and view from inside and out) but low transmission
in the infrared (low solar heat gain coefficient, SHGC) to enhance energy
performance during the cooling season.
- Install overhangs to limit direct beam sunlight coming in store windows.
- Install insulation in strategic locations.
- Undertake strategic air sealing, including duct work.
- Install an ENERGY STAR cool roof.
Plug Loads
- Use low-energy sleep functions on computers, printers, and copiers.
- Choose ENERGY STAR appliances.
Employee
- Ensure building maintenance and cleaning staff are enthusiastic about
savings and adopt work habits that support energy efficiency.
- Involve all employees in energy savings efforts, provide efficiency
education for work and home, and encourage employee suggestions on energy
savings opportunities.
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