Blog Energyly - Energy Monitoring Devices

Retail Sector Energy Efficiency

The Retail sector is one of the most celebrated industry verticals with digital transformation visible in both the e-commerce space as well as the brick and mortar stores. However, on the flipside, the rising energy cost and the associated overheads with inefficient energy management are serious concerns for the retailer businesses.

Energy an Opportunity!!

Energy efficiency is one of the most cost effective ways for retailers to reduce power bills, improve operational efficiency. Small changes to your retail premises can have a dramatic impact on your energy bills. A retailer’s typical energy costs are 5.5% of operating costs.

“A 20% cut in energy costs represents the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales”

– Carbon Trust 2012

This statement still rings true for any kind of retail industry

Profiles impacting retail energy

Energy is the second highest retailer operating expense. Lightning and HVAC present big opportunities for retailers to reduce their energy usage. Food and non-food retailers have different energy consumption profiles, mainly due to the use of refrigeration. Food retailer’s average consumption per square foot is 51.3 kWh ft² because of the refrigeration and HVAC needs, i.e three times more as compared to non-food retailers.

Efficiency Measures

There is no magic wand in energy efficiency. Cutting energy consumption is a rising process, which counts on small changes in equipment, operating parameters and policies with the need to balance energy efficiency improvements with their potential impact on store operations and customers. Simple savings can be achieved by switching off the equipment when not in use, lighting with the use of CFL and LEDs as opposed to high wattage fixtures, Using occupancy sensors for vacant or low-traffic areas will save a much on energy bills, Proper temperature settings for HVAC and refrigerators, Planning preventative maintenance program for boilers, lifts, escalators, ovens, refrigerators, freezers & air-conditioning equipment and Employee awareness that involve all staff in managing the energy use in the retail facility

Action points

  • Analyze utility bills to see how much energy is actually used
  • Identify wastage areas in your store to make savings
  • Set targets for energy use reductions
  • Consider installing a Energy monitoring system possibly at real-time monitoring system to keep a track on energy usage

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