Energy Efficiency Improvement Considerations at the Design Stage: The Case of Supermarkets

Abstract

Supermarkets are large energy consumers, with high specific energy consumption than a majority of other commercial buildings. The main energy users are space cooling, lighting and the cold chain. This study was conducted as an initiative to demonstrate cost-effective, replicable ways to achieve significant electrical energy savings in supermarket buildings. The largest consumer of a Supermarket is the HV AC system, with about 50% of the total energy consumption. Of the total demand, the cold chain accounts for about 20% and lighting for about 15% while other equipment use about 15%. The Arpico Super Center, Kegalle, project was selected as a model maximise energy efficiency measures to save electricity. A saving of 22% of energy was achieved through efficiency improvements and a further 23% was self­generated from a roof mount solar power plant. An inverter type air conditioning system, automated fresh air control system with CO2 monitoring sensors, LED lamps, lighting controls (timer switch, light sensor, occupancy sensor), parabolic reflectors, skylights, variable frequency drives (VFD), power factor correction, energy efficient sewerage treatment plant, maximum use of gravity in water transportation and planned preventive maintenance are some of the energy efficiency improvement techniques implemented to achieve the study objectives. Almost all of the Arpico supercenter roofs are operating as solar power plants and more than 3 MWp installations completed by 2019, including 260 kWp of this project.