Harding’s Store Cuts Costs With Deli Doors

MICHAEL GARRY

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Harding’s Markets, a 29-store chain based in Plainwell, Mich., has installed glass doors on an existing 24-foot deli case in a store here, and cut energy costs for the case by 81% during a 10-week test.

The store metered the case and measured energy usage for five weeks prior to the installation of the doors, from Remis America, Elkhart, Ind., and for five weeks after installation.

The average energy usage dropped from 91 kilowatt-hours per day to 17 kilowatt-hours per day, according to Remis America. Lighting in the case was also changed from T12 fluorescent bulbs to T5 fluorescent bulbs, saving an additional 5 kilowatt-hours per day.

While glass doors are known to reduce energy costs, some retailers see them as negatively impacting case sales. However, shoppers at the Harding store commented favorably about the case, said owner Jack Ruess.

“The added benefit to the installation was that it was a 20-plus-year-old case,” he said, in a statement. “People come in now and say they love our new case and don’t realize it’s the same one.” The biggest change, he added, was how much the new lighting brightened the case. “It looks great.”