Energy boost

The FMI Energy & Store Development Conference offers retailers a host of solutions. The pressure has never been higher for retailers to contain energy costs, both from a bottom line perspective and an environmental one. Recognizing this, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has put together an impressive agenda for its Energy & Store Development Conference. The conference is being held at the Hilton Baltimore, Sept. 8 to 10 in Baltimore and is expected to attract more than 600 retailers and suppliers. Laurie Gethin, program manager for FMI’s Energy & Store Development Conference, says attendees will discover new and emerging trends in design, merchandising and energy conservation, as well as gain new ideas to help reduce cost, improve sustainability and build a shopping experience that meets customers’ evolving needs. “We’re very proud of creating a conference that brings all the various players together under one roof and offers them a strong mix of educational programs and opportunities for retailers and suppliers to network,” says Gethin. “You’ll see representatives from the big suppliers such as Zero Zone, Hussmann, Hill Phoenix and Emerson to some of the parts players like Baltimore Air Coil.” Among the many highlights of the conference are presentations covering industry trends, comprehensive workshops on energy, refrigeration and store development and off-site events. Store tours will also be conducted at Weis Markets fresh market prototype, which is a GreenChill Gold certified store and Harris Teeter, which has earned the LEED Silver recognition. According to Gethin, these two stores were chosen for their interesting store design and energy efficiency features. The conference’s Manufacturer/Retailer Exchange, which takes place on Sunday and Monday, affords attendees the opportunity to meet more than 80 leading suppliers of energy management, HVAC, refrigeration, design, construction and lighting systems. Gethin calls the tabletop event “a low-tech, low-cost way” for suppliers to connect with retailers. Here is a glimpse at some of the companies who will be at the conference: Advantix Systems Advantix Systems is a manufacturer of liquid desiccant (salt water) dehumidification and cooling systems designed to provide energy savings of 30% or more. The Sunrise, Fla.-based company’s product line now includes the DT Rooftop, a plug-and-play unit for singular or modular rooftop configurations. Company officials will be discussing the benefits of this type of system with retailers. “We understand that maintaining a 50°F dew point is a critical challenge for the grocery industry,” says Hannah Choi Granade, president. “By using Advantix’s energy efficient liquid desiccant systems, freezer doors stay clear, defrost cycles are greatly reduced and perishable goods stay fresher longer.” AHT Cooling Systems   AHT Cooling Systems has been focused on energy efficient, low maintenance flexible systems since its inception. Company officials will be highlighting two of their newest models at the conference—the Ibiza a spot merchandiser available in two different sizes and the XL-Slim. “The Ibiza is designed like all our other equipment, for long term usage with very little maintenance,” says Howell Feig, national sales manager for the North Charleston, S.C.-based company. The unit comes standard with castors, internal LED, multi-temp and a charcoal black exterior with grey framing. The XL-slim is a vertical open air cooler with a depth of 24- inches, which makes it an ideal fit in-line with groceries. The shelves are 12-inch, dual position and adjustable for maximizing merchandising needs. It comes standard with LEDs, rollers and is black with silver vertical posts. Air-Row Fans According to company officials, Air-Row Fans produce quality products that are effective in rotating or destratifying the air in supermarkets to create consistent temperatures. The Carmel, Ind.-based company will be highlighting a round version of its popular F-18 fan in a decorator series that can house advertising logos and the DA-248, which helps to achieve zonal balance and overcomes the environmental issues unique to open-coffin, multi-deck aisles, say officials. “Air-Row sets itself apart from the competition by creating products that use less power, are easy to maintain, can be customized and have a variety of speed control options,” says Tom Noonan, founder and president. Baltimore Aircoil Co. Baltimore Aircoil Co. will be highlighting its new TrilliumSeries Condenser at the FMI Energy & Store Development Conference. The TrilliumSeries Condenser uses water only on the hottest days to maintain condensing temperatures that typical air-cooled technology cannot achieve. Combined with micro-channel coils and VSEC motors, this added efficiency leads up to a 44% reduction in peak energy usage and up to a 60% lower refrigerant charge, says officials for the Jessup, Md.-based company. “In a variety of climates, the TrilliumSeries Condenser provides the lowest total cost of ownership compared to air cooled units,” says Paul Noreen, director of adiabatic sales, North America. CAREL USA Erin Cousler, key account manger for CAREL USA, says the Manheim, Pa.-based company will be highlighting its Retail Sistema, a total store solution designed to consolidate an entire store’s refrigeration, air conditioning, energy, lighting, leak detection and third party device controls to one single point. Specifically company officials will discuss: pRack, compressor rack management for both traditional and natural refrigeration systems; MPXPRO, decentralized case control for applications with electronic expansion valves; pLoads, intelligent energy management of energy consumption; pChrono, management of lighting and non-food devices and PVPRO, a front-end program that offers system overview, monitoring, management and optimization. Commercial Refrigerator Door Co. The Commercial Refrigerator Door Co. manufacturers glass display door systems for walk-in coolers and open deck retrofits. The Sarasota, Fla.-based company’s product line also includes LED lighting and a variety of merchandising options. At the conference, the company will be featuring its MOD//Line Frame and Door System for retrofit applications. “This is a new launch for us and the result of several years of work developing a niche product with industry veterans to insure the marketplace has a choice when it comes to energy efficiency and glass display doors,” says David Jennings, vice president of sales and marketing. He adds that the MOD//Line Frame and Door System employs a unique and efficient frame design creating a true “endless lineup” and shortening installation times. ebm-papst Farmington, Conn.-based ebm-papst is a manufacturer of fans, blowers and custom-engineered assemblies. The company has an extensive line of AC, DC, and EC air movers for commercial refrigeration applications as well as solutions for heating, ventilation and air conditioning applications. The company will be promoting its AxiTop diffuser at the show. This passive diffuser has been combined with ebm-papst’s high-efficiency AC and EC axial fan assemblies to further reduce noise and lower energy consumption when installed in typical condenser applications. “Lower noise and reduced energy are key advantages to any retailer with a rooftop condenser system,” says Lou Moffa, market manager – refrigeration. Emerson Climate Technologies, Retail Solutions With more than 25,000 supermarket installs around the world, Emerson Climate Technologies, Retail Solutions, specializes in developing energy saving techniques and equipment for supermarkets. The Kennesaw, Ga.-based company offers retailers hardware, services and best practices to reduce energy costs while simultaneously minimizing maintenance costs to improve profitability. John Wallace, director of product management, says Emerson’s goal at the show is to present its unique solutions to customers’ problems, listen to attendees to understand the challenges they face and insure that they have the solutions to help solve their problems. The broad range of Emerson’s solutions at the show will include: electronic controls, the E2 Facility Management System for controlling refrigeration systems, XM case control product line compressors, valves and other components of a CO2 system. GE GE will be highlighting its new Immersion RH30 LED lighting system designed for horizontal display cases at the conference. “Making the switch from inefficient fluorescent lighting to a long-life LED solution will save grocers on energy, maintenance, material costs and the hassle and cost of disposing fluorescent lamps,” says Kyle Mooney, global product manager for East Cleveland, Ohio-based GE Lighting. Mooney adds that depending on local electricity rates and the hours of operation, many retailers who switch to LED systems can achieve ROI in less than three years. The Immersion RH30 LED refrigerated display lighting solution replaces traditional T12 high output, T8 and T5 high output linear fluorescent lamps in horizontal refrigerated display cases, producing 75% to 87% energy savings while reducing maintenance costs. The system also features GE’s Visual Comfort Lens to diffuse ultra-efficient LED technology in a way that removes “pinpricks” and “hot spots” from food packages. Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration Officials for Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration will be discussing microchannel air-cooled condensers with SunSource Commercial Refrigeration Energy System technology. The SunSource system integrates with the air-cooled condensers to provide an industry leading energy solution by reducing a building’s dependence on the energy grid, which can result in substantial energy savings from reduced demand and operating charges, say officials for the Stone Mountain, Ga.-based company. “As a leader in the commercial refrigeration industry, Heatcraft takes its commitment to sustainability very seriously,” says Subodh Sharma, marketing director of Heatcraft North America. “Environmentally friendly technologies have become much more attractive in the marketplace, which has made way for recent developments such as microchannel air-cooled condensers, high efficiency motors, improved solar technology and alternate refrigerants.” Officials at Heatcraft will also be highlighting their innovative, space-saving Slim Contour Unit Cooler. Henderson Engineers Henderson Engineers (HEI) has been providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and refrigeration engineering design services to supermarkets for more than 40 years. In addition to its core services, Kansas City, Kan.-based HEI houses four specialty divisions including architectural lighting, fire protection, comprehensive technology and security design and commissioning. During the last four years, HEI has provided commissioning services for over 100 grocery stores including a LEED certified Platinum store. “At the show we will be talking to retailers about our dedicated grocery and refrigeration team which offers, in addition to core MEP services, refrigeration system design, refrigerant conversion engineering, design development studies, remote commissioning and construction administration,” says Nick Shockley, vice president. Howe Corp. The Howe Corp. manufactures energy efficient and durable flake ice machines. Company officials will be on hand at the conference to discuss how their flake ice machines can help retailers conserve the most energy and water. According to Andrew Ortman, vice president of sales and marketing for the Chicago-based company, Howe flake ice machines accomplish this while using the least amount of water per pound of ice with capacities starting at 1,000 pounds per day. The machine can be configured for use with any refrigeration rack including Transcritical CO2. Howe 1,000 through 4,000 pound per day R-404A flake ice machines are now ENERGY STAR qualified. Hussmann Officials at Hussmann will discuss how their retail optimization team can provide a total solution to optimize operating performance, enhance the shopping environment and merchandising appeal and improve ROI through incentives. Hussmann’s Level I energy audit focuses on energy efficient and visual merchandising solutions for existing refrigeration display equipment. A Level II audit offers a comprehensive, diagnostic review of the entire store including all HVAC-R systems, store lighting, controls and walk-in coolers to identify energy conservation measures (ECMs) to increase energy efficiency and optimize overall operating performance. Cheryl Beach, marketing communications manager for the Bridgeton, Mo.-based company, says they will also be highlighting the company’s EcoShine II LEDs, which more evenly illuminate product displays, minimize hot spots and dark shadows and make the overall product display more appealing to shoppers. “With EcoShine II LEDs, retailers can save up to 71% in case lighting energy costs compared to T8 fluorescents,” says Beach. “Our EcoVision doors are designed for maximum product and provide substantial energy savings (up to 82%) versus open front multi-deck refrigerated merchandisers.” Kysor/Warren Heatcraft’s Kysor/Warren brand is committed to the conservation and improved use of its resources, say company officials. “Our STRATUS merchandise display cases and CO2 refrigeration systems are examples of our commitment to developing sustainable, functional products while decreasing energy costs and environmental impact,” says Eduardo Navarro, vice president and general manager for Kysor/Warren, based in Columbus, Ga. The recently launched Kysor/Warren STRATUS product line incorporates eco-friendly components such as standard EC fan motors, recycled/recyclable bumpers and drain pans, integrated night curtains and options for LED lighting using Kysor Digital Lights. Navarro adds that STRATUS products offer overall reduction in energy usage by as much as 30% over the past generation of comparable products in the field. NDL Industries For 14 years, NDL Industries has been manufacturing a stronger, thicker fitting, say company officials. Approved for CO2 and R410, the Vancouver, B.C., Canada-based company’s fittings are specially designed to be used in commercial refrigeration and HVAC systems and exceed the ASME B16.22 standard with more copper. At the conference the company will be speaking with retailers about the features and qualities that make their fittings stand out. “Our record of zero failures in the past 14 years and our ‘Ultimate Protection Warranty’ are a testament to our commitment to serve the industry with a better product,” says Tal Gutbir, president. Remis America Officials at Remis America are excited about their joint venture with The Marco Co. Through the partnership, the Remis product line has grown to include specialty LED lighting systems, walk-in and roll-in cooler shelving, hanging saddlebags, asset protection, medium and low temp shelf management, multi-deck shelf management and refrigerated case restoration. Matt Pletcher, vice president of sales for the Elkhart, Ind.-based company, says this year at the conference Remis will be showcasing the SAFE T line of high-transparency insulated glass hinged doors. “These doors offer maximum visibility and exceptional energy savings due to no heat required on our frame or door,” he says. Temprite Temprite officials will be discussing the 130 series of coalescent oil separators. These are designed specifically for transcritical CO2 systems as well as the 920 & 920R series of coalescent oil separators—compatible with ammonia (NH3) refrigerant systems. Temprite oil separators are designed to remove oil from the system and return it to the compressor, resulting in shorter compressor run times, reduced energy consumption and the highest possible return on investment. “We know that CO2 and ammonia are excellent, low-cost refrigerants if you have the right vessel for transcritical and subcritical applications,” says Tom Schmidt, president of the West Chicago, Ill.-based company. “Our 130, 920 and 920R Series separators are engineered to meet that demand range and are the solution to rising energy costs, longer system life and reduced carbon emissions.” Veris Industries Veris Industries will be featuring its line of Aerospond Wireless Sensors. These wall sensors, which are available in battery powered or externally powered models, monitor the humidity, temperature or CO2 of an indoor environment. The Portland, Ore.-based company’s remote sensors monitor temperature in refrigerated cases and walk-in coolers/freezers. Jim Klee, a product manager at Veris, says sensor readings can be transmitted over any wireless network and sensor data can be integrated by using a Tridium/Jace controller and the Veris Jace driver or with a building controller using either a network wireless gateway or digital outputs. Verisae Verisae will show retailers how they can reduce overall operating costs through active, efficient management of energy use, asset lifecycles and environmental compliance on one database application. Specifically, Verisae representatives will show how their SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) platform is used to measure, monitor and manage energy consumption and costs. “We will lay the foundation to help retailers establish energy baselines, track performance, reward performers and challenge ‘opportunity’ stores,” says Paul Hepperla, vice president, strategy and partnerships for the Minneapolis-based company.