WAL-MART UNIT SET TO SAVE ENERGY

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores here will open a supercenter this fall that will yield more than $100,000 in annual energy savings.

onditioning and refrigeration costs. The store is expected to be 30% more efficient than the average Wal-Mart, store officials said.

Refrigeration costs will be reduced $14,000 annually by locating compressor racks closer to the cases for minimum coolant use, while using loop piping for reduced leakage. Wal-Mart said all refrigerants used in the store will be chlorofluorocarbon-free.

Wal-Mart will trim $58,000 in HVAC costs by using water-source heat pumps that will cool ventilation and recirculation air, and by using a single water loop for all space air conditioning, refrigeration and water heating systems.

The retailer also hopes to save $30,000 annually in lighting costs by its use of skylights.

The supercenter will be 200,000 square feet and will contain 36 general merchandise departments along with a complete supermarket. The various store systems were designed by Wal-Mart, the Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif., and Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Oklahoma City.