The Retailer Summer Edition 2021

THE RE TA I L ER

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ARCUS FM HELPS LIGHT THE RETAIL PATHWAY TO NET-ZERO

Kathryn Ebrey Environment and Sustainability Manager, Arcus FM Arcus FM Limited

F ollowing a tech-led approach, working with early adopters, Arcus FM has identi- fied data-backed solutions which will set retails on the right journey to net-zero.

Refrigerant Management F-Gas regulations are currently under review in both the EU and the UK. From 2022, any new refrigeration equipment with more than 40kW of cooling duty will need to be installed with a GWP less than 150. This means equipment selection-based energy efficiency and refrigerant type will be crucial and AC refrigeration will come under the regulations too. Refrigerants will need to be natural including CO2, Ammonia, hydrocar- bons or the newer A2L refrigerants. However, selecting the refrigerant with the lowest GWPmight not be the best solution. Location and type of application with an understanding of the energy efficiency of the refrigeration equipment is essential. It’s also important that equipment is serviced by engineers who under- stand how to operate it at its most efficient – this should be corroborated with remote assistance via dedicated energy teams monitoring energy usage and operation. Most major supermarkets have adopted upgraded strategies to replace equipment with high GWP refrigerants with low GWP alternatives. For some retailers, aging systems have created the potential for leakage, resulting in greater emissions and less efficient systems. So, to be seri- ous about net-zero, it’s critical to have a good refrigerant management plan in place. By being proactive, monitoring data and analysing refrigerant usage, we highlight key component/equipment failures to target specific issues and allow support to the retailers to ensure the refrigerant usage is being controlled and reduced annually. With a good refrigeration management strategy and supporting its contractors over the last 5 years, some retailers have managed to reduce F-Gas usage by 43% equating to nearly a 1,000,000 TC02e reduction. Investment in building energy efficient building fabrics and the resultant EPC rating can often be a challenging dialogue between landlord and tenant. However, there are still ways to improve performance. By using machine learning of a building environment to analyse how quickly the temperature cools down when the heating is fully switched off and triangulate this with weather data, the retailer can save on fuel. At Arcus FM, our IoT product, HVAC drift, is similar to the stop/start function in car engine management and ensures you are being the most efficient with the building you have. Focusing on fleet and logistics We have learned a few lessons in moving our van fleet to electric light goods vehicles. If the capital cost of electric vehicles (EVs) is seen as a barrier, consider full life cycle costs when developing business cases. However, don’t forget to factor in future Government grant cuts as a risk to business cases and budgets. Investment in building energy efficient building fabrics

Control the cost of energy using remote monitoring

Remote monitoring of refrigeration and BMS systems allows for quick intervention, without the need for an engineer to visit site, saving on both operating energy and carbon from van rolls. The data generated means conditional based logic can be implemented to optimise settings against weather conditions and operational requirements. Using Enterprise level commands, settings across the whole estate can be modified instantaneously. Alternatively, by connecting directly to a specific asset, settings can be modified at a granular level, helping report accurately on your emissions and provide meaningful data to make fast, informed decisions to limit your carbon impact, lowering and controlling the cost of energy. If these are linked to capital planning tools, it allows visibility to decide if it’s more cost and environmentally effective to replace the kit rather than continuing to repair it.

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