Track D1

Developing Buildings for Modern Retail

Energyconsciousairconditioningdesignofmodernretailstores NitinM.Deodhar1,2,*,RashmiS.Patil1,VirendraSethi1
1 2

CentreforEnvironmentalScienceandEngineering(CESE),IITBombay,Mumbai400076 NMDeodharConsultingEngineers,2Shwetaa,BhusariColony,Kothrud,Pune411038 * Correspondingauthor:nitin@nmdeodhar.comalternate:nitin.deodhar@iitb.ac.in

INTRODUCTION: The concept and preliminary design for modern malls is a complex process involving not only unknown demarcation of areas for stores but also unknown mix of retailer types. During the initial stage the anchor, food court and multiplex areas are the only defined areas in addition to parking areas and locations of service cores like lifts, toilet areas, back offices, and plant rooms. These locations of the concept design phase govern the locations of shafts, electrical and AHU rooms, and fresh air opening locations in addition to the connected services. The considerations of the concept design are much different from the operational requirements. Although the capex of Engineering Services, and to a lesser extent opex, is discussed as important, these are rarely used as guiding principals in the concept design. The effects of these omissions are felt immediately, in the form of alternate services locations during the detailed design phase, when the Services Consultants are onboard. These alternative locations could be for better maintainability, higher efficiency, and lower capex. This situation could be avoided. The present study is carried out in typical anchor stores with an objective of optimising the HVAC energy consumption to meet the pattern of the actual operations from the available resources provided during the concept and the detailed design phase by the mall developer. Suggesting revised design basis parameters for Heat Load Calculations is the secondary objective of the present study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carrying out instantaneous heat load calculations at various strategic time zones with actual store data vis--vis the theoretical heat load calculations. Optimising loads based on occupancy parameters for EOS and other high occupancy periods (like some weekends during summer holidays) combined with high ambient conditions leading to overall increase in HVAC requirements.

Redesigning the capacities for minimum AHU size for covering the maximum time zones and sizing the additional air conditioning and ventilation equipment for festive / concurrent high heat loads time zones and identifying the duration of such time zones.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Based on the foot fall (surrogate for occupancy) after normalisation with average dwell time all customer and for shopping customer, fixed occupancy number in each store comprising of staff, security and brand staff, AHU On-Off details, Btu Meter reading or other air conditioning energy consumption readings, and lighting lux levels, the energy consumption in the study stores could be reduced in the range of 12%-25%.

CONCLUSION: There is an inherent need to maintain IAQ in retail environments along with a pressing need to reduce energy consumption of the air conditioning systems. Both these requirements could be met by implementing the ECPM within the limitations of the model.