Coles

people provide 24/7 engineering support

saving pa by upskilling employees to self-deliver specific tasks

£ 0 k

anticipated saving to client by increasing self-delivery of reactive work

0 %

m² covered in terminals 1-5 and the train station

// case study

In this case study

// Challenge

Project Overview

A leading national supermarket chain rolled out a demand-based HVAC optimisation program across more than 500 live stores nationwide. The goal was to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance in-store conditions, all while ensuring business-as-usual operation.

The program focused exclusively on HVAC systems and was delivered through a collaborative model. Energy strategy, performance tuning, and outcomes management were led by a dedicated energy services provider, with control system delivery supported by a BMS technology partner. All savings were independently verified by an external contractor in line with a formal Energy Performance Guarantee (EPG).

// Solutions

Scope of Work

The energy team was responsible for:

Designing HVAC control strategies tailored to store type, plant condition, and climate zone
Modelling projected savings and aligning them with engineering standards
Managing a 12-month optimisation and tuning process to ensure results were achieved under real conditions
Overseeing a nationwide rollout of energy measures across diverse infrastructure
Facilitating third-party Measurement & Verification (M&V) to validate savings

This work was enabled by the installation of a programmable BMS platform, allowing strategy deployment, interfacing with refrigeration systems, and remote access via an enterprise dashboard.

// Challenge

Challenges

500+ locations in a range of geographic and climatic conditions
Aging HVAC infrastructure and proprietary control limitations
Delivery in live trading environments, requiring zero disruption
Accountability under a formal guaranteed savings model
Compressed delivery windows across four national rollout phases

// Services

Outcomes

The project delivered strong, verified performance results:

~$5 million in annual energy savings
~6% average reduction in total electricity use across the portfolio
Up to 60% HVAC-specific energy savings at selected sites
Enhanced thermal comfort and reduced customer complaints
Centralised system visibility via enterprise access tools
<3.5 year payback including client costs

Savings were reviewed and verified by an external M&V contractor, ensuring transparency and confidence in outcomes.

// Challenge

Conclusion

This project highlights how targeted HVAC optimisation, when executed with the right strategy and delivery model, can drive scalable results across a complex national portfolio. The program balanced technical design, real-world tuning, and independent validation delivering energy and operational benefits that exceeded expectations without disrupting daily operations.

It serves as a strong example of how well structured energy programs can reduce cost, improve asset performance, and support sustainability goals in high volume retail environments.