Big Box Home Furnishings Retailer

Business Activity: Retail
Location: Nationwide
Project: Energy Efficiency and Strategic Services

The client enlisted Sieben Energy Associates (SEA) to perform energy audits and analyses of energy practices at thirty-six retail stores and distribution centers nationwide. This year-long program was intended to jumpstart the company’s initiative aimed at promoting sustainability, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable resources in their North America locations.

In the program’s first phase, SEA performed site visits and identified numerous energy cost reduction measures to reduce stores’ baseline energy usage. SEA also identified measures and best practices to offset electricity and natural gas usage with renewable energy sources and to further integrate sustainable practices into store operations. Measures and verification metrics were developed based on store size and sales data, which were used to analyze and compare store performance.

In the project’s second phase, several of the measures and strategies developed with data from the initial audits were implemented. These measures included a more nuanced use of building lighting and HVAC automation systems, the integration of renewable energy sourcing into seasonal heating and cooling needs, and the installation of several cost-effective efficient systems and appliances in retail and display areas, restrooms, kitchens, cafeterias, and parking garages.

SEA coordinated closely with the client’s energy management team, as well as store and corporate staff, resulting in timely project completion and company-wide participation. The low-cost and no-cost measures recommended and implemented through consultation with SEA led to total annual energy cost savings of nearly $1 million among the client’s retail locations. Through efficiency measures and the integration of renewable energy sources into building systems and practices, the program also greatly reduced overall energy usage and carbon emissions. Sieben Energy Associates helped the client integrate renewable energy and sustainable practices into the core of their building operations.