But the mall is never one to rest on its laurels, and in its latest move the centre has taken the decision to add comfort cooling systems and a new energy efficient lighting system to further enhance the Meadowhall shopping experience. Distribution equipment from Square D, a brand of Schneider Electric, was chosen to provide the electrical supply for these new installations.

The electrical systems required for the project are extensive and included Square D Powerstyle 3 LV switchboards, which allows additional circuits to be added quickly and easily. This is an important advantage in retail environments like Meadowhall, where flexibility is essential, but the disruption caused by modifications to the equipment must be kept to a minimum. Operators are also able to accurately monitor the energy used by the new systems through power meters, and the outgoing circuits are fitted with power meters that provide comprehensive facilities for monitoring voltage, phase currents, real and reactive power, power factor and energy usage.

For control of the shopping centre's extensive lighting installations, Schneider Electric was able to provide a useful reduction in the energy consumption of the installation, through the use of impulse rays operated from the BMS site, which only consume power when changing state.

And it's not just Meadowhall that is keeping energy-efficiency high on the agenda, their environmentally-friendly ways are rubbing off on their tenants also.

Thorntons is keeping both its products and its customers cool, and cutting carbon emissions from its branches, with a nationwide replacement programme for its air conditioning systems.

Working in partnership with environmental control manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric, Thorntons is reviewing the way it heats and cools its branches, making them more sustainable by maximising energy efficiency to minimise CO2 emissions. And its Meadowhall branch was one of the first shops to receive the new air conditioning equipment.

"We want to provide our customers with the finest products which requires us to mechanically cool our premises, but we also want to be certain that we are doing so in the most energy efficient way possible," explains Thorntons Meadowhall store manager Sharon Morley. "That also means we have the potential to reduce our energy bills, so it makes perfect economic sense as well."

Following the flood in July 2007, the store on the ground floor of Sheffield's famous Meadowhall shopping complex was completely refitted and the installation of a Mr Slim PLA-RP100 power inverter system is now helping to reduce carbon emissions, with an estimated 45 per cent reduction over the previous fixed speed system, which had originally been installed in 1996.

Suitable for a huge variety of applications, the Mr Slim range is one of Britain's best selling air conditioning split systems, combining efficiency with complete versatility. The range also includes a unique 'Replace' system to allow for the easy upgrade of older systems while retaining the existing pipework.

"The new air-conditioning system makes it easy and accurate to take and record the required temperature readings throughout the store," adds Morley. "It provides incomparable performance and control, not to mention lower power consumption - which means reduced emissions and lower bills."

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend