The average consumer may not realize all of the calculations that go into the price of an apple. In fact, grocery stores have to consider many different factors when setting their prices. One of those is the cost of store operations, which have been steadily growing thanks in part to rising energy costs.

Grocery Doppio estimates that the cost of energy is 15% of a store's total budget. In more direct terms, grocery stores spend about $4 a sq. ft. on energy each year. And there is every indication that will increase as the cost of electricity in the United States rose 3.6% across 12 months through 2024.

Grocery stores could simply increase the cost of that apple to offset any uptick in their energy bill. But in the highly competitive grocery retail space, that would set consumers off to look for a different place to shop. So, a more practical approach will be to find areas to create grocery store energy savings.

The Benefits of Preventative Maintenance

It’s estimated that the average grocery store spends over $100,000 in maintenance annually. Performing preventative maintenance on the store’s systems can significantly decrease that amount. It can also help create grocery store energy savings.

Poorly operating machines can be less efficient to operate. They can run longer and work harder, driving up energy costs in the process.

Flip the Switch on Traditional Lighting

Another way to generate grocery store energy savings is to revamp interior and exterior lighting. Upgrading lighting fixtures from traditional bulbs to LEDs, and adding motion sensors in areas like refrigeration cases, can decrease energy consumption from the lighting system alone by up to 35%.

That number can trend even higher by creating a lighting plan that matches store traffic by using Building Automation Software (BAS) like ODIN.

Developing Energy Efficient HVAC Systems

One of the larger consumers of energy in a grocery store is the HVAC system. One step to create more energy efficient heating and cooling systems would be the addition of variable speed drives.

Variable speed drives can be added to compressor fans, blowers, condenser fans, and unit supply fans. Some HVAC systems come with these drives pre-installed but other systems would need to be retrofitted.

The installation of variable speed drives could create a substantially more energy efficient HVAC system, with energy savings of up to 50%.

Centralize Facilities Management for Grocery Stores

HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, and other systems are all working inside a grocery store to maintain the integrity of the products and the experience of the customers. These systems often work independently and autonomously.

A remote building automation solution, like ODIN, can streamline a store’s complete mechanical operations. ODIN can centralize controls, create communication channels between systems, and improve daily operations.

ODIN’s ability to integrate systems can lead to energy efficient heating and cooling systems which results in energy savings across the store.

Find Grocery Store Energy Savings With ODIN

In 2024, the grocery industry saw several records set for online grocery sales. It’s just another marker of how competitive the grocery business is. That competition is driving grocery retailers to find new ways to operate more efficiently, particularly in regards to operating costs. 

That’s where ODIN can help. With ODIN you can:

• Streamline system control, from anywhere. 
• Change the way systems operate based on what’s happening in the store in real-time. 
• Get alerts when a system’s performance is off. 

You can use this type of data to meet the store’s energy efficiency goals.

Connect with ODIN to learn how they can help you capture the benefits of an energy efficient HVAC.