Trials of the new SmartElec intelligent air curtain control panel at New Look’s fashion store in Watford have produced an incredible 40% saving on the energy consumed by the overdoor air curtain.
New Look relies heavily on air curtains at the entrance to all its stores in order to maintain an ‘open door’ policy, considering an air curtain an essential element of the store’s image and a key method of encouraging footfall. Industry statistics show that an air curtain can increase footfall through open entrance doors by an average 25%.
But maintaining a constant temperature at the door entrance requires the most economical equipment in order to keep energy consumption to a minimum and energy costs at acceptable levels. The exposed location of the Watford store in the arc of a ‘horseshoe’ shaped outdoor mall adds extra challenges to maintaining the store’s desired entrance temperature. External air is ‘funnelled’ into the store; however, the Airbloc AC electrically heated air curtain counteracts air ingress very effectively.
A SmartElec control panel was fitted to the air curtain in October 2005, for a six-month trial to test the effect on energy costs (proven by a data logger) and the potential benefit it could bring in meeting new Part L Building Regulations. SmartElec maintains constant air outlet set temperatures with built-in speed setting temperature compensation to prevent the effects of chill from the velocity of the air stream. The control monitors the air outlet set temperature and modulates to ensure comfort conditions are sustained, or quickly regained, when doors are opened.
Programming is straightforward – users select heat on/off, the required fan setting (two or three speed) and outlet air temperature setting. With such precise control of the air temperatures, the energy requirements of the air curtain can be managed. Once set, the unit is tamper-proof.
The immediate effect of installing a SmartElec unit was noticeable reductions in energy usage, without any compromise to the efficiency or effectiveness of the air curtain. The unit ensures the air curtain operation optimally at all times, never wasting energy, and never conflicting with store-wide heating or air conditioning.
An air curtain can prevent up to 80% of ‘normal’ heat loss through an open doorway. SmartElec will maintain an air curtain’s energy efficiency even further – by 40% in the New Look Watford trial. This translates into long-term cost savings for the company, and a minimisation of energy usage to achieve the stores’ comfort levels.
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