HVAC Case Study
Major Office Supply Retailer

Challenge

When a major office supply retailer set its sights on reducing energy use, one of the best places to start was air conditioning, or in this case, indirect evaporative cooling.

Solution

By adding Coolerado indirect evaporative cooling, pre-cooling technology to its store’s existing air conditioning equipment, this Fortune 200 retailer reduced store energy cooling costs to 30%, reduced compressor run time and got fresher, more shop-til-youdrop air. In 2011, a major office supply retailer created an energy-saving initiative designed to meet a number of eco-friendly company objectives. Among them, reducing the electrical intensity (the kilowatts used per square foot) and the greenhouse gas emissions in its facilities worldwide by 2020.

Since cooling is such a large contributor to these objectives, the retailer piloted a program aimed at reducing the amount of energy used to cool its stores. The program involved installing six Coolerado C60 air conditioners at a store in Palm Desert, California. The Coolerado evaporstive cooling units are connected to the store’s existing rooftop units, serving two important purposes.

First, the C60s pre-cool the outside air before it enters the rooftop units. Unlike traditional air conditioners that rely on energy-consuming compressors to cool air, the Coolerado units are powered by a patented and proprietary technology that uses significantly less energy than a compressor-based system.

By pre-cooling outside air, the Coolerado units reduce the amount of time the compressors in the rooftop unit need to run. In just three months, the new system reduced the compressor run-time by over 50%. That translates to a 30% reduction in energy use attributed to cooling. Coolerado offers a cooling process that improves indoor air quality by providing fresh outside air that’s filtered to help reduce contaminants. By continuously adding fresh air to the store, the Coolerado units create a healthier environment for everyone.

“We felt a noticeable increase in air movement in the store,” said an assistant manager. “It feels better, more comfortable.”

By using Coolerado to improve its cooling process, this major office supply retailer is well on its way to meeting the energy-saving initiatives its working toward in 2020. In the process, it’s also creating an environment that’s cool and comfortable from the moment the doors open until the last customer leaves the store.

“Store conditions have been superior in the morning, not muggy while the rooftop unit ramps up,” said another store manager. “It’s cool from the moment we get in.”