HVAC Case Study
Bunnings (Alice Springs, NT) - Climate Wizard Indirect Evaporative Cooling

Bunnings Warehouse is one of Australia’s leading home improvement and hardware retailers, operating large-format stores across the country. Located in the heart of Central Australia, the Bunnings Alice Springs store faces some of the nation’s most challenging climatic conditions, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C.

To maintain customer and employee comfort while reducing operating costs, the store required an energy-efficient cooling solution capable of performing in an extreme hot and dry climate. Climate Wizard indirect evaporative cooling was selected to deliver reliable cooling performance with significantly lower energy consumption than conventional refrigerated air conditioning.

The Challenge

The Alice Springs store spans 5,835 m² and features a large open-plan layout with high ceilings and extended operating hours. These conditions create substantial cooling demands, particularly during peak summer periods.

The project required a commercial cooling solution that could:

• Maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year
• Reduce energy consumption and peak electrical demand
• Deliver consistent performance in extreme desert conditions
• Improve indoor air quality for customers and staff
• Minimise long-term operating costs

Traditional refrigerated air conditioning would have required significantly higher energy input to meet the store’s cooling load, prompting the search for a more sustainable alternative.

The Indirect Evaporative Cooling Solution

A Climate Wizard indirect evaporative cooling system comprising 21 CW-H15S Plus units was installed throughout the facility.

Unlike conventional evaporative cooling systems, Climate Wizard uses advanced indirect evaporative cooling technology to deliver cool, fresh air without adding moisture directly to the occupied space. This makes it particularly effective for cooling warehouses, retail stores and commercial buildings in hot, dry climates.

The installation provides approximately 592 kW of sensible cooling capacity while delivering 100% fresh, filtered outside air throughout the building.

Key benefits of the solution include:

• Low energy consumption
• High cooling efficiency
• Reduced peak electrical demand
• Continuous fresh air ventilation
• Improved indoor comfort for occupants

The Outcome

The Climate Wizard indirect evaporative cooling system transformed the indoor environment at Bunnings Alice Springs, creating a more comfortable shopping and working environment while significantly reducing operating costs.

Compared with a conventional refrigerated air conditioning system, the installation achieved:

• 93% lower annual cooling energy consumption
• 72% reduction in peak cooling power demand
• Approximately $70,600 in annual operating cost savings
• 100% fresh, filtered outside air delivery

When compared with traditional direct evaporative cooling, the system also reduced annual energy consumption by approximately 79% while using around 84% less water.

Why Indirect Evaporative Cooling Works in Hot, Dry Climates

Hot and dry regions such as Alice Springs provide ideal conditions for indirect evaporative cooling technology. Climate Wizard systems can deliver high-performance cooling while using only a fraction of the energy required by conventional refrigerated air conditioning.

For large retail facilities, warehouses and commercial buildings, indirect evaporative cooling offers a practical solution for reducing energy costs, improving indoor air quality and supporting sustainability goals without compromising occupant comfort.

For specific product information, visit our, Indirect Evaporative Commercial Product Range.

Installer Details: Grosvenor Engineering Group

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