Sustainable Shopping: An Innovative Approach to Energy Management

Energy efficiency, sustainable buildings, and eco-friendly constructions! Sounds Familiar? Sustainable construction and energy-saving development have become popular worldwide in the last decade. Countries like Pakistan have also adapted the concept to deal with energy issues and provide residents and business owners with the best services.

Shopping centers have become a primary target for energy management initiatives. The practical strategies help reduce electric and heat bills but also reduce energy consumption, creating an eco-friendly environment and leaving a positive social and eco-impact.

Top real estate companies in Peshawar, like AH Group, are taking serious steps to promote green energy in Pakistan. Florenza Mall & Residencia and Mall of Hangu in district Hangu are examples of AH mega projects where sustainable energy is ensured at every step.

Here, we have compiled a brief outline of how shopping malls are a central channel of energy consumption, what steps can be taken to manage the energy, the challenges, and ways to deal with it. So, let’s get started:

Ways Energy is Consumed in Shopping Malls:

Shopping malls are huge multi-story buildings that need massive energy to run smoothly. The energy in shopping malls is consumed for different purposes, including ventilation, ACs, elevators and escalators, and miscellaneous equipment used in shops and stores. Here are a few of the energy-consuming items in shopping centers and malls.

· Lighting:

The stores need to be illuminated to display their products. Lighting is one of the primary energy consumers in any commercial space. The lights are kept on for over 12 hours, and sufficient lighting is required for a better shopping experience. The lighting in any shopping center includes general lights, emergency lights, display lights, and promotional space lights (for instance, during the festival season). Additional fairy lights are illuminated to match the festive vibes).

· HVAC Systems:

Heating and cooling in big spaces are crucial, and shopping malls are no exception. The commercial centers require HVAC systems to maintain cozy indoor and outdoor temperatures for vendors and buyers. Heating and cooling systems like air conditioning require vast amounts of energy, particularly during peak hours and extreme temperatures.

· Elevators and Escalators:

The malls are usually spread over huge spaces horizontally and vertically. Therefore, escalators and elevators are a must for easy movement between the floors. Massive energy is consumed for uninterrupted services of lifts and escalators; moreover, the equipment requires significant energy to move smoothly between the floors. The consumption of escalators and elevators increases during peak season.

· Miscellaneous Equipment:

Every shop has different energy consumption requirements. For instance, at apparel shops, the racks are highly illuminated to enhance the appeal of dresses. Likewise, various electric appliances, such as refrigerators, run for long hours at the food court even after the stores are closed. During open hours, the cooking ranges and ovens keep running for hours.

How Shopping Centers can Save Energy?

Here are a few ways to help shopping malls reduce and minimize energy consumption in their commercial high-rise.

Energy Efficient Lighting System:

• Say goodbye to old LED bulbs that consume a huge amount of energy and switch to energy-efficient lighting systems. The newest LED lightening technology improves sustainability, reducing maintenance cost and energy consumption by over 80%.
• The other major step that can be taken is to switch towards daylight harvesting. It is a system that uses sensors to control the amount of light in the area and allow it to illuminate the place with natural lights whenever possible while creating a natural and comfortable lighting environment.
• Dimmers and Timers are another great way to control the lightning in huge spaces.

HVAC Systems with Sustainable Features:

HVAC systems are a crucial part of shopping malls in Pakistan, and installing a heating and cooling system with energy-saving features can save lots of cost and energy. For instance;

• Install High-Efficiency HVAC Units that are designed to use minimum energy while providing maximum level of comfort. 091 Mall Peshawar is using various sustainable strategies to promote eco-friendly structures. Therefore, the contractors have signed a MoU with an international company to use a specific type of Green Glass in the building. The glass ensures minimum electricity use for HVAC and allows natural light to illuminate the building.
• Variable Refrigerator Flow systems are used to adjust the flow of refrigerators according to the heating and cooling requirements of any ample space. It can massively reduce the energy required for heating and cooling the place and improves energy efficiency overall.
• BAS or Building Automation Systems can monitor and control the HVAC systems. It can optimize the consumption of energy and reduce carbon waste. BAS is helpful to improve and reduce energy costs by adjusting temperature and occupancy apart from other factors.

Renewable Energy Source:

The simplest way to stay sustainable and eco-friendly is by using renewable energy sources such as Solar panels. Renewable energy sources are great alternatives to traditional fuels. The sources are as follows:

• Installing solar panels on the high-rise rooftop can generate clean and cost-effective electricity. Many top real estate projects in Peshawar actively use Solar panels as energy providers for their buildings. AH Tower is the first-ever residential high-rise in Peshawar that will ensure electricity provision in the entire building through solar panels. Apart from high-rise projects, AH City in D.I. Khan will be the first gated community in the district with solar grid stations.
• Energy Storage Systems are also one of the greatest renewable energy sources. The excess energy can be stored and used as a power backup during periods of no or low energy production.
• Geothermal systems are also clean energy sources to meet the needs of shopping malls and residential spaces. The system uses natural temperature to insulate the building. Hence, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.

Energy Management and Monitoring System:

Energy management and monitoring systems are the tools that can help commercial high-rises monitor and manage energy consumption in buildings.

It can also provide data and insights on how energy is used in the construction and how it can be reduced and collected. Renewable energy sources and management systems are commonly used in famous places to visit in Peshawar and Islamabad.

Challenges:

Sustainable energy sources are beneficial for the environment and the user. However, people are still reluctant to use them in shopping malls or mega high-rise projects for various reasons. A few of the common challenges that are faced in the industry are:

• Hefty investment costs at the initial stages
• Lack of awareness of energy management and its benefits.
• Limited access to energy-efficient and sustainable projects or minimum access to capital to use these sources.

Summing up:

There is no doubt that sustainable energy is a new future for every shopping mall, residential, and commercial area of Islamabad and across Pakistan. The challenges in adopting sustainable energy can be dealt with proper strategies and increased awareness in the sector. The government of KPK is taking initiatives to boost the use of renewable energy sources in the province.

The use of green energy in high-rises by AH Group is one of the significant steps toward a sustainable and carbon-print-free Pakistan.