LIGHTING … ENERGY MANAGEMENT … FIXTURES … CONSTRUCTION … HVAC/REFRIGERATION … ROOFING … CEILINGS
ON SPEC
SPECS/2010 ● March 7-10, 2010 ● Gaylord Palms, Fla. ●
specsshow.com
Digital Media
PlayNetwork, Redmond,
Wash., which provides integrat-ed-media experiences for retailers and other businesses, has
acquired Channel M, a producer of customized in-store TV
networks. The newly combined
entity, branded PlayNetwork, is
focused on a comprehensive
brand package of music, messaging, video media, systems
integration, and advertising-and entertainment-related services. The company is maintaining offices in Redmond, Wash.;
Sherman Oaks, Calif.; New
York City; and Chicago.
Michaels Slashes Energy Costs
Energy Management
Food Lion’s distribution center in
Greensboro, N.C., is one of four
sites where Duke Energy will
install rooftop solar panels as part
of the first phase of its solar-power generation program in
that state. Duke will install 5,616
solar panels at the Food Lion
facility, which will generate 1.3
megawatts of electricity.
Michaels has cut energy use by 25%.
Waste Management
StormFisher Biogas and Loblaw
Cos. Ltd. have entered into an
agreement whereby all the organic trimmings produced at
Loblaw’s 47 corporate grocery
stores in Southwestern Ontario,
will be diverted to StormFisher’s
renewable energy facility in
London, Ontario, and used to
generate electricity. The stores are
expected to provide organics that
can generate the same amount of
electricity as is consumed by
approximately 225 homes annually, and reduce more than 300
tons of CO2 equivalent each year.
Michaels Stores has lowered its energy consumption by more than 25% with the deployment of an energy-management solution at more than 900 locations. The
Irving, Texas-based arts-and-crafts retailer is using Site-Command, from Site Controls,
Austin, Texas. The system is designed to help chains reduce energy and maintenance costs
through equipment monitoring and controls combined with Web-based business intelligence. (Enterprise-wide issue reporting and asset intelligence are provided through a
hosted data center.)
Michaels initially deployed the Site-Command system in early 2006, achieving immediate energy reductions of 17% through schedule and set-point compliance. By using the
platform’s above-site visibility to identify and remedy HVAC and lighting equipment
issues, the retailer further reduced energy use over time, with sustained reductions now
exceeding 25%.
Besides lowering energy costs, the EMS system has helped significantly reduce
Michaels’ carbon emissions. By lowering electricity usage by 137 million kilowatt hours
annually, Michaels has reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 192 million lbs.
The Site-Command system also features intelligent load management capabilities,
which allow Michaels to participate in utility-sponsored demand response programs and
decrease electricity usage during peak periods with minimal impact to the consumer shopping experience.
“We are extremely pleased with the results we’ve seen from Site Controls in controlling
our store-level energy expenses. Their enterprise tools help ensure we maintain and
increase our savings over time,” said Rob McClay, VP store development and construction,
Michaels. The retailer operates more than 1,000 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada,
and more than 150 Aaron Brothers stores.
