How Breuninger Stores Cut Their Carbon Footprint with energyControl

In times of growing climate awareness, sustainable and innovative technologies are becoming increasingly important for retail buildings. Breuninger is a fashion and lifestyle company with a total of 11 stores. Breuninger is therefore committed to exemplary targets in its sustainability strategy: In the building sector, all properties under Breuninger's control are to be CO₂-neutral by 2025.

To achieve this major goal, Breuninger chose a digital and innovative sustainability measure and equipped its store in Freiburg with the self-learning technology energyControl. By this they permanently and automatically reduce the property's carbon footprint.

Facts Breuninger Freiburg:

• Built in 1975
• Usable space for retail: 13.401 m²
• 6 sales floors
• 17 climate zones

What was the goal for implementing energyControl?

• Significantly and permanently reduce energy consumption for air-conditioning systems
• Improve the indoor climate in the sales zones across all floors

What was the particular challenge?

The challenge of the project has been very high room temperatures in the past, especially during summer months.
With temperature differences of up to 6° Celsius on different sales floors, comfort for staff and customers suffered and there was a high number of complaints about the room climate.

Results at a glance:

28%
Energy savings

CO₂-footprint
reduced

Room climate stabilized
on all floors

This was achieved with the AI solution energyControl:

• 28 % energy and CO₂ savings
  Already within the first two years of operation, 28 % savings in thermal energy consumption have been achieved. And the trend is rising.
• Improved indoor climate throughout the building
  The desired temperature target values in summer were achieved on all floors for the first time, staff and customers are satisfied: there was a noticeable decrease in complaints and thus relief for the technical staff.
• Payback 9 months after start of operation
  Thanks to the data-driven approach, the investment paid back very quickly.
• Monitoring
  Technical problems of the air-conditioning systems are detected early and can be corrected.
• Transparency on system operation
  For the first time, the customer receives a complete overview of running systems and energy consumption.

We have not only saved costs, but also improved the climate throughout the building. The staff is happier. The customer is happier. It could not get any better.

Claudio Rizza

Breuninger, Head of Facility Management

EHI Energy Management Award

For the innovative character of the project and considerable savings, the store in Freiburg was awarded the EHI Energiemanagent Award as a "sustainable and energy-efficient store". The award honors Recogizer as technology partner as Top Supplier Retail 2020.