Retail

Doors open to the street, lights on all day, and margin that feels every bill.

Energy in Retail

Independent shops, supermarkets, convenience stores, showrooms and forecourts.

Retail has a particular energy problem: doors open to the street, lighting that has to be good enough to sell with, refrigeration in many stores, and a trading environment where margin is tight enough that a utility bill genuinely matters.

ENCON works with retail premises of all sizes — independent shops, supermarkets, convenience stores, showrooms, forecourts and retail parks — on lighting, heating, controls, refrigeration efficiency, fabric upgrades and solar PV.

Retail is also where energy efficiency and the customer experience most obviously align. A shop that isn’t losing its heat to the street is a more comfortable shop to spend time in, and good lighting sells product.

Where the Savings Sit

Refrigeration heat recovery is the one everybody overlooks.

Where the savings usually sit in retail premises:

  • Lighting — long hours, high output requirements, and frequently the fastest payback in the building
  • Refrigeration — doors on open cases, night blinds, and heat recovery from condensers into hot water or space heating
  • Air curtains and entrance design — an open shop door in January is an enormous, continuous heat loss
  • Heating controls — matched to trading hours rather than left running
  • Fabric and roof insulation, particularly in older or converted units
  • Solar PV — retail load is daytime load, which is exactly when generation happens

Refrigeration heat recovery is consistently overlooked. A store rejecting heat from its condensers into the car park while separately heating water is paying twice for the same energy.

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Outside Trading Hours, Every Time

Retail works happen outside trading hours or not at all. Overnight, early morning, or during quieter trading periods — and the store opens on time the following day regardless.

We plan on that basis: sectioned works, clean handover each morning, nothing left obstructing a shop floor. For multi-site retailers, a rolling programme across the estate usually prices considerably better than treating each store as an individual job.

Landlord and tenant

Retail units are frequently leased, and who funds an upgrade that benefits both parties is a recurring obstacle. We’re used to projects structured across a lease and can help build the case for whichever side is carrying it.

Grant support

Non-domestic schemes cover lighting, heating, controls, fabric and renewables. We confirm what applies and handle the application.

Modern commercial building with a glazed facade

Frequently Asked Questions

Will we have to close?

Very rarely. Work is done outside trading hours and the store opens as normal.

What’s the fastest payback?

Usually lighting, particularly with long opening hours. Refrigeration measures often follow closely.

Is refrigeration heat recovery worth doing?

In stores with significant refrigeration, frequently yes. You’re already generating the heat — the question is whether you use it or vent it.

We lease our unit. Is it worth investing?

It depends on lease length and terms. We’ll help you build the case and structure it across landlord and tenant if needed.

Can you cover a whole estate?

Yes. Rolling programmes across multiple stores are straightforward and price better than one-off jobs.

One store or a whole estate?

Call 051 850722. Rolling programmes across multiple stores price far better than one-off jobs.

Why ENCON

Overnight works, open on time the next morning.