Step 4 – Implement improvement opportunities
FACT SHEET
Retrofitting
Retail Space
Most retail tenancies undergo retrofitting every 5 to
7 years – sometimes more often in particular tenancy
situations. This is often an expensive process but
provides the store with an opportunity to include upto-date technologies, innovative designs and new
generation systems.
Information in this factsheet:
• Energy efficiency factors that need to be
considered in a retrofit;
• Understand the difference between cost
comparisons; and
• Implement important inclusions.
It is particularly important for retailers, shopfitters and electrical
contractors that fixtures and fittings are quick and relatively easy
to install. A store generates income from the day it opens, but
none beforehand. So opening the store on schedule, or even
ahead of schedule is a major driver.
This objective increases the drive towards standard designs,
generally because such a design reduces both installation time,
and cost. It is important to note that, this alone can make
retailers less willing to change to more efficient solutions.
New store builds and retrofitting existing stores are often
restricted by the same financial limitations. A budget is a budget
– and generally is not very flexible.
When preparing your budget for your build or retrofit, be sure
to take ample time to research the most energy efficient choices
available by booking time with your lighting designer, HVAC
specialist and equipment specialists. Engaging them early will
make the process easier and result in a better build/fitout in the
long run.
Some key considerations when working through your budget
include:
Lifecycle costs: includes purchase price, installation cost,
operating costs, maintenance and upgrade costs, and remaining
(residual or salvage) value at the end of ownership or its useful
life.
Cost to purchase: also include the cost to install. Some lighting
fixtures, whilst impressive and give off a certain vibe can be
difficult to install. What you save in initial purchase price can be
lost through additional installation charges; and
Whole of life operation costs: the budget for a shop front lighting scheme may have saved money, but when the cost to
power these energy intensive lights is calculated, along with the cost of frequent replacement and the additional cost of
calling your electrician in to see to the replacements – whatever was saved with the initial purchase is quickly lost.
Even though ongoing running costs are not included in a fit-out budget, it is important they be taken into
consideration.
The top three actions we recommend to achieve energy efficient design for your store build or retrofit is to:
1. E
ngage the services of specialists who embody your energy efficiency objectives: They may include lighting
designers, HVAC specialists, architects that specialise in passive design features, electricians, and equipment
suppliers. Working with specialists to design store fitout and to choose fixtures and fittings that meet energy
efficiency objectives will reduce waste and save on costs over the full term of the fitout.
2. W
hen choosing materials, fixtures, fitting and equipment, consider purchasing the most energy efficient models
currently available and calculate the whole of life costs associated with each time. That way operational costs are
included as part of the assessment process.
3. W
ork with your landlord to create energy efficiency objectives and then determine ways to achieve them –
individually and/or collectively. Consider entering into a Green Lease to formalise the agreed objectives and
efficiency actions.
PAGE 1
Step 4 – Implement improvement opportunities
FACT SHEET
Retrofitting
Retail Space
CONTINUED
Efficiency Opportunities Checklist
This checklist gives retailers an easy to use list of possible actions for consideration during shop design and fit-out, that
achieve better energy efficiency outcomes.
Opportunity
Design in energy
efficiency
Facts
To ensure energy efficiency is designed into the
fitout process: engage with core personnel:
• Landlord or building operations staff
Actions you could take
Mark for
Action
Engaging with specialists will
ensure the most energy efficient
fit-out is achieved.
• Store branding specialists
• Interior fit-out designer
• Electrician
• Fixtures and/or equipment suppliers
• Store manager and/or store operations manager
Enter into a Green
Lease
Engaging with your landlord to understand how
to get the best performance out of the tenancy
space will save you in the long-run.
When planning for your new
build/retrofit consider including
a Green Lease into the process.
Consider passive
heating & cooling
design
Work with a designer that specialises in passive
heating and cooling designs.
Design in passive heating and
cooling systems to dramatically
reduce costs.
Take responsibility
where possible
Your lease may or may not include responsibility
for the HVAC system.
Reducing the overall need for mechanical heating
and cooling systems can dramatically reduce
store-operating costs.
If the benefit is evident, negotiate aspects of
HVAC system management and/or maintenance
that would provide an opportunity to implement
further efficiencies and overall cost savings.
Negotiate HVAC
system that best
suits needs
Take responsibility for purchase,
installation or maintenance
of HVAC systems, where the
benefit is evident.
Be clear about what HVAC system would best suit Enlist the support of a HVAC
your needs and negotiate with the landlord for the specialist to determine the most
installation of the system of choice.
energy efficient system for your
needs.
Installing single split-system unit in a small, closed
space used sparingly is more efficient than an
Negotiate installation and
air-duct for a large, centralised system in the same control as appropriate with
room.
tenancy landlord.
If installing a split system look
for a minimum Energy Star
Rating of 3 for cooling or 3.5 for
heating.
Assess efficiencies
for the term of the
lease
If halogen downlights or incandescent lighting
is included in a lighting scheme - they must
be removed and replaced with metal halides,
fluorescents or LEDs.
For example: the average LED bulb has a lifespan
of 50,000 operating hours, nearly the same
lifespan as an average shop lease term.
When assessing equipment,
fixtures or fittings for suitability,
always include average
operating lifespan as part of the
assessment process.
See the Bulb Chart for further
information about bulb types.
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Step 4 – Implement improvement opportunities
FACT SHEET
Retrofitting
Retail Space
CONTINUED
Opportunity
Change-out old
lighting fixtures
Facts
Look for:
• Lighting more than 15 years old
• Fluorescent tubes with bayonet cap connections
• Badly discoloured plastic diffusers
Actions you could take
Mark for
Action
Start with a lighting audit
to clarify what needs to be
replaced.
Consider installing:
• T8 fluorescent lights
• LED systems
• Other specialist energy
efficient lighting that help to;
contrast and balance function
with theatrics
Install lighting
controls
Look for:
• Large areas controlled by one switch near the
door
• Lighting that is on outside normal shop hours
• Potential to increase the use of daylighting
• Signboard, security or car park lighting
that remain on during hours of daylight
unnecessarily
Install appropriate lighting
control systems to ensure
lighting is switched off when not
needed and/or dimmed in laylit
areas.
These may include:
• Timers (time of day or solar
time switches)
• Occupancy or movement
detectors
• Photocell sensors
Meet the
requirements of
the Building Code
of Australia (BCA)
(Section J)
a) BCA Section J6 – lighting for retail space must
not exceed 22W/m2 (watts per square meter) –
though allowances can be made for unusually
high ceilings or unusually shaped tenancies
Follow the requirements of BCA
Section J – as appropriate.
b) BCA Section J6.4 - shop front and signage
must be designed and installed on separate
circuits and be separately switchable/
controllable
c) BCA Section J6.4 – display cabinets and
features are exempt from the 22 W/m2
provision but must be designed and installed
on separate circuits and be separately
switchable/controllable
BCA Section
J - Controls for a
tenancy within a
shopping centre
If your tenancy is located within a shopping
centre, have you ensured that lighting is designed
and controlled as follows:
Follow the requirements of BCA
Section J – as appropriate.
a) Shop front and signage is set by time clock to
shopping centre hours
b)Feature and display cabinets are set by time
clock to shopping centre hours
c) C
oldroom lighting is set to timer or motion
sensor operation – at all times
d) Storage/warehouse areas are set to timer or
motion sensor operation – at all times
PAGE 3
Step 4 – Implement improvement opportunities
FACT SHEET
Retrofitting
Retail Space
CONTINUED
Opportunity
Install an energy
efficient Hot Water
System (HWS)
Facts
Actions you could take
Firstly, engage a HWS specialist to assist with
identifying the most appropriate and energy
efficient system for your needs.
Then, install it as close to the point of use as
possible, insulating pipes (as appropriate) and
setting optimum temperatures to suite business
needs.
Remove chilled
water coolers from
fitout design
Chilled water coolers use a significant amount of
energy and produce little benefit.
Install new
generation energy
efficient hot water
dispenser
New generation systems recycle the energy from
steam generated when boiling the water. This is
used to heat incoming cold water.
Mark for
Action
Be clear about what type
of system would best suit
your needs by engaging
with a system specialist, and
then install it taking into
consideration all relevant energy
efficiency opportunities.
Remove chilled water coolers
from design specifications.
Consider installing a water filtration unit under
the lunchroom sink – this will deliver good quality
water at ambient temperatures.
High performance insulation minimises heat loss
and they come equipped with automatic timers
to shut-off the system, or sensors to place it into
stand-by during low use period.
Choose new generation
energy efficient zip boilers over
counter kettles - in high traffic
lunchrooms.
This Activity received funding from the Department of Industry as part of the Energy Efficiency
Information Grants Program. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the
Commonwealth of Australia, and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any
information or advice contained herein.
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