JBC Vilvoorde Case study DEUEN18-031
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Swept up in the relentless pace of life in the 21st century, today’s shoppers really appreciate the chance to relax, kick back and enjoy a little retail therapy. This quest for wellbeing – and the fact that shoppers who feel comfortable shop for longer and spend more – is something that the ready-to-wear fashion chain JBC has long been aware of. In fact, over the past years, JBC has worked closely with Daikin to provide just the right level of climate control and comfort in all of its stores.
More recently, in its ongoing search to optimise running costs still further, JBC conducted a site trial with Daikin designed to evaluate the potential gains generated by Variable Refrigerant Temperature (VRT) technology. The results of the test were more than conclusive.
“Having a comfortable climate in the shop is crucial for customer satisfaction and retention.”
- Gert Laeveren, JBC
VRT technology put to the test
To obtain an accurate comparison of the running costs and comfort levels of the VRT technology, two identical Sky Air outdoor units were used, each connected to Daikin’s unique Round Flow Cassette system.
One system for the test featured Daikin’s VRT technology, which balances the refrigerant temperature to match the actual load in the room, while the other system did not have the VRT function enabled. To ensure identical operating times and settings to provide an accurate comparison, the two units were connected to the same remote control unit, with the same room temperature, fan speed, airflow rate, etc.
Both Sky Air outdoor units were also connected to a kWh meter to measure their actual power consumption precisely. This data was collected for every minute of the day, from June 2017 to May 2018. The ongoing readings were monitored and reported remotely using the Daikin Cloud Service.
Lower costs, greater comfort
The VRT-enabled unit performed considerably better in terms of energy consumption and comfort, for both visitors to the store and shop staff alike.
From an energy efficiency point of view, the VRT system consumed up to 21% less power in mild conditions, with annual savings recorded at an Impressive 14%. Multiply that figure over the total number of JBC stores and you have an idea of just how much JBC can save on its running costs by using VRT technology – quite apart from keeping customers comfortable while they spend money, and also the benefit for the environment.
