Balancing comfort and energy efficiency in densely populated retail environments
Shopping centres are bustling with life, particularly at the weekends, when the pressures on building services are put to the test. People come to relax, to meet friends, and to pick up a bargain: they want to feel comfortable and the facilities provided should be hygienic.
However, many shopping centres are several decades old and are facing considerable pressure to undergo renovation. Their HVAC, clean water and drainage and sewage systems may be prone to failure, and the risk of outages could be high. The existing pumps may be old and oversized, and they may operate inefficiently, without energy managers being aware of their energy consumption. Therefore, there is huge potential to optimise pumps and pump systems.
Wilo’s pump system solutions are designed to meet these requirements.
They help to ensure a reliable water supply and support the operation and smooth running of the technical infrastructure in numerous key areas of operation, including:
1. Drainage
2. Cooling and air conditioning
3. Water distribution and boosting
4. Drinking water hygiene
5. Wastewater collection and transport
6. Firefighting
7. Rainwater utilisation
Whether indoor or outdoor shopping centres: both require technology to ensure reliable plant operation.
Indoor areas depend on central systems for air conditioning, water supply and fire protection; outdoor centres rely on decentralised systems that can withstand weather conditions and safely drain large parking areas. Nothing is allowed to come to a standstill when visitor numbers are high. At the same time, energy requirements and cost pressures are increasing. Against this background, hidden drivers of energy consumption are increasingly coming into focus, and the demand for modern shopping environments that meet Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals is growing.
Keep an eye on your systems, reduce the risk of failures
Would you like to identify energy-saving potential in your system, improve operational reliability and modernise your pump and building services technology with the future in mind? We are here to support you.
Contact us nowComprehensive water solutions for modern shopping centres
Shopping centres require robust, precisely controllable systems – from air conditioning and water supply to fire protection. Our electronically controlled pump systems dynamically adapt to visitor numbers and changing loads throughout the day. They support consistent water pressure across all floors and areas as well as drinking water circulation.
In addition, they provide drainage for large roof and car park areas and support the operation of ventilation and cooling systems. This helps provide consistent comfort for retailers, restaurants and visitors.
More than hardware: planning, efficiency, and digital transparency
We support new-build and upgrade projects with technical expertise throughout the entire lifecycle. This includes hydraulic analyses, energy assessments, building management system integration, digital remote monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Through energy audits, we identify oversized equipment and hidden energy wasters, calculate potential savings based on defined operational data, enable a system-specific TCO analysis, and estimate potential energy-related costs based on electricity consumption. Our systems are modular in design, comply with the relevant standards, and can support you in achieving your sustainability and ESG goals.
Our highlight applications for shopping centres
Even when faced with complex technical requirements, our solutions help to ensure a reliable supply – from centralised indoor systems to decentralised outdoor installations.
Water distribution and boosting
Catering facilities, sanitary facilities, cleaning facilities and technical rooms are often spread across several floors, long shopping streets or extensive outdoor areas. At the same time, visitor numbers fluctuate greatly throughout the day and year – from quiet mornings to busy weekends and seasonal peaks. To ensure that everything functions at all times, a reliable water supply with stable pressure is required, which does not fail even when visitor numbers vary significantly.
- Constant pressure control for different load profiles
- Demand-oriented volume flows for peak loads
- Solutions for centralised indoor systems and decentralised outdoor supply
Firefighting
In a shopping centre with large numbers of people, densely occupied areas and complex spatial layouts, every second counts in an emergency. Sprinkler and hydrant systems must therefore have sufficient firefighting water available at all times, regardless of occupancy, building size or the location of technical rooms. .
- Supply of firefighting water for sprinkler and hydrant systems
- Operational reliability with redundant systems
- Technology for continuous standby operation
- Modular systems for retrofitting
Wastewater collection and transport
From sanitary areas and catering facilities to large car parks and extensive outdoor areas, pump systems must reliably drain wastewater and rainwater at all times, both during normal operation and during heavy rainfall events.
- Transport of wastewater from sanitary and utility areas
- Drainage solutions for heavy rainfall events
- Systems for roof, interior, and exterior drainage
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
Different climate zones converge: open areas meet enclosed retail spaces, dining areas and separate technical rooms. This situation requires HVAC systems that can be easily cotrolled, reliably handle load changes and ensure a consistently comfortable indoor climate.
- Pumps for cooling, heat and ventilation systems with reported efficiency indicators
- Dynamic adaptation to different seasonal climatic conditions
- Support for heat recovery concepts
- Digital monitoring for optimised different climate areas
Drinking cold water hygiene
Reliable water hygiene is essential for visitors and staff. However, high footfall in sanitary areas, extensive pipe networks and fluctuating temperatures present particular challenges for drinking water systems. To ensure that water is fresh, safe and always available, precise circulation is required that prevents stagnation and remains stable even with varying levels of use.
- System solutions for hot and cold water circulation
- Continuous circulation to prevent stagnation
- Intelligent control to reduce drinking water consumption
Rainwater utilisation
Rainwater offers valuable potential in large shopping centres: it falls in considerable quantities and can be used directly on site. Intelligent systems can be implemented to collect, store and use this water in a targeted way. This helps to reduce drinking water consumption whilst taking the strain off the technical infrastructure.
- Systems for the safe collection, storage, and provision of rainwater
- Use of rainwater for irrigation and planting
- Integration into sanitary processes, e.g., for toilet flushing
- Reduction in drinking water demand
- Frost-protected systems
Strong references. Lively retail environments.
Our solutions are used in shopping centres around the world. Discover selected references and find out how we work with our partners to create stable and efficient shopping environments.
Javor Shopping Centre
The Javor shopping centre, which opened in Nový Jičín in 2022, uses Wilo pump solutions as part of its building services. Wilo-Stratos GIGA, Wilo-Stratos MAXO and Wilo-Yonos MAXO pumps are used for heating, cooling and air conditioning.
The pumps perform key tasks in distributing heating and cooling media and support demand-based temperature control throughout the building. In this way, they help provide the technical conditions required for comfortable temperatures in the different areas of the shopping centre.
Utopia Shopping Center
Umeå, Sweden
Utopia is a shopping centre in the centre of Umeå that houses a total of 60 shops.
The property company Balticgruppen, which owns the building, decided to expand the shopping centre and also build a hotel, gym, offices, educational facilities and flats in the building. The comprehensive modernisation started in early 2013 and comprised a two-storey extension and a 13-storey high-rise section. This makes Utopia the largest inner-city shopping centre in the country outside the major cities.
A total of 28 Wilo pumps were installed throughout the building complex. They fulfil the core functions that are essential in a multi-purpose building such as this.
Galeria Kwiatowa Retail Park
Tychy, Poland
Galeria Kwiatowa is a spacious retail park in Tychy that combines retail, services and leisure facilities on a large site. Twenty-one individual buildings have been constructed on the approximately five-hectare site, complemented by a large car park directly adjacent to the centre. The diverse use of the site places high demands on a stable and efficient technical infrastructure.
A particular challenge was the water supply: the existing network pressure was insufficient to reliably ensure both fire protection and the supply to all buildings. In addition, heating and hot water supply had to be guaranteed across all units. Based on a detailed analysis, tailor-made solutions for pressure boosting and for the circulation of heating and hot water systems were implemented.
Services for planning, operation and maintenance
Shopping centres require a technical infrastructure that operates reliably around the clock – seven days a week, often with very long opening hours. Our service supports you from the design and installation through to the maintenance and optimisation of all systems. Through digital remote monitoring, we create transparency regarding energy flows, detect faults at an early stage and avoid unplanned downtime.
The Wilo Energy Audit*, our digital solutions with remote monitoring, and WiloCare via our customer service enable predictive maintenance, detailed analyses and continuous efficiency optimisation for every building situation.
Digital solutions
Control pumps intelligently, connect systems and make operating data visible – for greater transparency and targeted optimisation of system operation.
Energy Solutions
Identify energy-saving potential, analyse operating data and derive suitable measures for energy-conscious system operation.
*The Wilo-Energy Audit does not comply with the EN 16247-1 standard and therefore does not fulfil the requirement to carry out a legally mandated energy audit in accordance with the relevant national implementation provisions of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive.
Technology for vibrant shopping experiences
Shopping centres are lively places – they connect retail, restaurants and social interaction. Our solutions help to ensure that these spaces operate safely, comfortably and energy-efficencely. Electronically controlled pump technology can help to reduce energy consumption and energy-related CO₂ emissions, ensure water is used in line with demand, and lower operating costs. At the same time, we create reliable technical conditions that provide visitors with a pleasant environment and businesses with stable conditions for their operations.
FAQ | Frequently asked questions about solutions for shopping centres
How can shopping centres reduce their energy consumption related to pump technology?
What role does pump technology play in ESG compliance?
Modern pump systems can help to reduce the electricity requirements of pumping technology. Depending on the specific energy supply, lower electricity consumption may also be associated with lower energy-related CO₂ emissions. Consumption data can also be used as technical input data for energy-related analyses.
Depending on the operator’s specific classification and accounting methods, such savings can, for example, be taken into account when recording and assessing Scope 2 emissions.
Are the solutions suitable for indoor and outdoor shopping centres?
How does Wilo support the replacement of older pump technology?
Through energy audits, modernisation concepts and more efficient replacement systems with comparatively short payback periods, calculated on a case-by-case basis depending on the installation. In addition, digital tools assist with monitoring and optimisation. Depending on the system configuration, implementation can take place during ongoing operations.
Get personalised consultation now
We will show you how to identify potential energy savings, integrate monitoring and maintenance, and modernise your shopping centre with a focus on sustainability.
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