Marks & Spencer Uses Aerofoil Tech to Cut Energy Use as Much as 30%

UK retailer Marks & Spencer will reduce energy use and costs related to its open-fronted refrigerators with a roll-out of technology from Aerofoil Energy Ltd. The retailer could save up to 30% on refrigeration costs, based on results from existing Aerofoil customers.

In addition to reducing the energy consumption and environmental footprint of its stores, Aerofoil technology will also help Marks & Spencer improve the shopping experience for customers by raising temperatures in the stores’ aisles, the company says.

Open-fronted refrigerators are the largest consumers of power in stores, according to Aerofoil, and Marks & Spencer has already seen proven energy savings during extensive laboratory and store trials.

The Aerofoil is a retrofittable solution that uses aerodynamics to guide cold air more efficiently down the front of the fridge so that substantially less cold air is lost from the chiller unit. This results in lower energy use, fewer carbon emissions and warmer aisles in stores.

For the Marks & Spencer stores, which use their own, custom-designed refrigeration cabinets, Aerofoil developed a special solution using three new technologies, including a “micro-Aerofoil,” which performs in the same way as the standard-sized Aerofoil, but “with even more pleasing aesthetics for retailers with smaller price label dimensions,” the company says.