A Grocery Store Installs a Liquid Desiccant System to Improve Energy Effi ciency
WRITTEN BY | PEGGY J. ELKIND, MBA
H 48 RETROFIT // November-December 2012
ave you ever needed a sweater in a mov- ie theater or in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store? Most of us
have. Humidity in buildings is often controlled by over-cooling air to remove the moisture. Then the air is reheated to the desired temperature. Over- cooling and reheating results in excessive energy use, and running air-conditioning systems longer and harder leads to increased maintenance and reduces the life expectancy of the equipment. All of these issues increase costs for the build- ing operator and reduce bottom-line profi ts. Fortunately, there is better technology available
in liquid desiccant systems. These systems offer a sustainable solution for removing humidity from the air, which helps facilities become more energy effi cient while maintaining comfort for employ- ees and customers.
An Example Sandy Vary, co-owner of Bel Garden Bi Rite Super- market, Baltimore, has annual sales exceeding $15 million in her 27,000-square-foot facility. The store, which has been family-run for close to 50 years, experiences a high volume of traffi c causing the doors to the store to be almost continuously