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WH Smith is latest to adopt Aerofoils

UK: WHSmith is the latest retailer to adopt Aerofoil Energy’s shelf-edge technology to the open-fronted refrigerators in more than 430 of its Travel stores. 

The Aerofoil is influenced by Formula One aerodynamics from Williams Advanced Engineering and is said to help guide cold air down the fridge more efficiently, reducing cold air spill, and resulting in lower energy use, fewer carbon emissions and warmer aisles in stores.

The deal with WHSmith follows similar announcements with Marks and Spencer and Scotmid Co-operative last month.

Wantage-based energy management consultant Ignite Energy conceived and implemented successful trials of Aerofoils in several WHSmith stores in the UK. This paved the way for the adoption of the technology into the retailer’s existing estate as well as on future cabinets.

Ignite Energy and WHSmith have a successful long-term partnership that has allowed them to reduce energy consumption significantly and provide better visibility of energy usage across the business. Projects implemented have covered a wide variety of technologies targeting energy reduction in lighting, refrigeration and HVAC.

“Fitting Aerofoils across our retail estate will make a major contribution to our corporate responsibility programme, most importantly by lowering our energy consumption and related emissions, but also by improving product quality and reducing product waste,” said Clare Meehan head of stores and supply chain finance at WHSmith.

Related stories:

ASDA adopts energy-saving Aerofoils19 September 2018
UK: Supermarket group Asda is set to adopt an energy-saving aerofoil device on refrigerated cabinets in 187 of its stores. Read more…

F1 know-how comes to display cabinet design – 24 April 2015
UK: The aerodynamic technology used in the design of Formula 1 racing cars is being harnessed in a device to reduce the energy consumed by supermarket refrigerated display cabinets. Read more…

Fridge technology in line for top award – 10 June 2018
UK: The aerodynamic shelf-edge technology developed to reduce the energy consumed by refrigerated display cabinets is in the running for this year’s prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert Award. Read more…

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