Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new control system for the retail sector which allows even the smallest shop to benefit from advanced, energy-saving measures, whilst still enabling full control and measurement across an entire retail estate.

MelcoRETAIL is a dedicated air conditioning controls interface designed specifically for the retail environment, with a simple wall-mounting design to ease installation and remote maintenance and updating to minimise disruption in-store.

It provides a flexible and technically advanced BEMS (Building Energy Management System) that works in various sizes of retail outlet and is also compatible with third party equipment.

The system improves the ability to measure and control energy in medium and small shops which may not in the past have had access to this level of sophistication in their controls.

Designed specifically with a focus on the requirements of retail customers, MelcoRETAIL is preconfigured with standard inputs and outputs to suit the needs of any small to medium store.This makes the product straightforward for store managers to use effectively. Behind the simple store interface though are advanced capabilities which means that the system can offer advanced metering and energy-saving capabilities.

MelcoRETAIL offers Ethernet-remote connectivity and a SIM card connection to the company’s MELCOREMOTE system, allowing users to view data on energy use via any web-enabled device.

This also means that MelcoRETAIL can provide control and measurement across an entire retail estate if desired – providing a highly cost-effective and scalable BEMS solution for retailers who are increasingly looking to find ways to reduce energy consumption.

The system can control up to 8 M-Series and Mr Slim indoor units, and 50 City Multi indoor units, which are the most commonly-used Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning products in the retail environment.

However, the controller goes further, allowing store managers to control third party equipment as well, which is an enormous advance, and an important step away from ‘proprietary’ controls which are limited in what they can achieve in energy saving.

MelcoRETAIL offers third-party air curtain control, as well as two-stage lighting control, and occupancy sensing can be added via the store’s intruder alarm-disarm or occupancy switch signal – saving on extra cost of adding sensors.

Further innovative features make use of MelcoRETAIL’s web capabilities. These include a built-in weather feed so no outdoor temperature sensors are required.

The controller has also been designed to be ready for DUOS and TRIAD energy tariff consumption management. These are time periods when energy costs are extremely high and retailers can benefit from load shedding and shifting energy use. This can save a single store around £3,000 per week in electricity costs.

Overall, this product has taken the key features of highly sophisticated BEMS technology and made them easy to apply in a single, small high-street store – or across an entire retail estate.