Consumers should probably start forgetting about evening shop window shopping this winter, as energy costs remain high despite any subsidies, and with the possibility of even planned outages in the event of power shortages. focused on turning off the lights for many hours at night in their stores, outside of business hours.

If the actions for energy saving or deal with the energy crisis, take the form of reduced hours of operation, or shop in dim light, a scenario that is already being processed retail chains mainly in the Nordic countries, will depend on economic and geopolitical developments. At this point, some may have noticed that not all stores are more “cool oases” as the air conditioners are set to a higher temperature.

In the medium term, more and more retail chains are installing or planning to install photovoltaic systems in their stores and warehouses to save money and reduce their dependence on electricity suppliers.

“Lighting signs for less than hours at night” Mr. Lambros Papakosmas points to K., authorized adviser of the Hellenic Hypermarkets Sklavenitis group, which is especially important given that the group has a network of 510 stores. In addition, the network is replacing refrigerators with new, low-consuming ones.

Lights in stores and on parking lots of stores during non-working hours in the Metro network (My Market and Metro Cash & Carry) do not turn off. What’s more, over the years, light bulbs have been replaced by LEDs, and the company is now doing some final work in store warehouses. In addition, at this stage, as the head of Metro AEBE Aristotelis Panteliadis points out, the company monitors the temperature in salesrooms more carefully, which at this stage is only aimed at avoiding exaggerations. “We have a program to replace refrigeration in stores with more economical ones, but it is a big and complex investment and will take years to implement,” he adds.

Air conditioners in many stores are set to a higher temperature.

In an effort to save money and reduce their dependence on electricity suppliers, more and more retail companies are investing in solar energy. This choice is mainly made by companies with large warehouses (big boxes), since it is possible to install the systems in question on their roofs.

An investment plan of 18 million euros has been drawn up by the Panteliadis family’s Metro group to install photovoltaic systems on the rooftops of Metro and My Market stores for private use through net metering. Investments in alternative energy sources will be completed within two years, covering half of the stores this year and the rest in 2023.

The installation of photovoltaics is also envisaged in the Sclavenitis group’s project for a supermarket under construction in a former Renault building at the junction of the Athens-Lamia highway of the same name.

The installation of 25 photovoltaic installations in stores as well as in a warehouse by 2026 is included in the Lidl Greece investment plan. The Galaxia chain has already installed photovoltaic cells in 20 of its stores, and AB Vassilopoulos has also taken similar steps.

In addition, the Plaisio network has also invested half a million euros in the installation of photovoltaics at its sites in Magula. The company has also begun installing LED lighting in stores, as well as replacing energy-intensive air conditioners.