The Channel Islands Co-operative Society Limited, Jersey

About the Co-operative

The C. I. Co-operative Group is a part of a unique family of businesses run by over 2.5 million members in the UK and 100,000 members in the Channel Islands, each of whom has a say in how it is run. The C.I. Co-operative has environmental sustainability at the heart of its business development and with their Energy & Environmental Consultants, ‘Jersey Energy’ they have been successfully running a wide variety of schemes for energy and carbon reduction.

How powerPerfector were able to help the C. I. Co-operative

Jersey Energy obtained relevant historical consumption data and Energy profiles for the selected store and it was possible to give a provisional quote for a powerPerfector unit and the energy savings that would be expected. Jersey Energy installed a voltage logger for one week, which recorded the voltage level in the building at different locations. To assist formulate the actual installation costs, Jersey Energy carried out a survey of the electrical intake position and identified the scope of works for pricing by a powerPerfector approved local contractor. Jersey Energy planned and supervised the installation works liaising with the C. I. Co-operative Society and powerPerfector to ensure minimal disruption to the store during the works. There was no noticeable change to the operation of the building, although continuous carbon savings were instantly being made every day at the C. I. Co-operative Store. 10 weeks after the installation the electricity consumption was assessed to find a reduction of 12.0%, equating to annual carbon dioxide emissions saving of 7,020kg.

Voltage Power Optimisation. The less obvious benefits

Reduced maintenance, longer life
All electrical equipment has an optimum voltage at which it works best. A powerPerfected supply delivers that optimum and reduces the strain on your electrical equipment, leaving it to work more reliably and for longer.

Better quality power supply
Some things you may have accepted for years, but product faults can turn out to be caused by a poor quality power supply. For instance, the life of incandescent light bulbs is almost doubled when the supply voltage is optimised. Now imagine that in relation to an IT network or an expensive piece of manufacturing equipment.

Missing the penalty kick
Power factor penalty charges – which are now uncapped in the UK – can be avoided if your power factor is above 0.95. If your power factor is at around 0.9 at the moment, powerPerfector could remove your exposure to these charges by improving the electrical efficiency of your site.

Lower harmonic distortion and reduced neutral currents
powerPerfectors are able to filter harmonics on the mains incomer. Harmonic distortion is on the increase and can lead to random failures of electronic equipment – particularly computers.

Protection
Common transients – very brief spikes in voltage from the grid – are eliminated by powerPerfector. Transients at this level can cause catastrophic damage to equipment, but smaller, more common transient events will also shorten the life expectancy of electrical equipment over time. Each installation ensures that that store is no longer at risk from failures that could put their business at risk.