Retail and supermarket · Heating
Heating in retail and supermarket: what the SRI measures
The heating domain looks at how smartly a building controls its heat: per room or centrally, based on occupancy and outdoor temperature, and whether the boiler or heat pump follows demand. Heat storage and fault reporting are part of it too.
In short
- 1This page shows how shops and supermarkets regulate heating according to the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI).
- 2The heating domain carries significant weight for this building type: 2 out of 3 points in the weighting.
- 3Fixed opening hours make time-based control relatively straightforward, but refrigerated display cases and waste heat require extra attention in supermarkets.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat emission control H-1a · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Individual room control with communication and occupancy detection | level 2 or higher |
| Emission control for TABS (heating mode) H-1b · 4 levels | No automatic control | Advanced central automatic control with intermittent operation and/or room temperature feedback control | – |
| Storage and shifting of thermal energy H-1c · A · 3 levels | None | HW storage vessels controlled based on external signals (from BACS or grid) | level 2 or higher |
| Control of distribution pumps in networks H-1d · 5 levels | No automatic control | Variable speed pump control (external demand signal) | – |
| Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for building heating (excluding TABS) H-1f · 4 levels | Continuous storage operation | Heat storage capable of flexible control through grid signals (e.g. DSM) | – |
| Heat generator control (all except heat pumps) H-2a · A · 3 levels | Constant temperature control | Variable temperature control depending on the load (e.g. depending on supply water temperature set point) | level 2 or higher |
| Heat generator control (for heat pumps) H-2b · A · 4 levels | On/Off-control of heat generator | Variable control of heat generator capacity depending on the load AND external signals from grid | level 2 or higher |
| Sequencing in case of different heat generators H-2d · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running time | Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, capacity of generators AND external signals from grid) | – |
| Report information regarding heating system performance H-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Central or remote reporting of performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | level 2 or higher |
| Flexibility and grid interaction H-4 · 5 levels | No automatic control | Optimized control of heating system based on local predictions and grid signals (e.g. through model predictive control) | – |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 31 percentage points (from 22 to 53 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does heating carry significant weight in shops and supermarkets?
The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) measures how prepared a building is for smart technology. For shops and supermarkets, the heating domain weighs 2 out of 3 points. This seems high, because lighting and cooling are often the largest energy costs in this building type.
The reason is that heating in shops often relates to waste heat from refrigerated display cases. A smartly controlled heating system can use that waste heat instead of consuming extra energy. This creates a direct link between two domains that both matter in a supermarket.
Which smart-ready services fall under this domain?
The heating domain within the SRI consists of multiple smart-ready services, each with its own functionality level from 0 to 4. For shops and supermarkets, the following services are especially relevant:
- Control of heat output per room or centrally
- Control of the heat generator, whether a boiler or heat pump
- Sequencing of multiple heat generators
- Reporting on heating system performance
- Flexibility and interaction with the electricity grid
Fixed opening hours make it simple to apply time-based operation. This is already a basic level within several of these services.
What does this mean for a building above 290 kW?
Larger shopping centres and supermarkets with a heating or cooling installation above 290 kW often already fall under the requirement for building automation from the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive). The SRI itself is voluntary, but is expected to become mandatory by 30 June 2027 for utility buildings above that threshold.
For smaller shops without an installation above 290 kW, the SRI remains a tool to voluntarily gain insight into building systems. The score then indicates how much room there is for improvement, even without a requirement.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As the owner of a shop or supermarket, it is useful to know which functionality level the heating system currently has, especially since this domain carries significant weight in the score. Understanding the current state helps with planning investments, particularly if the building approaches the 290 kW threshold or already exceeds it.
- Tenant
- A tenant of a retail space notices little directly from the SRI score itself, but does experience the consequences: a smartly controlled heating system means more stable temperatures and fewer breakdowns. In supermarkets, reuse of waste heat from refrigerated display cases can also create a more pleasant climate in the shop.
- Advisor
- Pay attention to the interaction between heating and cooling, because in supermarkets waste heat from refrigerated display cases can affect the heat generator output level. Also check whether fixed opening hours are already translated into time-based or self-learning operation, since this can relatively easily earn extra points within this domain.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?