New cooling technology for the Finnish cooperative Arina stores revolutionizes the entire building's energy management. Refrigeration with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant halves the total energy consumption. They have tested the technology over a year in 1000 m2 large grocery stores.

The cooperative Arina in Finland has been involved in funded research and development and Jetitek OY realize the technology. It is global pioneering work, combining refrigeration and building service techniques with a unique efficiency.

- "The main objective is to reduce energy consumption. Another, equally important goal is to develop new and sustainable energy" says Veli-Matti Puutio, CEO at Arina.

The clear environmental objectives that Arina sat for their activities was the starting point for development. They want to save energy in the properties and use carbon dioxide in cooling units instead of substances that are toxic to plants and have a negative impact on the climate. The third objective is to self start producing green energy. The new cooling system has been tested in Arina shops Sale and S Market. The total energy cost is halved in one year.

We ask Seppo Jakola, the property manager at Arina - "How can it be, what are you doing?"

- "Simplified you can say that a automatic system controls the cooling and HVAC-functions in a store. It combines refrigeration and building services techniques. That way you use energy efficiently. The refrigerant in chillers is carbon dioxide which is extracted as a byproduct from many processes within the chemical industry."

Carbon dioxide need not be produced separately, there is already quite enough in the world. With new technology you can utilize carbon dioxide for commercial use, so that cooling systems produces effective hot and cold.

- "Carbon dioxide as a refrigerant is environmentally friendlier than other refrigerants on the market. The process develops much heat that we store in rock", says Seppo.

The rock stores heat similar to sauna stones. The stored heat can be used in building heating in winter and the stores do not need to be connected to the district heating network. The system is more effective the further north one goes. With new technology, the new system becomes the energy center for the whole building.

- "We have an advantage in that Arina owns its properties. Therefore we are, already in the planning stage, combining refrigeration and building service techniques. The investment has payed itself back within three years due to reduced energy costs" says a delighted Veli-Matti Puutio.

Carbon dioxide as a refrigerant is not a new invention, it was used already in the 1800s.

- "Freon replaced the carbon dioxide as refrigerant until it was discovered that freon destroys the ozone layer. Freon and other refrigerants are increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide has returned as the technique how to leverage use it was developed further" describes Väinö Jaako, president of Jetitek OY.

The rest of Europe was once ahead of Finland in chiller technology.

- "That is not true anymore. Jetitek and Arina realize cooler technology with an efficiency that can not be matched anywhere else in the world. We look to the entire property, we think both cooling and heating " continues Väinö Jaako.

How does the customer experience the change between the old and the new store?

- "It is no longer cold in the store, which is noticeable especially in the summer when you come into the store in summer clothes. All refrigeration rooms have doors or flaps. This also improves the sustainability of the products" Seppo Jakola sums up.

Buildings that use Arina new carbon technologies;

• 7 stores in use: S-market stores in Pateniemi, Kaakkuri, Muhos and Ii. Sale stores in Rantsila, Tervola and Utajärvi.
• 2 stores under construction: S-market stores in Ylikiiminki and Muonio
• 2 stores in planning phase: Prisma Limingantulli and Sale Tupos

This is a translated version of the orginial article in finnish "Virran rannalta - Asiaa energiasta" (Facts about energy), September 2011, by Marja Nousiainen.

For more detailed information, please contact Jetitek, partner to Green & Cool in Finland.