Electricity costs in Brazil are among the highest in the world.
Despite being predominantly hydroelectric and cheaper, energy in the country is extremely expensive.
One of the main culprits is the tax burden on bills.
Just like in the industrial sector, large commercial enterprises, such as shopping centers, are also impacted by the cost of electricity.
According to data from the Brazilian Association of Shopping Centers (ABRASCE), Brazil currently has 547 shopping centers, which generated revenue of R$ 151.5 billion and had a footfall of over 400 million people in 2015.
Data from Abrasce in 2013 indicated that electricity expenses can reach up to 45% of a shopping center’s condominium costs.
Of this total, between 50% and 60% are costs generated by the air conditioning system.
While new shopping centers already incorporate energy efficiency projects, older establishments or those expanding their areas need to adapt to keep bills at acceptable levels.
In this context, energy consumption management is increasingly strategic for the shopping center sector, and some initiatives are necessary to maintain competitiveness.
There is no shortage of market alternatives tailored to different needs.
Initiatives such as installing LED lights, implementing solar light capture projects, utilizing natural light, self-generating energy with generators, and using more efficient chillers for climate control and temperature management are some examples.
The use of generators, which can be rented, is also an alternative for situations where the energy supplied by the utility is insufficient to meet all the shopping center’s demands, in cases of supply interruption, expansion, or even during maintenance of the electrical grid.
