At Sello shopping center , digitalization saves costs and enables new revenue models
Shopping centers are in the merge of reinventing themselves . From being a place to shop goods , the role is changing more into service providers . Real estate plays an important role in providing great customer experience . In perfect places , there are never too warm or cold . The conditions are perfect .
In addition to adjusting right temperature and lighting , digitalization of buildings minimizes the energy consumption . The Sello shopping center in Espoo , Finland partnered with Siemens in order to benefit from digitalization . The data is gathered and evaluated from 1,500 energy and HVAC data points by Navigator – the cloud-based energy and sustainability platform . Using smart data visualization and automated reporting , the collected data is used as efficiently as possible . As a result , Sello ’ s maintenance and operational costs have grown less than 10 percent since 2010 when in average the growth is 20 percent .
“ Sello has always been a responsible operator . Environmentally friendly solutions have been taken into account since the very
beginning ,” says Sello shopping center manager Marjo Kankaanranta . “ This progressive project will lead the way how shopping centers can be involved in climate economies , and can work for the good of the environment and society as a whole .”
Digitalization is a key factor in finding new revenue models . In Sello , data is not only used to enable perfect conditions and cut down energy costs but making it possible to participate in the electricity reserve market . Sello will be the first significant property complex in Finland to be part of the electricity reserve market by having its own power plant . The energy consumption of the property is automatically regulated by purchasing , storing and consuming energy .
“ When there is oversupply of electricity , Sello adds its energy consumption or stores it and conversely it adjusts electricity consumption if there is too much consumption on the national level . By participating in the electricity reserve market , Sello has another revenue model to the more traditional services ”, explains Head of Sales Mikko Aalto from Siemens Osakeyhtiö .
Sello is a game changer in the market but the solution can be used also in other facilities . Fingrids ’ electricity reserve market in Finland enables Sello ’ s new role . When this solution becomes more widespread , it will bring considerable savings to society by reducing the need to invest in backup power .
“ The role of shopping centers is changing in environmental matters and we want to work with world class pioneers like Siemens . This cooperation is a great example of a new kind of cooperation , which also requires professional shopping center management ,” says Vice President Juha Tiuraniemi from Realprojekti , Ovenia Group . Realprojekti is the leading shopping center manager in Finland .
Participation to the electricity reserve market can change earning logics in the real estate market . When the building itself is a source of income , the rent could be lowered or tied to the energy consumption of the tenant . The real estates ’ role changes and they are becoming a significant part of electricity reserve market in the future . l
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