Balancing comfort and energy efficiency in densely populated retail environments
Shopping centres are bustling with life, particularly at the weekends, when the pressures on building services are put to the test. People come to relax, to meet friends, and to pick up a bargain: they want to feel comfortable and the facilities provided should be hygienic.
However, many shopping centres are several decades old and are facing considerable pressure to undergo renovation. Their HVAC, clean water and drainage and sewage systems may be prone to failure, and the risk of outages could be high. The existing pumps may be old and oversized, and they may operate inefficiently, without energy managers being aware of their energy consumption. Therefore, there is huge potential to optimise pumps and pump systems.
Wilo’s pump system solutions are designed to meet these requirements.
They ensure a reliable water supply and the smooth operation of technical infrastructure in many key fields of application, including:
1. Drainage
2. Cooling and air conditioning
3. Water distribution and boosting
4. Drinking water hygiene
5. Wastewater collection and transport
6. Firefighting
7. Rainwater utilisation
Whether indoor or outdoor shopping centres: both require technology that can be relied upon at all times.
Indoor areas depend on central systems for air conditioning, water supply and fire protection; outdoor centres rely on decentralised systems that can withstand weather conditions and safely drain large parking areas. Nothing is allowed to come to a standstill when visitor numbers are high. At the same time, energy requirements and cost pressures are increasing. Against this background, hidden drivers of energy consumption are increasingly coming into focus, and the demand for modern shopping environments that meet Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals is growing.
Stable systems, fewer failures: better performance for shopping centres
Do you want to reduce your energy consumption, increase your operational reliability and modernise your infrastructure with a focus on sustainability? We can help you do just that!
Comprehensive water solutions for modern shopping centres
Shopping centres require robust, controllable and energy-efficient systems – from air conditioning and water supply to fire protection. Our electronically controlled pump systems adapt dynamically to visitor numbers and daily loads, making them particularly efficient. They ensure consistent pressure on all floors and in all areas, provide hygienic domestic hot water circulation, enable reliable dewatering of large roof and parking areas, and keep ventilation and cooling systems running smoothly. This results in consistently high comfort for shops, restaurants and visitors, with noticeably lower operating costs.
More than hardware: planning, efficiency, and digital transparency
We support new-build and upgrade projects with technical expertise throughout the entire lifecycle. This includes hydraulic analyses, energy assessments, building management system integration, digital remote monitoring and predictive maintenance.
With energy audits, we identify oversized systems and hidden energy guzzlers, calculate potential savings and show you how to achieve lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and measurable CO₂ reductions. Our systems have a modular design, comply with all relevant standards and support you in achieving your sustainability and ESG goals.
Our highlight applications for shopping centres
Even where complex technical requirements are involved, our solutions ensure reliable supply, stable control and maximum efficiency – from central indoor systems to decentralised outdoor installations.
Water distribution and boosting
Catering facilities, sanitary facilities, cleaning facilities and technical rooms are often spread across several floors, long shopping streets or extensive outdoor areas. At the same time, visitor numbers fluctuate greatly throughout the day and year – from quiet mornings to busy weekends and seasonal peaks. To ensure that everything functions at all times, a reliable water supply with stable pressure is required, which does not fail even when visitor numbers vary significantly.
- Constant pressure control for different load profiles
- Demand-oriented volume flows for peak loads
- Solutions for centralised indoor systems and decentralised outdoor supply
Firefighting
In a shopping centre with large numbers of people, densely occupied areas and complex spatial layouts, every second counts in an emergency. Sprinkler and hydrant systems must therefore have sufficient firefighting water available at all times, regardless of occupancy, building size or the location of technical rooms. Only in this way can the protection of people, businesses and buildings be reliably ensured.
- Reliable supply of firefighting water for sprinkler and hydrant systems
- Maximum operational reliability with redundant systems
- Robust technology for continuous standby operation
- Modular systems for retrofitting
Wastewater collection and transport
From sanitary areas and catering facilities to large car parks and extensive outdoor areas, pump systems must reliably drain wastewater and rainwater at all times, both during normal operation and during heavy rainfall events.
- Transport of wastewater from sanitary and utility areas
- Drainage solutions for heavy rainfall events
- Systems for roof, interior, and exterior drainage
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
Different climate zones converge: open areas meet enclosed retail spaces, dining areas and separate technical rooms. This situation requires HVAC systems that can be easily controlled, reliably handle load changes and ensure a consistently comfortable indoor climate.
- Energy-efficient pumps for cooling, heat and ventilation systems
- Dynamic adaptation to different seasonal climatic conditions
- Support for heat recovery concepts
- Digital monitoring for optimised climate areas
Drinking cold water hygiene
Reliable water hygiene is essential for visitors and staff. However, high footfall in sanitary areas, extensive pipe networks and fluctuating temperatures present particular challenges for drinking water systems. To ensure that water is fresh, safe and always available, precise circulation is required that prevents stagnation and remains stable even with varying levels of use.
- Hygienically safe hot and cold water supply
- Continuous circulation to prevent stagnation
- Intelligent control to reduce drinking water consumption
Rainwater utilisation
Rainwater offers valuable potential in large shopping centres: it falls in considerable quantities and can be used directly on site. Intelligent systems can be implemented to collect, store and use this water in a targeted way. This leads to noticeable savings in drinking water consumption while reducing the load on the technical infrastructure.
- Systems for the safe collection, storage, and provision of rainwater
- Use of rainwater for irrigation and planting
- Integration into sanitary processes, e.g., for toilet flushing
- Reduction in drinking water demand
- Frost-protected systems
Strong references. Lively retail environments.
Our solutions are used in shopping centres around the world. Discover selected references and find out how we work with our partners to create stable and efficient shopping environments.
Javor Shopping Centre
Nový Jičín, Czech Republic
With the construction of the new Javor Shopping Centre in 2022, the Nový Jičín region gained a modern retail and meeting location that enhances the shopping experience, creates new jobs and strengthens the local economy. The project relied on pump solutions from Wilo for its technical equipment – especially for heating, cooling and air conditioning.
Read More
The use of our systems has resulted in a highly efficient HVAC concept that significantly reduces energy consumption and ensures stable temperature conditions throughout the year. This keeps the atmosphere pleasant and comfortable for visitors at all times, regardless of the weather. At the same time, Wilo solutions reduce operating costs and support more sustainable building management.
Utopia Shopping Centre
Umeå, Sweden
Utopia is a shopping centre in the centre of Umeå that houses a total of 60 shops.
The property company Balticgruppen, which owns the building, decided to expand the shopping centre and also build a hotel, gym, offices, educational facilities and flats in the building. The comprehensive modernisation started in early 2013 and comprised a two-storey extension and a 13-storey high-rise section. This makes Utopia the largest inner-city shopping centre in the country outside the major cities
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A total of 28 Wilo pumps were installed throughout the building complex. They ensure efficient heating, provide reliable comfort cooling and guarantee smooth wastewater disposal – core functions that are indispensable in a multi-purpose building of this kind.
Galeria Kwiatowa Retail Park
Tychy, Poland
Galeria Kwiatowa is a spacious retail park in Tychy that combines retail, services and leisure facilities on a large site. Twenty-one individual buildings have been constructed on the approximately five-hectare site, complemented by a large car park directly adjacent to the centre. The diverse use of the site places high demands on a stable and efficient technical infrastructure.
Read More
A particular challenge was the water supply: the existing network pressure was insufficient to reliably ensure both fire protection and the supply to all buildings. In addition, heating and hot water supply had to be guaranteed across all units. Based on a detailed analysis, tailor-made solutions for pressure boosting and for the circulation of heating and hot water systems were implemented. This resulted in a secure, resilient supply for daily operation and emergencies.
Service that covers the entire lifecycle
Shopping centres require a technical infrastructure that operates reliably around the clock – seven days a week, often with very long opening hours. Our service supports you from the design and installation through to the maintenance and optimisation of all systems. Through digital remote monitoring, we create transparency regarding energy flows, detect faults at an early stage and avoid unplanned downtime.
The Wilo Energy Audit*, our digital solutions with remote monitoring, and WiloCare via our customer service enable predictive maintenance, detailed analyses and continuous efficiency optimisation for every building situation.
Wilo-Energy Audit
Identify untapped energy saving potential and develop customised solutions for sustainable efficiency.
*The Wilo-Energy Audit does not comply with the EN 16247-1 standard and therefore does not fulfil the requirement to carry out a legally mandated energy audit in accordance with the relevant national implementation provisions of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive.
Technology for vibrant shopping experiences
Shopping centres are lively places – they connect retail, restaurants and social interaction. Our solutions help to ensure that these spaces operate safely, comfortably and sustainably. With energy-efficient pump technology, we reduce CO₂ emissions, ensure the resource-efficient use of water and lower operating costs.
At the same time, we create reliable technical conditions that provide visitors with a pleasant environment and businesses with stable conditions for their operations. In this way, we support economic vitality and sustainable urban quality of life.
FAQ | Frequently asked questions about solutions for shopping centres
How can shopping centres reduce their energy consumption related to pump technology?
What role does pump technology play in ESG compliance?
Are the solutions suitable for indoor and outdoor shopping centres?
How does Wilo support the replacement of older pump technology?
Get personalised consultation now
We will show you how you can save energy, increase operational reliability and modernise your shopping centre with a focus on sustainability.