Government considers fining shops that leave air conditioners on even when doors are open


Large retail establishments are scrambling to come up with ways to fight summer heat as they face tightened government restrictions on air-conditioning starting next month.

To prevent power shortages during the summer, the government unveiled last week a set of energy-saving measures that include a ban on temperatures lower than 26 degrees Celsius inside nearly 500 large buildings with an energy consumption of 2,000 tons of oil equivalent or more. Violators will be slapped with fines of up to 3 million won ($2,570).

The government is also considering imposing fines on department stores, large discount stores, franchised coffee shops and bakeries, clothing and cosmetics shops, banks and insurance company branches that turn air conditioners on with their doors open.

As a result, major retailers are scurrying to save energy and maintain pleasant temperatures.

To circulate cool air as much as possible, Hyundai Department Store at COEX in southeastern Seoul installed 60 ceiling fans on all floors a month earlier than usual.

The ceiling fans will soon be set up in other branches as well, officials at the department store said. 

Hyundai also plans to place mini fans in fitting rooms for jeans or lingerie brands.

Hoping to make customers feel a bit cooler, staff at the COEX store will wear Hawaiian shirts. The staff at youth fashion divisions called U-Plex in Shinchon, Mokdong and Jungdong stores have already changed from suits to short sleeve t-shirts.

Each store will have five to 10 “energy sheriffs” to check on lights, power extension cords and plugs to save electricity.

Lotte Department Store is getting rid of unnecessary lighting around display sections and reducing halogen lamps that highlight mannequins and products. Halogen light bulbs get hotter than regular incandescent lamps, causing indoor temperatures to go up.

Lotte replaced 50-watt halogen lamps near the escalators and where customers pass often with 5.5-watt light-emitting diode lamps that generate less heat.

The department store also plans to set up ventilation grilles in the fitting rooms for better air conditioning, and offer cold drinks to customers during peak hours.

Shinsegae Department Store said it will place fans in the fitting rooms and replace halogen lamps with LED light bulbs.

Lotte Mart said it will temporarily stop operating moving walkways during the day when it has few customers and slow the speed of moving walkways by up to 10 percent starting next month to cut energy costs.

Lotte Mart said it can save up to 600 million won annually by slowing down the moving sidewalks.

The discount store chain plans to use window films to block heat and replace all lighting equipment that emits high levels of heat with LED lamps.

Lotte Mart uses solar power to run equipment in 39 outlets across the country.

Unusually high temperatures raised concerns of nationwide blackouts when momentary power demand shot up to 59.18 million kilowatts early this month due to increased air-conditioning usage while several power plants were under maintenance.

The electric power reserve already plunged below the danger level of 5 million kilowatts twice this month.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)