Commercial Construction
New Grocery Store
Burlington, IowaTom’s Market & Meats is the only independently owned grocery store in Burlington, Iowa. As small business owners, it was very important to keep costs down not only of construction, but also operational costs after the construction was complete in order to compete with the larger chain stores. Tom’s Market & Meats selected Carl A. Nelson & Co. to be their Design-Builder to help them meet their goals. Carl A. Nelson & Co.developed with the owner a strategic plan to keep costs low during and after construction for the grocery store. This plan included using site-cast, tilt-up exterior walls, an innovative refrigeration energy recovery system, and lease space above the grocery store.
Innovative Refrigeration Energy Recovery System
Carl A. Nelson & Co. designed a heating and cooling system, similar to a geothermal wells system, using waste heat from the grocery store's own refrigeration equipment. The water source heat pumps were installed on a water loop heated by the refrigeration system and cooled in the summer by the evaporative cooling tower. Because this was such an innovative design, a boiler was installed to heat the loop in the event that additional heat was needed. In three seasons of operation, the boiler has never run.
Tom’s Market & Meats has never had a heating gas bill of any kind!