An independent Hannaford Supermarket study put it to the test: how do you cut anti-sweat heater energy without letting condensation cloud the glass? The AS-20 answer saves about $10K-$38K per store per year in wasted door-heater electricity, with payback in under 24 months.
An independent study conducted at a Hannaford Supermarket set out to answer a question every grocery operator faces: with anti-sweat heater controls, what actually works - and what works best? The test compared the legacy approach (door-frame, glass, and mullion heaters running 24/7/365) against the AS-20's dew-point-driven control across the same refrigerated glass display cases.
The methodology was simple and fair: hold condensation control constant - the glass must stay clear and product visible at all times, even on high-humidity days - then measure how much anti-sweat heater runtime each approach actually required. The AS-20 held every door frame a safe margin above the dew point and proactively cycled heaters only when that margin began to close.
The finding: the AS-20 didn't just beat the always-on baseline - it cut anti-sweat heater runtime far more than every other control method, including panel and relay systems, time schedules, and basic on/off controllers, all while never sacrificing condensation control. It's the clearest evidence yet that truly intelligent, case-by-case anti-sweat heater controls outperform every simpler approach.
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Most stores try to tame anti-sweat heaters with timers, relay panels, or basic on/off controllers. Here is how those approaches stack up against intelligent, case-by-case control.
| Control method | Energy cut | Condensation control | Per-case control | Monitoring & M&V | New network wiring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always-on heaters (legacy) | None (baseline) | Always safe, always wasteful | No | No | N/A |
| Time schedules / timers | Low | Risk on humid days | No | No | Yes |
| Panel / relay systems | Low/Moderate | Risk; one bad door or case sacrifices ALL savings | No | No | Significant home-run wiring |
| ControlTec AS-20 | 50-80% | Always protected, dew-point driven | Yes, every case | Yes, documented M&V | None (wireless mesh) |
In the Hannaford study, the AS-20 cut anti-sweat heater runtime further than every other control method tested - without sacrificing condensation control.
Because the AS-20 monitors, tracks and records every reading, savings aren't projected - they're captured by built-in metering, ready for utility programs and ESG reporting.
Heaters run only when condensation is imminent - cutting runtime against the 24/7 baseline.
Utility rebates can cover 10–100% of the project - prescriptive or custom measured-savings, paperwork handled by ControlTec.
Metric tons of CO₂e avoided, documented automatically for sustainability reporting.
Plug in your door count and energy rate to see projected savings, payback, and carbon avoided - per store.