Proms Podcast

Star musicians and your favourite Times writers at the Albert Hall

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

From The Sunday Times

December 24, 2006

Shut that door, you energy-guzzling retail halfwit

No matter how cold it is, our chain stores won’t close their doors to save heat between customers, says John-Paul Flintoff. What do you think? Have your say - and add your name - below

As winter finally arrived last week I spent hours blocking off the icy blast that creeps under my front door and around my windows. Having done that I went out Christmas shopping, only to find that the chain stores all keep their doors wedged open.

I looked about me into the dense fog shrouding my high street shops and rubbed my chin with frozen fingers. Something didn’t make sense. At Gap Kids, thinking I could do something to stop this madness, I shut the door behind me. But moments later a member of staff quietly wandered over to open it again.

Next stop Jigsaw. This time I shut the double doors with a deliberate air of well-meaning prudence — the smug expression Gordon Brown uses to present his budgets — whereupon a woman I took to be the manager nodded towards a security man, who walked to the doors and opened them again. I marched to the manager and asked what was going on. “It’s our policy,” she said. To freeze her customers and staff? “We would be in big trouble if we left the doors shut,” she said.

I went back to Gap Kids and asked for the manager there. When she appeared I gave her a brief overview of climate change and added that even if she didn’t believe carbon emissions will kill us she would anyway save money on utility bills, to the satisfaction of head office and shareholders, if she shut the doors.

She was sympathetic: I wasn’t the first person to tell her this. A woman had come in recently and talked hysterically about polar bears dying out. She said her staff got terribly cold but they couldn’t shut the glass doors in case somebody walked into them by mistake or even on purpose. “They might sue.”

I suggested that perhaps the glass could be frosted here and there, or covered in stickers, to prevent any such tragedy. Over the street at Waterstone’s it seems the doors are not transparent enough. They have heavy black frames and only the top half is glazed. Anecdotal evidence, the manager of Waterstone’s tells me, indicates customers think the shop is shut if the doors are closed and sales suffer as a result, so the doors must stay open.

I suggested the shop invest in a sign bearing the legend open/closed. Like others I spoke to, he said he was personally in favour of shutting the doors — “I’m pretty green myself” — but he had to follow company policy.

And yet the few remaining independent shops on the high street — the tea rooms, the health food shop, the pharmacy — all manage to keep their doors closed. As do those great corporate demons Starbucks and McDonald’s. I popped inside McDonald’s to ask how come it was so much more responsible than its neighbours? The startled manager explained that it would be wasteful to run the air-conditioning with the doors open. And the extractor fans wouldn’t work so well. How about that: McDonald’s has greater confidence in the intelligence of its customers than Waterstone’s does.

According to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, retailers use 275 kilowatt hours (kWh) per square metre.

That’s vastly more than, say, local government offices (39kWh), factories (47kWh), warehouses (81kWh) and commercial offices (95kWh).

One explanation for the waste is lighting: many stores are lit to the same intensity as television studios. And now to heaters, the craziest of which must surely be the ones installed over the open front door, which typically have a rating of 500 kilowatts — roughly 17 times as powerful as a domestic fan heater.

Environmentalists say the best way for consumers to tackle retailers’ wasteful emissions would be to stop going to shops altogether and buy everything online. Department for Transport studies show that replacing shoppers in private cars with delivery vehicles would reduce traffic by 70%. And without customers to dazzle and roast in shops, retailers could become wholesalers and reduce utility bills on their premises.

As somebody who gets seasonal food delivered to my door I’ve already given up on supermarkets. And I can certainly live without ever again traipsing round clothes shops. But it does seem a little bleak to forgo every other kind of shop too. I’d much rather they changed their ways.

The worst sector, my own research suggests, is fashion. To be specific Accessorize, Hobbs, Kurt Geiger, LK Bennett, Molton Brown, Nicole Farhi, Nine West, Petit Bateau, Reiss and Whistles all had their doors open. Each one presumably justifies keeping them open on the grounds that rivals do the same. At any rate, that’s what Jigsaw’s press office told me: “We take this approach to stay competitive in a very difficult market and you will notice that most of our competitors have the same policy.”

Only doing it because everybody else does: an excuse used by naughty children at school. But better than arguing — with store managers and war criminals — that you’re only obeying orders.

Having done a certain amount of research, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised to find that the once ethical Body Shop likewise blasts hot air through open doors. But I was surprised. The apologetic manager, like so many others, advised me to contact head office.

As a small business owner I am forced to follow suit - people do not come into a shop with the door closed - I know. we have tested this theory over the years as the last thing I and my staff want to do is freeze. the simple truth is that times are very hard for all retailers who are trying to compete with the big three supermarket and that anything we can do to survive we will. Maybe those wetnosed liberals, who in my experience often work in the cumfort zone of the public sector and to whome our activities greatly contribute, should stop and think what it's like in the real world. You're all quick to bemone the demise of the highstreet whilst driving across town to the outlet centres! - Yes climate change is an important issue, but to be honest nothing will change if China and India have any say in the matter and lets not forget tha effects of nature upon heating up a planet that is permenantly warming and cooling of its own accord. The planet is not dying only perhaps those on it

Neil, york, yorkshire

actually over door heaters consume less energy than having wall heaters in a shop. if you door is closed, when opened it sucks the air out of the shop. the over door heaters create a curtain holding the heat in.

roger mcgurough, London, UK

It is 21 February 2008 and I have just read John-Paul Flintoff's article while searching for information on Waterstone's environmental policy (is there one?!) I have also recently been incensed by the open door policy in my local Waterstone's. I note shivering staff trying to keep warm with a little heater behind the till - I don't believe they can be in favour of this arrangement. As others have said, I would expect that customers of a bookshop are able to read an Open/Closed sign.

I am in favour of naming and shaming where this is concerned. The first stores to look to their energy saving and plastic bag policies will be the ones to get my custom in future.

I am glad to read that I am not alone in my anger on this issue, but so sad to think that over a year on from the original article we seem to be no further forward.

Janice Scott, Harrogate,

I am surprised that, with such a legislation-hungry administration, this issue hasn't been tackled before by government.

Recently, because of the bitter weather, I asked a couple of local shop managers why they insisted on their doors being open and was told that an open door can increase footfall by 100%. As I said to them at the time, that may be so but, nevertheless, we all have a duty to minimise energy consumption and to stamp out waste. All managers referred me to their head office if I wanted to challenge the policy.

Even some of the charity shops local to me adopt the open door policy so I wonder who much of our charitable donations are being used to heat the sky!

Paul Clark, SOUTHAMPTON, Hampshire, UK

well i mean if its wat the shop keeper wants in his/her store then it may as well be done. you shop to but what you need or want, not to keep warm.
closing the door may force others into thinking the shp is closed.
i mean dont get me wrong i hate it when im buyin stuff and then the door opens giving me an icy blast of cold air.
but its not ur shop, and if the person that works there spending the whole day there can handle it then why cant we?

courtney, hamilton, new zealand

My experience word for word with the retailers in Canterbury High Street. I even wrote a letter to the Kentish Gazette on the subject,it was published but did not caue a stir. One store here has been given planning permission to do away witha door altogether. The shutters go up and the front is a gaping void!

Nick Leader, Canterbury, UK

I agree. What a waste of energy. Let's press for legislation to ban it.

P Bigg, Bridport, Dorset

Completely unnecessary to have doors open in shops - comment regarding private establishments prooves the point that the shopping public are capable of opening a door and confirming a shop is OPEN by reading a sign.

Well done for raising this issue - we can make change if we voice our opinions.

Annie, Northampton, Northants

annie, Northampton, Northants

This insanity has even reached the rural wilderness of Cumbria, with shops in relatively small towns practising this policy. Although there is some truth behind the claim that shops use air curtains which prevent heat loss, this is in no way as energy efficient as closing the door.

There are at least 2 pieces of legislation which should prevent this. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires offices and workplaces to be maintained at a minimum temperature of 16C. There is also the carbon credit system, which should have an effect on a company's behaviour.

Surely there is no bigger driver than the rising cost of electicity.

Simon Oliver, Beckermet, Cumbria, England

All commercial and industrial premises should be required by law to install automatic doors. Payback time is very short. How many shopkeepers leave their own house doors open all day during winter?

Dave Major, Tebay, Cumbria

dave major, tebay, cumbria

Shops should try harder instead of making lame excuses for their behaviour.

Jeff, Easingwold, UK

I'm so glad somebody has raised this issue in the press as it's been annoying me for a long time. Retailers should credit customers with enough sense to open doors which are closed, and they'll save their own money on lower heating bills as well as being more environmentally friendly.

Sue Fraser, Coggeshall, Essex

I was really pleased to read the article as I have been fuming for weeks. I was going to suggest readers should write to their our local newspaper calling for a boycott on stores that leave doors open - the quickest way I know to get the open door policy changed, but looking at the number (lack of) responses/comments posted here I am really depressed!

Still my letter has gone to my local newspaper, and I shall poke my head in and shout "shut this door".

Joan Robinson, Penrith, UK

I fully agree with your aim of reducing the waste of energy.

Shoppers do know that a shop is open even with closed doors, because the thousands of lights inside are on! Even here most shops could save money by eliminating perhaps 1/4 of all those lights.

Why does not one of the big names become the pioneer - with all the publicity that entails and thereby not only become a "goody", receive a huge amount of goodwill from us, the buying public, but also will reap financial benefits from increased sales!

Ute Chell, St. Jory de Chalais, France

A sensible campaign, well worth pursuing.

J.Epton, Southwell, Notts

J.Epton, Southwell,, Notts

I admit to being ever so slightly confused here.

You mean in the UK you still have to open and shut doors yourself?

How primitive. All our stores doors are automatic, so the problem does not arise.

Ragnar Vagmornason, Berlin, Germany

Ragnar Vagmornason, Berlin, Germany.

I totally agree with this article. As customers of these stores we have to make our concerns known to them.

H M Newman, Guildford, Surrey

It's hard to believe that supposedly intelligent, clearly succesful people can encourage such wanton, dangerous waste. Why why why? Most of us can distinuguish between an open and closed door and/or read an "Open" sign. Please please please all of you, think of the planet, and close the doors. Please!

Penny Vincenzi, London, UK

The little things make all the difference. I agree. Keep shop doors shut.

Emma Grainger, Ottery St Mary, Devon

Readers should write to their council and ask for an amendment to local planning policy, when reviewed. (I did this last year.) Not sure how existing shops can be caught though?

James Page, Richmond-upon-Thames, UK

During a brief shopping spree in a well-to-do town yesterday, I could not believe how many customers left open external shop doors on a very cold day. All retail establishments (including the general public) should act responsibily in the same way that domestic householders are expected to in conserving energy. The fitting of self-closing devices (for small shops) or installing of automatic doors (for large shops) would help the cause. A uniform approach amonst retailers would further emphasise the energy conservation message to all and particularly serve as a good example to children who would be aware of consistency rather than inconsistency in their daily lives. Additionally, businesses would see an improvemnet in their energy bills and a corresponding improvement in their profits, not to mention of course their contribution to minimising the effect of global warming.

John, Silverstone, Northamptonshire

Thank you to the Sunday Times for highlighting this madness. Shops are far too hot for shoppers, get staff to wear jumpers, turn down the heating and SHUT THE DOORS. To the man from Waterstone's we are not idiot's who think a shop is not open because a door is closed, if he's not convinced try a sign the says OPEN.

Sue Phillips, Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire

sue phillips, Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire

I completely support your petition. It is about time we named and shamed the big retailers into doing something about their scandalous indifference to this issue. I’ve had standing arguments previously with shop managers about leaving doors open with the heating blasting out. Surely it is not beyond the wit of man to find a solution to the spurious arguments they put up about they can’t leave the doors closed? After all restaurants and cafés seem to manage perfectly well without either losing custom or people accidentally walking into them. Well done for raising this matter – and keep the pressure on!

Bashir Jivani, UK

Bashir Jivani, , UK

Well done Sunday Times. This is sheer lunacy. In Northwich High Street almost half the shops are offenders - including Marks & Spencers, Costa Coffee (with a heated pavement drinking area) and many others. I suggest that the Sunday Times lobbies for local authorities to pass by-laws banning this behaviour as a condition of trading. Our local borough council (Vale Royal) makes a great fuss about being "green" but lets the local retailers get away with this. A nearby village (Ashton Hayes) claims to be Britain's first "carbon neutral village" - I hope their residents at least will avoid shopping in these "magpie-heating" stores. We see so many pious words on "green" behaviour and then we allow retailers to get away with this ... Unbelievable!

Mike Harris, Northwich, Cheshire, UK

I agree totally.

Brian Metcalfe, Sheffield, UK

This is a huge issue for many people especially as householders are encouraged to save as much energy as possible.

W N Simpson, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland

Keep up the good work Mr Flintoff of bringing these issues to your readers attention and maybe one day the world WILL take notice before its too late.

Mary Carroll, Solihull, UK

Like you, I am incensed every time I enter shops/shopping centres and even tiny shops, still in my area in North London, through the open door, to receive a blast of superheated air. I am a pensioner and hesitate to press the button on my electric heaters (my only heat source!), put on an extra pullover and a blanket over my knees to avoid abusing too many kWhs. I talked to shopkeepers about the open doors and met only nonchalent shoulder-shrugging. Even threats of withdrawing custom does not impress. If we make a concerted effort as customers in this respect perhaps we might secure some success. Perhaps we should organise a march against this vile custom or even make it unlawful.

Jutta Sarguroh, London, UK

Jutta Sarguroh, London, London

The future looks dismal enough for our children without shops wasting resources and making the situation worse! The public don't mind opening or closing doors.

Rose Hooper, Horncurch, Essex

Rose Hooper, Horncurch, essex

The only way to achieve some action is to name and shame those retailers who have such disregard for our planet. No wonder some of the prices are high, it's the customers who pay for the heating after all!

Colin Weston, Crewe, England

The idea that customers may think a store is closed because the doors are shut is a ludicrous throw-back to days when shop doorways were small and dark. Nowadays, everyone knows that they are open, usually 7 days a week. Such a stupid waste of energy is infuriating, urgent government action is needed - the offenders will not take heed voluntarily. I suggest that all concerned shoppers boycott irresponsible retailers.

Robert Ford, Nottingham, UK

I totally agree with Mr Flintoff. The same principle of overheating and overcooling applies to hotels who set the air con to very low temperatures in summer when customers wear thin garments and overheat in winter in public places when everybody wears a coat.

Imke Sanderson, Haslemere, UK

Imke Sanderson, Haslemere,

Like you, I am aghast at the amount of wanton damage to the environment by "open door" policies, though I am not blind to the welcoming influence of an open door. However, there are solutions and this campaign may just encourage the retailers to think about them.

Reference the Jean-Paul Flintoff article of 24th December, the consumption figures need some work to make sense:-

(1) kWh is a fixed amount of energy, (similar to a tank of petrol, say) and the period over which it is used should be stated to give meaning. 275 kWh per week hurts more than 275 kWh per month etc.

(2) 500 kW for the 'over door' heater is massive. You probably meant 50 kW (still massive) which would be about three times the output of a 3 kW domestic heater.

Sean Kelly, Small Dole, Sussex

I agree totally with your comments. I hope you get a lot of support.

Susan A Williams, Wilmslow, UK

susan a williams, Wilmslow.UK., UK

I would suggest that the writer gets th facts right before making some very broad assumptions. The door heaters would be nothing like 500KW and comparing this do a domestice fan heater would be 166 3KW heaters not 17. Further door heaters are used as a form of curtain and don't necessarily waste as much heat as you think in comparison to the overall heating costs of the premises.

Roy Morris, Derby, England

Spot on. But the irresponsible retailing companies won't do anything unless compelled to, by law and seriously painful fines, or mass boycott by customers. Both are extremely unlikely. Here in Calgary, many shops are in malls and even along streets downtown there are often interconnecting walkways inside. Supermakets and large stores have automatically opening entry and exit doors with a large "airlock" in between. All pretty necessary when temperatures can drop to -30°C. The UK needs a wake-up call. Where has the sense of civic responsibility gone?

Keith Dixon, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Also in News

Today

MOST COMMENTED

Skip Editor's Pick

Today

MOST CURIOUS

Skip Most Curious

Today

Focus Zone

London Triathlon:

Follow our three athletes' progress in their preparations for the London Triathlon, and pick up training tips and more

Top 100 Films:

Enjoy screenings of all the classic films you love, plus take advantage of two-for-one tickets

Sport Safety :

We explore leisure activities that are safe and suitable for all of the family

Perfect Pets:

Times Online's new TV show helps you make the right decisions for your pet

James Bond:

Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews

Business Travel:

The latest travel news plus the best hotels and gadgets for business travellers

The truth about Madonna and Guy, by her brother

Right to Pay

Join the Sunday Times's campaign for co-payments

Services

Times Mobile

Get Times news, business and sport on your mobile. Text Times to 86626

Classifieds

Cars

Skip Cars of the Week

Lamborghini Gallardo Convertible Spyder 2dr E Gear

£129,500
Bentley Edinburgh

Mercedes SL Class Sl Class Convertible Sl 500 2dr Tip Auto

£79,850
Mercedes-Benz of Northampton

Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa 2dr

£26,995
Unit 1, Woodfield Business Unit, Kidderminster Road, Ombersley, Worcester.

Car insurance

Great car insurance deals online

Search for more cars and bikes

Jobs

Skip Jobs of the Week

Head of Brand Marketing

90k + Bonus + Options
Confidential
London

Team Managers

£23,716 +
Highways Agency
National

Central Services and Facilities Manager

£ £43,405 - £48,228 pa
Notting Hill Housing
London

Field Sales Executive

£30,000 base, £100,000 OTE
Riches Consulting
London/South

Search more Jobs

Properties

Outstanding Barn con in rural Kent, 4,600 sq ft

with annexe accommodation and 5.25 acres
£1,100,000

The Gardens @ Riverside Quarter Luxury Appts in Wandsworth

Beautiful Gardens w/ stunning Thames Views

Ajman UAE (next to Dubai): Prices set to double in 18 months!

Studios £33K, 1 Beds £60K, 2 beds £79K

Barclays

Mortgages, bank acc & money transfers to help you buy abroad

Search for more properties

Holidays

Skip Travel of the Week

Classical Jordan guided tour

Explore mystical Jordan
From £1030 for 7nts 4*

Great Value City Break

to USA's Most Cosmopolitan City; San Francisco!
£POA

Antigua Beach Club Holidays

Book Now for Winter 08/09 and Get 10% off!

Travel insurance

Great travel insurance deals online

Search for more holidays

Place your advert now

Where am I?

Home

News

Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times. Search globrix.com to buy or rent UK property. Visit our classified services and find jobs, used cars, property or holidays. Use our dating service, read our births, marriages and deaths announcements, or place your advertisement.

This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.

Proms Podcast

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

I was in college when I first heard of apartment stalking

Shut that door, you energy-guzzling retail halfwit

No matter how cold it is, our chain stores won’t close their doors to save heat between customers, says John-Paul Flintoff. What do you think? Have your say - and add your name - below

Have your say

Also in News

Most Read

Today

MOST COMMENTED

Today

MOST CURIOUS

Today

Focus Zone

London Triathlon:

Top 100 Films:

Sport Safety :

Perfect Pets:

James Bond:

Business Travel:

Popular Searches on Times Online

The truth about Madonna and Guy, by her brother

Right to Pay

Services

Times Mobile

Classifieds

Cars

Jobs

Properties

Holidays