The Spanish retailer Eroski has been recognised with the award “100 Best Ideas” in the Spanish business landscape for its sustainable supermarket that is the first in Europe to achieve the ISO 50001 energy management. The store features a number of sustainable elements including an efficient 134a/CO2 refrigeration system, resulting in 65% energy savings. Update: One year on, monitoring results and data analysis back up the system&
The Spanish retailer Eroski has been awarded in the category “Sustainable Ideas” in the award “100 Best Ideas” for commissioning its first 100% sustainable supermarket located in Oñati. The project was launched already in 2008 with the development of a series of reports on environmental impacts and risks.
As the first in Spain the supermarket has received sustainable building BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) certification. Moreover, the retailer managed to be the first in Europe to achieve the ISO 50001 energy management certification.
CO2 helps achieve high energy efficiency
After piloting two eco-efficient stores in 2010 and 2011, the retailer Eroski decided to go a step further in the field of sustainable construction and established the zero-emission store in Oñate.
The use of CO2 in the new store helps reduce energy consumption by 65% compared to a conventional store, with savings equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 757.000 trees annually. The system incorporates heat recovery and free cooling that is transmitted in the sales area, enabling savings of 30% on the AC system’s energy consumption.
Other sustainable elements in the supermarket include:
In addition, the supermarket is currently using Energy Plus, a software programme that evaluates natural lighting levels as well as calculates energy consumption and CO2 emissions from the AC systems and equipment.
Next project: “Net-Zero” energy supermarket
Along similar lines to the Oñati store, in a few years Eroski plans to open a “net-zero” energy supermarket. To achieve this, the company plans to develop a trigeneration system (using steam, water and electricity). The new store will feature a renewable energy system used in combination with an absorption chiller able to reach low temperatures (-35°).
Eroski lab/ store to promote training on sustainable development
Eroski is also very committed to providing training and education on sustainable development and green energies. In this context, the Oñati store is being used as a laboratory where students, clients, and suppliers can explore the store’s technological innovations.
Among other activities, Eroski offers guided tours to its installations as well as a monthly training program called “Zero-emissions store” that covers a wide range of topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energies, ISO 50001, eco-design, waste management and carbon footprinting.
Awareness-raising on natural refrigerants
Spanish-based refrigeration specialist Tewis, has already contributed to construction of around 22 hybrid CO2/134a refrigeration systems in the Iberian Peninsula. With the increasing use of natural refrigerants in the region, the awareness-raising about these technologies is very important to ensure safe and efficient installation. To this end, Tewis organised a seminar on ‘Natural and Sustainable Refrigerants’ aimed at refrigeration technicians interested to learn about the systems deploying natural refrigerants (CO2 transcritical and subcriticial, ammonia, hydrocarbons), energy and technical aspects, investment costs, in collaboration with other companies in Spain
As the first in Spain the supermarket has received sustainable building BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) certification. Moreover, the retailer managed to be the first in Europe to achieve the ISO 50001 energy management certification.
CO2 helps achieve high energy efficiency
After piloting two eco-efficient stores in 2010 and 2011, the retailer Eroski decided to go a step further in the field of sustainable construction and established the zero-emission store in Oñate.
The use of CO2 in the new store helps reduce energy consumption by 65% compared to a conventional store, with savings equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 757.000 trees annually. The system incorporates heat recovery and free cooling that is transmitted in the sales area, enabling savings of 30% on the AC system’s energy consumption.
Other sustainable elements in the supermarket include:
- LED lightning
- Solar panels
- Doors on refrigerated cases
- Advanced automation
- Waste management system
- "Green parking" for bicycles and electric cars
In addition, the supermarket is currently using Energy Plus, a software programme that evaluates natural lighting levels as well as calculates energy consumption and CO2 emissions from the AC systems and equipment.
Next project: “Net-Zero” energy supermarket
Along similar lines to the Oñati store, in a few years Eroski plans to open a “net-zero” energy supermarket. To achieve this, the company plans to develop a trigeneration system (using steam, water and electricity). The new store will feature a renewable energy system used in combination with an absorption chiller able to reach low temperatures (-35°).
Eroski lab/ store to promote training on sustainable development
Eroski is also very committed to providing training and education on sustainable development and green energies. In this context, the Oñati store is being used as a laboratory where students, clients, and suppliers can explore the store’s technological innovations.
Among other activities, Eroski offers guided tours to its installations as well as a monthly training program called “Zero-emissions store” that covers a wide range of topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energies, ISO 50001, eco-design, waste management and carbon footprinting.
Awareness-raising on natural refrigerants
Spanish-based refrigeration specialist Tewis, has already contributed to construction of around 22 hybrid CO2/134a refrigeration systems in the Iberian Peninsula. With the increasing use of natural refrigerants in the region, the awareness-raising about these technologies is very important to ensure safe and efficient installation. To this end, Tewis organised a seminar on ‘Natural and Sustainable Refrigerants’ aimed at refrigeration technicians interested to learn about the systems deploying natural refrigerants (CO2 transcritical and subcriticial, ammonia, hydrocarbons), energy and technical aspects, investment costs, in collaboration with other companies in Spain
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Jul 03, 2014, 17:43
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