Sainsbury’s – Low Energy Stores

Established in 1869, Sainsbury’s is Britain’s longest-standing major food retail chain, with its largest supermarkets offering around 30,000 products.  In response to rising energy prices and a changing climate, Sainsbury’s is testing new technologies and approaches to reduce its CO2 emissions per square meter by 25% by 2012.

Sainsbury’s store operations contribute the largest proportion of its overall energy use.  Its first three low energy stores have investigated 38 energy-saving solutions, from the latest high-efficiency T5 lighting tubes to hydrogen fuel cells, with the aim of identifying the most efficient and appropriate technologies to implement in its portfolio now and in the future. 

Each of these stores’ objectives reflect the fact that Sainsbury’s stores vary widely in size, composition and location.  Greenwich, its flagship low energy store, aims to pioneer innovative technologies that may become affordable to replicate in years to come.  Its recently refurbished store at Alnwick is testing current technologies, such as biomass boilers and LED lights in full-height freezers, in a standard store format.  Its new-build store in Dartmouth has reduced embodied energy through construction methods, such as the use of timber frames rather than steel, and Sainsbury’s is applying lessons from Greenwich and Alnwick in Dartmouth to implement initiatives designed to be rolled out across the estate.