Lidl Ireland is investing €1 million in the installation of solar panels at eight new and reconstructed stores between now and the end of 2019.
The announcement following the rollout of solar panels at the group's store in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, which will produce 120,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year, equivalent to meeting the electricity requirements of 28 homes, and reduces the store's carbon output by around 40 tonnes annually.
"Lidl is rooted in communities throughout Ireland and wants to ensure our business is operated in a way that is as sustainable as possible with the least impact possible on the environment," said Eamon Fitzgerald, project manager at Lidl Nenagh.
Sustainable Solutions
Other energy saving solutions installed at the Nenagh store include a glass fronted façade to maximise natural daylight entering the building; sensor controlled exterior sun blinds to reduce unwanted heat from the sun; waste heat recovery ventilation systems and LED lighting; high insulation with external cladding; and lighting sensors to conserve energy where it is not required.
The store also features two electric vehicle charging points.
"We were very clear in rebuilding the Nenagh store that the replacement to our original store built in 2001 would integrate the latest sustainability innovations that will generate ongoing energy savings," Fitzgerald added.
"The newly installed solar panels will make a big impact in increasing our energy from sustainable resources by generating over 25% of our Nenagh store’s energy needs annually."
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
