German retail group Metro has announced that it opened its first zero energy wholesale store, located in the city of St. Pölten, in northeast Austria.
The store's energy supply is generated through its own photovoltaic system, which is expected to generate more energy over the year than the store will need.
The waste heat from the store's refrigeration systems is used for heating water, and windows have been installed around the entire building, providing more daylight and reducing the need for artificial lighting.
The new store also features parking facilities for bicycles and e-filling stations, to encourage customers to use sustainable modes of transport.
Additionally, Metro's traditional blue and yellow industrial store model has been replaced with a light, wooden outlet, with a facade made from thermally-treated spruce.
Sustainable Step
"With the realisation of the zero-energy status of this store, another innovative and sustainable step towards the future has been realised," said Arno Wohlfahrter, CEO of Metro Austria.
"Our wholesale store is an example of the fact that an industrial building does not have to be more expensive if built sustainably. The operating costs of the market are much lower, resulting in a very successful business."
Last week, Metro posted a 0.5% increase in like-for-like sales in its full year 2016/2017, boosted by strong performance in the group's wholesale division.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
