Lidl opens first zero carbon store

BELGIUM: Lidl has opened its first carbon neutral CO2 store in Ixelles, Belgium.

The new store uses a range of energy saving measures including CO2 and hydrocarbon refrigeration systems, heat recovery and solar panels to achieve energy savings of nearly 40% compared to the previous store.

The store operates a Carrier Cool2Tec MT multi-compressor refrigeration system using CO2 with plug-in chest freezers operating on propane. The waste heat of the refrigeration systems is recovered to provide all the underfloor heating requirement. There are no doors, however on the refrigerated cabinets.

Although the area of the new store is about 20% greater than in the past, up to 24cm of insulation and triple glazing, combined with energy-saving technologies, allow a significant reduction in power consumption and solar panels on the roof provide a minimum of 15% of the electricity requirement. The rest of the electrical needs are met by the use of green electricity.

Light catchers in the roof skylights allow more natural light into the store with extra LED lighting controlled by daylight intensity sensors.

The store also operates a heat recovery ventilation system and rainwater capture.

The performance of the new store, named Store ECO2logique, has earned Lidl a European Commission GreenBuilding certificate.