This new-build Tesco Express Store, which opened last year, was the first Tesco ‘green’ store to be built in this environmental format and is being used as a test site for a number of ecological products and ideas.
The main construction material for the structure is a glued wood laminate format, manufactured using timber harvested from sustainable sources. The WYG-Future team confirmed the specification of the Monodraught Windcatcher natural ventilation systems, so as to counter heat gains created within the store by introducing fresh air into the building and expelling stale warm air from the underside of the roof level of the building out to atmosphere.
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In his 2008 Roland Smith Lecture, Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, announced that the supermarket chain was developing an Environmental Format for all new stores with a target, set in 2007, to halve the carbon emissions from all new stores built worldwide between now and 2020, compared with an equivalent store built in 2006.
Quoting Tesco’s fifth Environment store at Hinckley in Leicestershire as an example, he mentioned among its energy saving features the use of natural lighting, which is provided by Monodraught SunPipes and Suncatchers. Monodraught Windcatchers are also used to harness the power of the wind, providing energy free natural ventilation in the main sales area of the store.
Windcatchers are widely recognised as the most effective energy-free alternative to energy-hungry air conditioning. They harness the wind’s potential as a renewable energy source and use wind pressure to cleanse and ventilate a building.
Monodraught Windcatchers can be programmed to provide a downwash of cool air at night-time purging the building, leaving the interior feeling fresh and clean for the following morning but at the same time, ensuring the building is not overcooled.
The WYG-Future modelling determined that four 1000mm square Windcatchers would need to be installed in the main sales area of the store and this design was supported by a number of 350mm Monodraught Suncatcher systems combining natural ventilation and SunPipes, to the staff toilets. It was also decided to install three 300mm Monodraught SunPipes to the staff room, store room and bakery preparation area.
Commenting, James Dorling, Head of Tesco’s Environmental Centre of Excellence says: “The Windcatchers are helping to reduce the energy consumption of this store, which in turn means it has a smaller carbon footprint. We hope to introduce this technology to other stores soon.”
Monodraught’s Vice Chairman Professor Terry Payne says: “We are greatly encouraged to see that advanced thermal modelling does indeed support the application of our Windcatcher natural ventilation systems. Whereas we base our recommendations on 15 years’ experience, it is very encouraging to see that the latest modelling techniques also come up with the same result.”
Monodraught is currently involved with a number of new Tesco Stores throughout the UK where Windcatcher natural ventilation systems are being installed.
