Monodraught natural ventilation and lighting systems for Tesco’s Environmental Express Store

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.

This new-build Tesco Express store, which opened in June 2008, is the first Tesco convenience store to be built in this Environmental Format. It is being used as the test site for a number of ecological products and ideas.

The main construction material for the eco store is a glued wood laminate, manufactured using timber harvested from sustainable sources. Monodraught Windcatcher natural ventilation systems were specified by the Tesco Express design team to counter heat gains by introducing fresh air into the building and expelling stale warm air from the underside of the roof level of the building.

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.

At night they can also be programmed to provide a downwash of cool air to purge the building, leaving the interior feeling fresh and clean for the following morning but at the same point, ensuring the building is not overcooled.

Four 1000mm square Windcatchers were installed in the main sales area of the store and 350mm Monodraught Suncatcher systems combining natural ventilation and SunPipes, were fitted in the staff toilet facilities. In addition, three 300mm Monodraught SunPipes were installed in 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, managing director Professor Terry Payne says: “There is a growing movement among supermarkets to embrace natural lighting and natural ventilation, so we are delighted that Tesco has adopted Monodraught Windcatchers, SunPipes and Suncatchers for its first Environmental Express store.” He adds that in-depth university reports from the USA show that natural lighting in supermarkets can improve sales by as much as 40%.

Email: info@monodraught.com