WELL WORTH IT
Whenever a new Woolworths building is
designed careful consideration is given to
its environmental footprint: sustainable
building materials are used and priority
is given to producing less waste and using
less water and energy.
The Woolworths store at Waterstone
Village shopping centre in Somerset West,
for example, won the international grand
prize at the 2014 Association for Retail
Environments Design Awards. Skylights
naturally illuminate the store, with electric
lights adjusting automatically in response.
Waste heat from refrigeration is captured
to warm the shop and the fridges use a gas
that doesn’t harm the ozone layer.
At the chain’s Centurion distribution
centre water is reclaimed from fridges and is
used for washing trays and flushing toilets,
while the Montague Gardens distribution
centre collects rainwater from its 18 000m
roof. Solar panels at the group’s head office
have provided over 254 000kWh this year;
another photovoltaic setup will be installed
at a main distribution centre later this year.
Energy and water consumption are
tracked by an online system that allows
quick response to spikes in consumption.
The result? Across stores Woolworths
has reduced relative energy usage by
40 per cent since 2004 and its relative
water footprint by 41 per cent since 2008.
It really brings all new meaning to the
term ‘green grocer’. woolworths.co.zaENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION ARE
TRACKED BY AN ONLINE SYSTEM.CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT
The Woolworths at Waterstone Village in
Somerset West is warmed by heat from its
fridges; in 2014 the branch won a prestigious
award for its ecofriendly design; lights react
automatically to ambient levels; sustainably
sourced materials are used throughout.160 HL OCTOBER 2015 HOUSEANDLEISURE.CO.ZAGREEN LIVING SUPPLEMENT
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GREEN
INSPIRATION
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