Sunpipe systems illuminate Asda eco-store

Monodraught Sunpipe systems are being used to introduce natural daylight into a wide area of Asda's new flagship energy-efficient store.

The supermarket group has a comprehensive energy-efficiency programme that includes identifying sustainable and renewable sources of energy for all its stores and depots.

Its current flagship energy-efficient store model, which has recently been opened in Bootle, Merseyside, features a main structural frame built entirely from sustainably sourced Scandinavian timber, a recycled aluminium roof and the extensive use of natural lighting, including Sunpipes and translucent walls.

A total of 35 450mm-diameter Monodraught Sunpipe systems are used to introduce natural daylight into an area of the first-floor mezzanine that includes a customer restaurant overlooking the sales floor and staff facilities with their restaurant and cafeteria, a communal changing room, a meeting room and offices, all of which now benefit from natural lighting.

Monodraught also worked with SIAS, Asda's MandE contractor, on the specification and installation of its latest 750mm-diameter diamond-dome Sunpipes, which are designed to produce approximately 1,000 lux at floor level, making them suitable for buildings of more than 7m in height.

According to Mark Orpin, the supermarket's project manager for the Bootle Eco-Store, the sustainability initiative began when Lee Scott, Walmart's chief executive, challenged Asda to ensure that new model stores would be at least 30 per cent more efficient and emit 30 per cent less CO2 by 2009, compared to 2005 model stores.

He said: 'We therefore challenged our internal and external design teams to look for new techniques that would reduce energy.

'And now, thanks to sustainable initiatives such as Sunpipes, the 40,000ft2 [3,716m2] Bootle town-centre store will be up to 40 per cent more energy efficient and produce up to 50 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than the 2005 baseline,' added Orpin.

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