Ecclesall Road, A Sustainable Showcase
Our Ecclesall Road Simply Food store in Sheffield was built not only using sustainable materials and features, but it operates sustainably too. In fact, we're proud to say we received a Considerate Constructors Scheme* score of 37.5 out of 40, plus it was awarded an 'excellent' BREEAM** rating. So, what exactly makes this store so special?
Getting the building basics right
The bricks we used for Ecclesall Road were reclaimed from an old mill, all the timber in the building was FSC certified and all the construction waste produced during the build was recycled.
Running the store the right way
Since Ecclesall Road opened back in April 2011 we’ve been assessing the performance of every sustainable feature. A lighting strategy combining efficient LED’s, natural daylight, sun pipes and control sensors has led to a 20% reduction in lighting energy. The rainwater harvesting tank provides water for the toilets and green ‘living wall’ and has helped reduce water use by 30% compared to other Simply Food stores. Heating and hot water are provided by heat expelled by the fridges which brings energy consumption just below an average Simply Food store and we are now working to reduce this even further. The staff and customers love the store too with satisfaction levels exceeding 80%.
We were just as green outside: a sedum roof and the living wall act as habitats for various wildlife. We put bird boxes around the perimeter wall and planted 62 different types of plants.
To help our customers, we’ve put electric car charging points in the car park and real time local transport information via LED screens in store.
The store has also made its mark by winning a number of awards.
