Selling green
While well known catchphrase, “Every little helps”, has the ring of an asinine marketing tool, global retailer Tesco are doing their little bit for the environment, as their second green store in Thailand demonstrates.
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When Tesco Lotus’ 27,000 sqm hypermarket and shopping mall in Salaya district, Nakhon Pathom province opened on 25 January 2008, it had all the rigmarole and attendant fanfare one would expect. VIP guests, Former Deputy Prime Minister Police General Pow Sarasin and Tesco Lotus chairman Sunthorn Arunanondchai officiated, cutting the red ribbon and posing for photographs in front of the waiting press. Yet behind the spectacle lies one of the regions most environmentally friendly and technologically advanced retail stores.
It has been specially designed and built to achieve a 40 percent reduction in the company’s carbon footprint and 30 percent reduction in energy costs. Altogether, it will employ more than 70 energy saving and environmentally conservation initiatives. These include: the largest solar cooling system in the world for the building’s air conditioning system; a bio-diesel plant and biogas plant, which use disposed cooking oil, fruits and vegetables as raw materials to produce fuel for the building’s electric generator; and wind turbines to generate electricity for the stores’ parking area and bus stops.
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“It is part of our green business philosophy of making green initiatives an integral part of our business,” says Sunthorn, adding that the store “will also be an ‘ecoeducation centre’ providing education in environmental initiatives, and an interactive learning experience for youth. We hope to share best energy saving practice with our local customers.”
In 2004, the Tesco Lotus on Rama 1 Road was a worldfirst for the Tesco group, incorporating techniques such as water recycling, energy saving and pollution control systems. This was followed by other green stores globally, including stores in Japan and China. The experience of these projects was then leveraged on the Salaya store.
Of the construction budget of TB800 mil, 100 mil was committed for green initiatives. Proponents of environmental technology will no doubt admire the “big money” projects such as the wind turbines and solar cooling system. However, these are just elements in a wide range of components, including the lighting system, landscaping and a comprehensive staff training initiative.
Recognising the shift in consumer sentiment, the store is part of a comprehensive environmental strategy for Tesco Lotus. It will be a centre to establish best practice for waste management and energy conservation, which will result in an additional investment of 131 million baht in store upgrades in 2008. The goal, says Sunthom is a retail store offering “designed for customers convenience and comfort, while helping to save the environment.”
Green initiatives at Tesco Salaya
Wind turbines
- First retail application in Thailand
- Three turbines generate 6kW each
- 18, 20 and 22 metres high, turbine blades are 6 metres in diameter
- The total power produced is estimated at 10,000 kWh per year.
- Energy primarily for lighting the car park
- Diverted for customers: tyre inflation pump, mobile telephone charger
Solar cooling system
- Biggest commercial setup of solar cooling in the world
- Still under construction, opening scheduled May 2008
- 4,200 square metres of car park roof collect heat from the sun with vacuum tube solar hot water collectors.
- Heating water to 80-90 degrees C
- Cooling energy harvested by absorbent chiller in plant room
- Estimated energy savings of THB1.6 mil per year
Biodiesel
- First retail application of on-site biodiesel production in Thailand
- Biodiesel plant now installed, with capacity of 600 litres per day
- Will run on cooking oil recycled from food court, bakery and mall vendors
- Energy will be used to supplement solar cooling system
- Estimated energy savings of THB1.46 mil per year
Biogas
- First retail application in Thailand
- Plant capacity of 14kg of LPG per day
- Will run on vegetable waste recycled from the store
- Will be used directly for cooking in the store
- Estimated energy savings of THB130,000 per year
Water pond
- On site before construction of the store, feature retailed
- 4,000 square metre surface of the water is used to transfer heat from the central airconditioning system the first retail application in Thailand
- Gives pleasant aspect to store, recreation areas and views
- Uses a special aerator machine (invented and patented by Thailand’s King Bhumipol.)
Lighting systems
- T5 fluorescent lamp technology
- Saves up to 40 percent of the energy on conventional high-bay tubes.
- Roofs constructed with skylights to let in natural light
- Lamps react to natural light levels (continuous automatic dimming)
- In sales floor area, mall area and back room
- Horizontal shading on laminate windows reduces heat while keeping light
- LEDs for pylon sign reduce energy use by 80 percent
- Estimated energy savings of THB1 mil per year
Airconditioning systems
- Assisted by solar cooling, biodiesel, water pond
- SMAC temperature and humidity control technology
- Variable speed drives (VSD) technology
- Positive pressure air conditioning reduces warm air through main entrances
- Double doors at entrances conserve air-conditioned air
Refrigeration systems
- Using CO2 as refrigerant reduces power to 1/6 of comparable store
Water, waste treatment
- State of the art water treatment
- Special Room to separate waste
