80
Net-Zero Energy
Meeting the ‘Living Building Challenge’ A
Woolworths Supermarket in Burwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, that opened last December is the first supermarket in the world to become associated with certification from the stringent Living Building Challenge (LBC) performance standard, in part by employing two transcritical CO 2 refrigeration systems and doors on all meat and dairy cases. The supermarket is located in the Burwood Brickworks shopping center, which is in the process of completing its certification, expected by early 2021. The LBC is a green-building certification program and sustainable-design framework that visualizes an “ideal” built environment. It is marketed as “the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings.” Successful certification requires net positive energy and water usage, among many other criteria.
Two transcritical CO2 racks from Kirby at the Woolworths Burwood store.
A Woolworths store near Melbourne uses transcritical CO 2 refrigeration and doors on all display cases as part of an effort to become the first supermarket associated with the highly demanding performance standard.
To support that goal, the Woolworths store will incorporate a range of sustainability initiatives that aim to reduce the environmental impact of the store’s operations and help customers live more sustainably, too. The Burwood Brickworks development incorporates a large solar PV system and an embedded electricity network. The Woolworths store “is the next step in our journey to create a neighborhood food store, with sustainability and the needs of local customers at the heart of its design,” explained Claire Peters, Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director, in a statement. “As Australia’s largest retailer, we recognize our responsibility to minimize our environmental footprint and are committed to playing our part in creating a greener, more sustainable future.”
100% renewable energy — By Ilana Koegelenberg
Accelerate Special Issue #111
The store uses 100% renewable energy, which is equivalent to taking 700 cars off the road each year. “From store lighting and air-conditioning to food refrigeration and preparation, we have looked at all angles to see how we can build and run this store more sustainably,” said Peters.