12.02.09
B&Q LAUNCHES ITS GREENEST EVER STORE
50 per cent less carbon emissions and the biggest range of One Planet Home
products in London
It’s about to become even easier to make your home more beautiful and ease your conscience with the launch of B&Q’s latest store in New Malden which opens early in February this year.
The store will be at least 50 per cent more efficient in its carbon emissions
than the rest of the chain’s stores through the introduction of innovative
sustainable developments which include:
• a 20KW wind turbine situated on a 35m tower on the top of the store
will help generate energy for the store – it’s the largest integrated
turbine yet installed on a building in the UK
• FSC certified timber has been used throughout
• Ground source heat pumps heat and cool the store with geothermal
energy which takes energy from the earth
• Rainwater harvesting – rainwater is collected from the store’s
roof and used to water plants in the roof top garden centre and for flushing
the toilets
• Photovoltaic system will provide shade for the coffee shop and convert
solar radiation into electricity to run appliances and lighting
• Solar thermal water heating panels will generate hot water for the
WCs and the coffee shop
• Insulated to the highest levels reducing loss of heat and CO2 through
walls and roof
• Green roof will absorb CO2 and provide added value to biodiversity
as well as reducing rainwater run-off
• North-light roof provides higher natural lighting levels and reduces
reliance on artificial lighting. All lighting throughout the store will
use energy efficient light bulbs
• Automatic lighting dimming control system will reduce energy consumption
• Natural ventilation from the roof vents help to make the store more
comfortable in summer
The building will achieve almost a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, when compared with a traditional unit of similar size, and will be B&Q's most sustainable store to date. It features many energy saving technologies – a number of which have already been trialled in other B&Q developments across its estate – and some which are available for customers to purchase for their own homes.
But green isn’t the only colour which the store will be celebrating. The store will have the largest selection of B&Q’s home accessories and decorative materials. Trends pods will display products which fit into the latest trends including cushions, curtains and interiors accessories. Individual ‘shops’ within the store will offer the widest range of kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and decoration in London.
Euan Sutherland, CEO of B&Q and Kingfisher UK said: “This store design has enabled us to showcase best practice for sustainable homes on a grand scale. We know that our customers care about creating a sustainable environment for their families, but this doesn’t come at the expense of both style and budget.”
B&Q is one of twelve organisations from across the country to achieve the Carbon Trust Standards and its One Planet Home range in store can help customers make a difference in their homes too.
Making simple changes and adjustments in our homes can help customers save money and ease our eco-consciences at the same time. New Malden will have over 2,000 products from its One Planet Home range along with simple hints and tips for customers to try. For example advice on reducing food miles by growing your own food, information on the savings gained (around £45 over one bulb’s lifetime) of switching to energy saving light bulbs, advice on fully insulating homes as more heat is lost through walls and roofs than any other route, or choosing paint with minimum levels of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). With all this knowledge and advice on their doorstep it’s never been easier for Britons to make a difference.
Customers across the country can design their own eco-action plan by going on line to www.diy.com/oneplanethome.
Download press release as a PDF