Sainsbury's said the Devon-based store will use 50% less energy from the national grid and produce 40% less carbon dioxide than a normal store.
Cutting its annual electricity bill by one third, it boasts 38 different energy-saving measures including a biomass boiler burning wood chips to provide heating, LED lights and solar-powered fans.
Sainsbury's planted 400 trees to compensate for the 200 used in the store's timber frame and construction of the site was environmentally friendly with 90% of the building waste being recycled.
Neil Sachdev, commercial director at Sainsbury's, said the store was a "leader in sustainable construction", adding: "We've been keen to experiment with a number of energy-saving measures here, from sun pipes, which provide amazing natural light, to using a timber frame rather than steel, which consumes less energy in its production, but looks good too."
In addition to the store, Sainsbury's unveiled a greener delivery lorry, which is powered by the gas produced from rotting rubbish such as waste food, garden waste and newspapers dumped in landfill.
The lorry made its first daily drop-off at the new Dartmouth store in a 300-mile round trip from the firm's depot in Bristol.
Sainsbury's is the first UK supermarket to deliver food using the green fuel technology.
Comments
there'll be many critics about this. but i say good on them. must have been a great project to work on. if only i could run my car on gas from rotting food...all the salad and cheese and everything living in my fridge would at least be put to good use...
I think this is brilliant and pavs the way for other stores to follow. Good on Sainsbury's. A year ago they were also looking into delivering to some of their stores via the canal system. Seems Sainsbury are doing the walk not just the talk.
Although the Canal network and its 5mph speed limit may not be great for transporting perishable goods, it is a very strong transportation link with huge potential to reduce road traffic - particularly commercial.
I'm sure this, along with local rail and more regular public transport links are right up there on Gordon's list of sensible investments that he plans to ignore.
Perhaps, if an organisation with a high profile and massive consumer touch-points (such as Sainsburys), were to take the leap and use the canal system others might follow. It would be strange (but good) to look out of the window at work and see commercial transport on the Grand Union - rather than bedraggled tourists wishing they'd gone to the Costas.
There must also be huge potential for changing the 'fueling' of canal boats to greener options - low output and simple technology must be replacable with another form of propulsion.
Good work Sainsburys - now keep it going - move things forward and see if you can drag some of the other major commercial players along with you.
All very laudable I'm sure. I'll given them more credit when they stop screwing farmers and other suppliers though.
You're all better off going to your local farmer's market where you don't need turbines to power the checkouts or rain water to flush the loo
Call me a cynic but it sounds like a PR trick to grab a cheap headline at a time when Sainsbury's is losing ground as shoppers look for value from the likes of Asda and Tesco. I find it really hard to believe that using canals as a transportation system is both viable and worth doing. I doubt the energy it saves is going to make any difference. I can't believe Sainsbury's is serious about using canals other than generating some favourable coverage.
Using the canals seems like a nice idea but I'm with Darren on this one - I'll eat my hat if this ever happens. Most of the food arrives at Tilbury on container ships anyway so shifting it from UK farms is rather fanciful. Apparently, though, they did use the Grand Union durin' the wah to shift tanks down from their factories in the north ahead of D-Day. That's quite interesting isn't it?
...incidentally, when I say 'they' I mean the Ministry of War and not Sainsbury's
Have a feeling some have 'missed the boat' !! Tesco started shipping wine up the canal system from Liverpool Docks to Sunny Manchester almost a year ago. Given that it's heavy, non perishable & doesn't like being shaken about, I'd just surprised all of the supermarkets aren't doing it. Jeremy, hope you have an easily digestable head covering ... ;-) Not everything up norf is behind the times!
In that case, good on Sainsbury's. It's not quite a panacea but it's a start and credit is due.
I'm off to chew my titfer
@ Jeremy - recent news regarding milk price wars in the supermarkets and then your intersting insight in to tank transportation via the canal system was ringing alarm bells - I am relieved you clarified the comment - was concerned the Tesco v Asda v Sainsbos thing was all getting a little out of hand!
CF - 21/08/2008
Also, to respond to Jeremy's point: it'd be nice to think that we could all go to the local farmers' market, but the truth is it's not easy. I think that will only happen if markets/farm shops started to open in urban centres (like this one: http://www.farmerscitymarket.com/ - in Hampton, but better than nothing) and at at times when most of the populace aren't at work or in bed (my local market runs until 12 on a Sunday morning and I'm just not that committed, esp when a single chicken costs £13.)
I think that's a fair point - I was just making the argument that in an ideal world none of us would shop at supermarkets and instead go straight to the supplier. But that isn't going to happen.
Comments
Graeme Longstaff - 19/08/2008
there'll be many critics about this. but i say good on them. must have been a great project to work on. if only i could run my car on gas from rotting food...all the salad and cheese and everything living in my fridge would at least be put to good use...
Chris Arnold - 19/08/2008
I think this is brilliant and pavs the way for other stores to follow. Good on Sainsbury's. A year ago they were also looking into delivering to some of their stores via the canal system. Seems Sainsbury are doing the walk not just the talk.
gotnoteef - 19/08/2008
Although the Canal network and its 5mph speed limit may not be great for transporting perishable goods, it is a very strong transportation link with huge potential to reduce road traffic - particularly commercial. I'm sure this, along with local rail and more regular public transport links are right up there on Gordon's list of sensible investments that he plans to ignore. Perhaps, if an organisation with a high profile and massive consumer touch-points (such as Sainsburys), were to take the leap and use the canal system others might follow. It would be strange (but good) to look out of the window at work and see commercial transport on the Grand Union - rather than bedraggled tourists wishing they'd gone to the Costas. There must also be huge potential for changing the 'fueling' of canal boats to greener options - low output and simple technology must be replacable with another form of propulsion. Good work Sainsburys - now keep it going - move things forward and see if you can drag some of the other major commercial players along with you.
Jeremy Lee - 19/08/2008
All very laudable I'm sure. I'll given them more credit when they stop screwing farmers and other suppliers though. You're all better off going to your local farmer's market where you don't need turbines to power the checkouts or rain water to flush the loo
Darren Davidson - 19/08/2008
Call me a cynic but it sounds like a PR trick to grab a cheap headline at a time when Sainsbury's is losing ground as shoppers look for value from the likes of Asda and Tesco. I find it really hard to believe that using canals as a transportation system is both viable and worth doing. I doubt the energy it saves is going to make any difference. I can't believe Sainsbury's is serious about using canals other than generating some favourable coverage.
Jeremy Lee - 19/08/2008
Using the canals seems like a nice idea but I'm with Darren on this one - I'll eat my hat if this ever happens. Most of the food arrives at Tilbury on container ships anyway so shifting it from UK farms is rather fanciful. Apparently, though, they did use the Grand Union durin' the wah to shift tanks down from their factories in the north ahead of D-Day. That's quite interesting isn't it?
Jeremy Lee - 19/08/2008
...incidentally, when I say 'they' I mean the Ministry of War and not Sainsbury's
Chris Petterson - 20/08/2008
Have a feeling some have 'missed the boat' !! Tesco started shipping wine up the canal system from Liverpool Docks to Sunny Manchester almost a year ago. Given that it's heavy, non perishable & doesn't like being shaken about, I'd just surprised all of the supermarkets aren't doing it. Jeremy, hope you have an easily digestable head covering ... ;-) Not everything up norf is behind the times!
Jeremy Lee - 20/08/2008
In that case, good on Sainsbury's. It's not quite a panacea but it's a start and credit is due. I'm off to chew my titfer
gotnoteef - 21/08/2008
@ Jeremy - recent news regarding milk price wars in the supermarkets and then your intersting insight in to tank transportation via the canal system was ringing alarm bells - I am relieved you clarified the comment - was concerned the Tesco v Asda v Sainsbos thing was all getting a little out of hand!
CF - 21/08/2008
Also, to respond to Jeremy's point: it'd be nice to think that we could all go to the local farmers' market, but the truth is it's not easy. I think that will only happen if markets/farm shops started to open in urban centres (like this one: http://www.farmerscitymarket.com/ - in Hampton, but better than nothing) and at at times when most of the populace aren't at work or in bed (my local market runs until 12 on a Sunday morning and I'm just not that committed, esp when a single chicken costs £13.)
Jeremy Lee - 21/08/2008
I think that's a fair point - I was just making the argument that in an ideal world none of us would shop at supermarkets and instead go straight to the supplier. But that isn't going to happen.