German Metro opened the very first energy neutral Metro store in Sankt Pölten in Austria. The store implemented all types of sustainable techniques, which result in a store without any energy consumption.
A lot of windows and residual heat
In order to generate sufficient amounts of energy for the store’s operations, it installed a lot of solar panels. There is a material on the wall that lowers the amount of heat required and a range of windows lowers the need for electricity. Every window can be opened separately, allowing for air circulation when it is warm and eliminating the need for a special ventilation system.
The heat also comes from cooling systems’ residual heat. This is not only to warm the store, but also to create warm water. The low energy demands also result in a lower operational cost.
Only materials that met ecological standards were used to build the store. Its frame is entirely made out of wood and that material is also very present in the rest of the store.