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External shot of the Tesco Bourne store

National building services provider EIC has completed the mechanical and electrical fit out for Tesco’s second Zero Carbon store in the UK. The store in Bourne, Lincolnshire has been built by McLaren Construction with the mechanical and electrical systems designed and installed by EIC.

EIC, which specialises in energy saving and renewable energy design, consultancy and installation work, was appointed to undertake the three-month contract by McLaren Construction. The project involved the installation of a number of energy saving techniques including chilled and combined heat and power systems - which more than double the efficiency of the store’s fuel use - a ‘free cooling’ air scoop system which naturally ventilates the building, and lighting control systems.

The fabric of the store is timber-framed and uses skylights and sun pipes to illuminate the shopping area, thereby cutting lighting costs. The building also has a combined heat and power plant powered by renewable bio-fuels and a metering system so that energy use is constantly monitored. In addition, the store has no harmful refrigerants in the fridges, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Ian Lyall, joint managing director of EIC, said: “The Tesco Zero Carbon store in Bourne will play a powerful role in not only tackling climate change itself but also, perhaps more importantly, in encouraging others to do so too, so we were delighted to be a part of its design and build.

“With 40 years’ experience in this sector, we have seen enormous improvements in energy saving techniques and devices. We have worked with some of the country’s most forward-thinking companies and particularly a number of new build school projects, all of which have really led the way in carbon reduction. This has added significant expertise to our strong track record of designing, integrating and installing cost effective, environmentally friendly and energy saving solutions. We also believe that sustainable innovations are not just limited to new build and encourage our customers with existing properties or refurbishments to address energy performance and carbon reduction wherever possible.”

The first Tesco Carbon Zero store was opened in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire and following on from the Tesco Zero Carbon store in Bourne, another has been opened in Welshpool, Powys. Tesco has also exported the model overseas, with a Zero Carbon hypermarket in the Czech Republic and, plans for a Zero Carbon supermarket in Bang Phra, Thailand later this year.

Louise Gosling, Corporate Affairs Manager at Tesco, said: “We have set ambitious targets to reduce carbon, generate efficiencies and reinvest in green growth, which are part of our long-term goal to be a zero-carbon business by 2050.

“We appointed EIC to undertake the mechanical and electrical work as we felt that they not only had the relevant experience in the sector but are also keen to address energy performance and carbon reduction themselves, both internally and with their customers. We have worked with EIC many times in the past and always found them to deliver a good quality project on time and on budget.”

EIC has been involved in a number of energy saving and renewable energy projects, including the design and development of renewable energy systems for a Salvation Army Housing Association in Salford, the design of dimmable lighting and solar hot water generation for St Anne’s Primary School in Chelmsley Wood and the installation of solar panels, wind turbines and rainwater harvesting equipment for the Uxbridge High sixth form centre in London. The company is also currently involved in a Government consultation exploring the potential for schools to achieve zero carbon status by 2016.