Designing smarter stores

Walmart Canada has designed and constructed a series of model stores as working prototypes for the next generation of supercentres and stores.

These projects provide the ideal opportunity to put sustainable practices into action at each phase of the building process: from the planning and construction stage to working out the fine details of the store’s energy and operational systems.

For us, sustainability is all about improving efficiencies at every turn – and this guides our approach to the mechanics of exterior and interior store design. Our ongoing objective is to test out environmentally friendly technologies, innovations and materials in a real-world setting – so that we can apply our best practices and learning to all new stores in the future.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

  • highly efficient rooftop HVAC units
  • uses modern refrigerant (R410) with no CFCs

Refrigeration

  • exceptionally efficient refrigeration systems with no CFCs
  • re-designed compressors use less energy
  • LED lighting with motion detectors turns off when customers not present

Temperature Control

  • store heating and cooling centrally controlled
  • cooling used only as needed

Lighting

  • LED lighting in storefront signs, refrigerators and product display cases cuts related energy use by 90 per cent
  • lower wattage sales floor bulbs reduce energy use by more than 20 per cent
  • usage of natural light reduces summertime lighting costs

Roofing

  • white roofing membrane reflects almost 90 per cent of sunlight from stores
  • reduces need for peak-load summer air conditioning and “heat island” effect of commercial buildings

Renewable Energy

  • Walmart Canada is one of the nation’s largest commercial purchasers of green power
  • actively testing new technologies like geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic solar systems, wind and other renewable sources