Supermarket receives PassivHaus certificate
The first PassivHaus supermarket in Germany is expected to achieve 30% energy savings compared to conventional supermarkets. It is operated by the Rewe Group and has a heating demand of only 12 kWh/m2/a as waste heat from the refrigeration system is enough to cover space-heating needs of the well insulated building envelope.
Dr Jürgen Schnieders of the PassivHaus Institute presented the certificate and said, ‘Heating plays a relatively minor role in the energy balance of supermarkets. About 60% of energy consumption results from cooling needs, while another 20% is due to lighting. The greatest potential for energy savings thus lies in these areas.’
Lighting energy consumption is only half that of conventional supermarkets, with the same light output. A thermal wheel in the ventilation system recovers energy.
