WHITBREAD’S COFFEE shop chain Costa has launched a zero-energy concept, featuring innovative energy saving technologies, which could have a significant impact on the future of building design in the out of home market.
Costa has partnered with retail specialist Hammerson to launch the new store within the Wrekin Retail Park in Telford, Shorpshire.
The coffee shop took 13 weeks to build. Based on a metric whereby the energy produced is greater than the energy consumed, the shop achieves zero-energy. This is achieved by means of passive ventilation, innovative construction techniques minimising the energy required to heat and cool the building.
Key design features include:
- A special timber frame constructed using FSC-sourced timer as and alternative to a traditional steel frame, reducing the embodied carbon footprint of the building
- An insulated facade using soft wood with excellent energy retention propoerties; keeping more heat in during the winter and the interior cool in the summer
- Intelligent orientation of the building to achieve optimum levels of sun and shade, impacting on overall energy requirments for heating and cooling
- PV solar panels on the roof
- An under-floor heating and passive ventilation system
