Green Building

In detail, the concept consists of the following elements that are implemented at the locations according to the framework conditions:

1. Making the most of daylight: Glass façades on the front and back and, depending on the building type, ribbon windows on the side façades and additional cupolas, enable use of natural light that is enhanced by an energy-efficient LED lighting concept. Natural light makes a significant contribution to improving the in-store experience for customers and employees. Glass façades also allow customers, employees and people in the vicinity to see in and out. Large roof projections provide sun protection.
2. On-site production: The new concept includes optional rooftop farms: Aquaponics, i.e. a closed aquaculture cycle for fish farming and a hydroponic cycle for the rooftop farm, create excellent conditions for basil cultivation. Excreta from the fish farmed on site is used as fertiliser. This system enables food production without pesticides and with 90 per cent less water consumption than conventional agriculture, as the water is used twice. The production supplies the majority of the stores in the region with basil and fresh fish. Approximately ten per cent of future new buildings could be equipped with a rooftop farm. Stores put the focus on regional and fresh products to create a holistic concept.
3. Ecological building: The typical supporting structure of a new-generation Green Building is made of wood from certified, sustainable forestry as a renewable raw material. European softwood timber was used for construction; larch was used for external supports that are exposed to the weather. The material is fully visible and not chemically treated. The building shells of the side wings and the roof shell will also be made of 100 per cent wood in future stores. The wood stack construction enables simpler, quicker building and follows the cradle to cradle principle: Assembling the wooden components using threaded bolts enables them to be dismantled, so the wood can be reused after the end of its life – an important step towards circular economy in the construction area. In addition, more wood is used in the building, saving more CO₂ in the long term. Attention is paid to using environmentally friendly and recyclable building materials for all other components.
4. Using renewable energies: Like all other stores, warehouses and travel agencies of the REWE Group, Green Building stores are 100 per cent supplied with certified green electricity. Photovoltaic systems are also installed where appropriate.
5. Rethinking heat supply: Fossil energy sources can be avoided by using heat pumps and waste heat from refrigeration systems.
6. Using rainwater: Where possible, rainwater is collected in receptacles for cleaning floors, flushing toilets and outdoor watering. Rooftop farms and aquacultures are also supplied with rainwater.
7. Optimising refrigeration: The natural refrigerant CO₂ is used for normal and deep-freeze interconnected installations and the natural refrigerant propane is used for ready-to-use chiller chests. Buffer storage is used for heat recovery; glazed wall-mounted refrigerated shelves for meat and dairy products allow less heat to escape. Integrated LED lighting, energy-saving fans and not using window heating for freezer units also increases the energy efficiency of refrigeration appliances.
8. Keeping sociocultural factors in mind: The majority of Green Building stores are disabled-accessible and equipped with disabled toilets and changing areas. The buildings also take account of factors such as visual comfort, ambient air and cycle racks near the entrances.
9. Creating habitats: Externally, an innovative ring-shaped car park layout minimises the sealed area without compromising on parking spaces: The result is a 1,000 square-metre, permeable island planted with meadow flowers, bushes and numerous trees in order to be semi-natural and insect-friendly.

In May 2022, the store was awarded the famous “Store of the Year 2022” prize by the German Trade Association (Handelsverband Deutschland e. V. (HDE)) at the German Trade Real Estate Conference (Deutsche Handelsimmobilienkongress).

Furthermore, at the end of August, an international panel of 24 design experts from 12 countries certified that the design quality of the store was very high. It was awarded the “Red Dot Design Award 2022, Grand Prix”, the highest award in the category “Brands & Communication Design 2022, Retail Design”. This award honours modern and consistent branding, in particular. The panel expressed the opinion that production in the store itself satisfied consumers’ desire for sustainability. They assessed the aesthetics and atmosphere of the building to be very attractive, like a contemporary interpretation of earlier covered markets.

Multiple certification of the specification is a prerequisite for rapid and cost-effective implementation of Green Building stores. It makes the certification process considerably simpler because the overall concept has already been subject to a thorough examination. The sales lines REWE, PENNY and toom Baumarkt DIY stores vhave multiple “Gold” standard certifications¹ by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). New buildings are therefore implemented in accordance with the Green Building concept of 2016 and/or DGNB sustainable building criteria. By including the criteria in the specifications of the sales lines, these requirements also explicitly apply to the rental properties of the REWE Group.

The REWE Group is seeking to achieve platinum DGNB certification for the pilot store Wiesbaden-Erbenheim. The new REWE Green Building/Green Farming standard concept is currently being developed on the basis of findings from the pilot store. The objective is a sample specification for different locations. This also makes economic sense – the Wiesbaden REWE Green Farming store is achieving its economic objectives. In parallel, the DGNB is developing multiple certification for the latest generation of green REWE stores so they can be sustainably built and also certified efficiently.

The DGNB quality seal rates different qualities of a building. In addition to ecological aspects, qualities also include the building process and sociocultural well-being factors, such as visual comfort, ambient air, cycle racks and customer toilets.

¹Classification according to DGNB criteria 2015.