Isra-Mart srl:Wind and solar power top Walmart distribution centre

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The newest Walmart Canada fresh and frozen food distribution centre is expected to be 60 per cent more energy efficient than Walmart's other centres and is topped by wind turbines and solar panels.

The $115m, 400,000 square foot facility in Balzac, Alberta, also features the company's first foray with vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells as well as on-site wind turbines and solar thermal panels.

Two 30-kilowatt wind turbines are on the ground of the centre, which distributes frozen and fresh goods to 104 stores in western Canada, while 16 solar thermal panels will provide energy for heating water for offices and maintenance.

The refrigeration system in the centre includes demand-response capabilities so that it can pull electricity during off-peak times. Ammonia is used as a coolant in the system instead of chlorofluorocarbons like Freon, making the cooling system 33 per cent more energy efficient.

To avoid wasting energy from losing cool air, the centre's doorways between areas that are different temperatures were designed to have smaller gaps between them and the vehicles that will be going through them, windows were eliminated from dock door designs, electronic monitors were installed to make sure no doors are accidentally left open, and automatic doorways create air flows that keep air from going into areas with different temperatures.

The warehouse and parking lot are lit by LEDs, which provided an added benefit for refrigerated areas since they do not produce heat like incandescent lights.

Also, the 71 vehicles used to move goods around are powered by hydrogen fuel cells instead of lead acid batteries, halving vehicle-related carbon dioxide emissions.

All together, Walmart Canada expects all of the centre's energy features to help it avoid $4.8m in energy expenses over five years.