Greener

Early December saw France’s number one DIY group open its 111th store in Valence, in the south of the country. Above all, this 14 000 m² point of sale is the group’s first that can display a “positive energy” label. In other words, it produces more energy than it consumes, with a positive balance of 22 kWh/year/m². “This store is unique in terms of its design and what we have put in place for the well-being of our teams and our customers,” as Philippe Delomier, manager of the store, made clear. This theme was taken up by Yannick Le Coanet, regional director: “It is a significant stage of our plan. It gives a foretaste of the future of the Leroy Merlin stores in France.” However, he also reminded his listeners that, in its efforts to achieve sustainable development, the company is progressing store by store (with 17 renovations planned for 2010) and in accordance with the existing constraints. While this sales outlet sets several standards in the design of the buildings (including improved waste handling, choice of healthy building materials, better management of acoustic, thermal, visual and sanitary features), it is being presented above all as the banner’s laboratory for trying out ways to reduce energy consumption. Its designers have played with the building shell and with the technical equipment, linking both to a photovoltaic energy system on the roof (v. box). The undertaking represents an additional cost of 10 per cent (excluding the photovoltaic system, which alone comes to four million euros). Over and above the design, the Valence store is in fact is the expression of the group’s new bias “in favour of a habitat that is healthier, more economical, easier to live in and more respectful of the environment”. Which it sums up as “the home of tomorrow”. Already 8 700 skus (of the 60 000 total) have been selected for their reduced environmental impact and identified by a logo: either “more environment-friendly” or “more economical”. In 2010 about one hundred of them will be labelled “pricing pledge products”; they will in other words benefit from downward pricing. This project will be played out on a national scale. The Valence store also hopes to be a trail-blazer on the level of listening to customers and heeding their well-being. A Human Relations Platform has also been established to provide information as quickly as possible by telephone to clients who are preparing to visit the store. Solutions for reducing waiting times are being put forward as…