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Praktiker, a German DIY retailer, has opened two “climate stores” that are located in Marl and Münster. These represent a first for the company in Europe. During the planning and construction phases the focus was on energy efficiency and pollution prevention
Download:Consistent conservation policy (PDF-Datei)
The two Praktiker stores that opened in Marl and Münster at the end of February were planned from the standpoint of energy conservation in every respect. For the first time the group is making use of zero-emission geothermal heating techniques. At the heart of both new outlets are heat pumps that obtain energy for heating by means of geothermal sensors at a depth of 100 m, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions to zero.
With a heating output of 395 kW in Münster and 320 kW in Marl, the CO2 savings effect amounts to about 141 tons (Müns-ter) and 114 tons (Marl) when compared with a conventional gasfired system. This corresponds to the total annual emissions of a motor vehicle travelling 900 000 km or 800 000 km respectively. The annual energy expenditure in Marl comes to just 45 W/m²; “normal” DIY stores require 120 to 130 W/m².
The cost of electricity for lighting is kept to a minimum by the fact that skylights in the roof let a great deal of daylight into the salesroom and an “intelligent” lighting control plant regulates the amount of artificial light according to need. The ventilation system is also automatically controlled by means of sensors reacting to the quality of the air in the depths of the stores. In addition, Marl also features a stormwater retention tank and its own groundwater well for watering the garden centre.
Praktiker claims that the materials used on both locations during the building process guarantee excellent insulation and, with regard to later alterations or demolition, are easy to take down and recyclable as well. The heat-insulating measures undertaken are alone sufficient to save around two-thirds of the required heating energy.
According to Erhard Geist, managing director of Pahnke + Partner, an engineering company, amortisation of the cost of a geothermal heating system is achieved after around five years. What is more, it can be used not only for heating, but also for cooling purposes in summer. Although this function has not yet been installed in Münster or Marl, the system can be upgraded if and when required.
Now to the stores themselves. The Praktiker outlet in Marl is only the second in Germany to be fully owned and operated by Praktiker; the others are all leased. The store features a retail area of approx. 9 100 m², with 6 600 m² allocated to the DIY store and the remaining 2 500 m² to the garden centre (including a 1 500 m² outdoor yard). This store has replaced an old outlet located nearby that had less than half the retail area of the new one. Marl employs a staff of 76.
At a size of approx. 10 300 m² the Praktiker store in Münster is about 1 200 m² bigger than the outlet in Marl, which makes it one of the biggest Praktikers in the whole of Europe. The DIY section here covers 6 500 m² and the garden centre 3 800 m² (including an outdoor yard of 1 800 m²). The Münster store has a staff of 85. Great importance was attached to the architectural design of the store in this university city. This has resulted in the extensive use of glass and regionally typical brick walls in the structure in order to set a distinctive standard in urban planning. Another point worth noting, and typical for Münster, is that the Praktiker logo had to be modified at the request of the city council and that there are 42 parking slots for bikes. What is more, a bus stop was set up directly in front of the entrance. Yet another unusual feature of this store is the cafeteria that extends over two floors.
Both Marl and Münster are managed according to the Easy-to-Shop principle, which was developed in 2006 and has so far been implemented in about 80 (of 240) stores in Germany. This aims to make shopping not only particularly reasonable in price for customers but quick, easy and convenient as well. The product areas are organised according to brand and pricing categories. There is also a comprehensible store layout with a wide central aisle and striking promotional areas, practical guidance systems and visual merchandising that is mainly self-explanatory. The product offer in both stores encompasses around 33 000 articles.
In both Marl and Münster there are extended display areas in the plumbing and building departments, and for housewares in Münster as well. Both outlets offer a service for cutting timber and – completely new – natural stone for windowsills.
The two Praktiker stores that opened in Marl and Münster at the end of February were planned from the standpoint of energy conservation in every respect. For the first time the group is making use of zero-emission geothermal heating techniques. At the heart of both new outlets are heat pumps that obtain energy for heating by means of geothermal sensors at a depth of 100 m, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions to zero.
With a heating output of 395 kW in Münster and 320 kW in Marl, the CO2 savings effect amounts to about 141 tons (Müns-ter) and 114 tons (Marl) when compared with a conventional gasfired system. This corresponds to the total annual emissions of a motor vehicle travelling 900 000 km or 800 000 km respectively. The annual energy expenditure in Marl comes to just 45 W/m²; “normal” DIY stores require 120 to 130 W/m².
The cost of electricity for lighting is kept to a minimum by the fact that skylights in the roof let a great deal of daylight into the salesroom and an “intelligent” lighting control plant regulates the amount of artificial light according to need. The ventilation system is also automatically controlled by means of sensors reacting to the quality of the air in the depths of the stores. In addition, Marl also features a stormwater retention tank and its own groundwater well for watering the garden centre.
Praktiker claims that the materials used on both locations during the building process guarantee excellent insulation and, with regard to later alterations or demolition, are easy to take down and recyclable as well. The heat-insulating measures undertaken are alone sufficient to save around two-thirds of the required heating energy.
According to Erhard Geist, managing director of Pahnke + Partner, an engineering company, amortisation of the cost of a geothermal heating system is achieved after around five years. What is more, it can be used not only for heating, but also for cooling purposes in summer. Although this function has not yet been installed in Münster or Marl, the system can be upgraded if and when required.
Now to the stores themselves. The Praktiker outlet in Marl is only the second in Germany to be fully owned and operated by Praktiker; the others are all leased. The store features a retail area of approx. 9 100 m², with 6 600 m² allocated to the DIY store and the remaining 2 500 m² to the garden centre (including a 1 500 m² outdoor yard). This store has replaced an old outlet located nearby that had less than half the retail area of the new one. Marl employs a staff of 76.
At a size of approx. 10 300 m² the Praktiker store in Münster is about 1 200 m² bigger than the outlet in Marl, which makes it one of the biggest Praktikers in the whole of Europe. The DIY section here covers 6 500 m² and the garden centre 3 800 m² (including an outdoor yard of 1 800 m²). The Münster store has a staff of 85. Great importance was attached to the architectural design of the store in this university city. This has resulted in the extensive use of glass and regionally typical brick walls in the structure in order to set a distinctive standard in urban planning. Another point worth noting, and typical for Münster, is that the Praktiker logo had to be modified at the request of the city council and that there are 42 parking slots for bikes. What is more, a bus stop was set up directly in front of the entrance. Yet another unusual feature of this store is the cafeteria that extends over two floors.
Both Marl and Münster are managed according to the Easy-to-Shop principle, which was developed in 2006 and has so far been implemented in about 80 (of 240) stores in Germany. This aims to make shopping not only particularly reasonable in price for customers but quick, easy and convenient as well. The product areas are organised according to brand and pricing categories. There is also a comprehensible store layout with a wide central aisle and striking promotional areas, practical guidance systems and visual merchandising that is mainly self-explanatory. The product offer in both stores encompasses around 33 000 articles.
In both Marl and Münster there are extended display areas in the plumbing and building departments, and for housewares in Münster as well. Both outlets offer a service for cutting timber and – completely new – natural stone for windowsills.
