Countdown starts work on New Zealand’s first Green Star-rated supermarket

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New Zealand supermarket Countdown has started work on building its first Green Star-rated supermarket in Richmond.

The 3450sqm store will open mid next year and is part of the Woolworths Australia-owned group’s plan to cut carbon emissions by 63 per cent by 2030. The sustainable supermarket is being constructed with an international rating system for its design and building operation as well as its fit out.

“Green Star is a useful tool that has helped us plan, design and build our Richmond store in a completely different way. It has encouraged us to try new technologies and building practices, and we aim to learn from this and apply these learnings to new builds for Countdown going forward,” Matt Grainger, Countdown acting GM, property, said.

The Richmond store will have ‘transcritical’ refrigeration, LED lighting, energy and water metering, a connected energy management system, use solar energy, sustainable procurement and materials and water-conservation measures.

Countdown took sustainability into account in the parking area design.

“We had a blank canvas to explore how we achieve a Green Star rating and this included reviewing our previous builds against the Green Star scorecard as well as working closely with the Green Building Council on our design. We’re really happy with the overall design and hope the local Richmond community loves it too,” said Grainger.

He said Countdown worked with building contractor, Gibbons Naylor, to ensure they lessen the amount of waste sent to the landfill during construction and also the recycling demolition waste.

There will be a drive-thru Dan Murphy’s and other retail space on the site.

The Green Star scorecard measures the indoor environment quality and sustainable transportation. The supermarket considered the visual and audio comfort for shoppers such as glare, lighting, internal noise levels, etc. It also studied its EV parking and put a bus stop outside for the convenience of those visiting the store without cars.

“This will be Aotearoa’s very first Green Star supermarket. Great green buildings use less water, have less carbon pollution, and are often better ventilated and lit, helping to make them healthier, nicer places for New Zealanders. We’re really looking forward to seeing Countdown roll out Green Star across even more of their stores around Aotearoa,” said Andrew Eagles, chief executive, New Zealand Green Building Council.

The new Countdown Richmond can provide 120 jobs in the community and it will also have an online Drive Thru for Pick up, a Countdown Pharmacy, a cafe and other retail space for lease. 

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