SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave MarketPlace stores to donate €129,000 to community buildings in conjunction with SEAI 

Daniel Murphy, cost and sustainability manager with Musgrave celebrating their contribution to the Building Sustainable Communities Scheme, in partnership with the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)

Ten stores participated in the initiative to improve energy efficiency in community buildings across Ireland

Print

PrintPrint
News

2 February 2021

Share this post:
 

advertisement



 

SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave MarketPlace stores have teamed up with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for the ninth consecutive year to spearhead environmental change in the Irish retail sector and beyond through the ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ initiative.

Once again in partnership with the SEAI, a number of community upgrade projects were completed, with 10 stores across Ireland participating in the initiative. The community grant scheme administered by SEAI supported the project with a total investment value of €265,000.

The initiative calls on stores to identify and upgrade areas of their own operations which can be made more energy efficient, in keeping with high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, but also enables them to identify community buildings in their area to donate funds and enable them to upgrade their facilities. The objective of the initiative is to reduce energy costs, fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions year on year.

This a huge undertaking of both time and capital, with over €1.2m invested by the stores that participated in 2020 whereby several energy-saving measures and solutions were implemented. SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave MarketPlace have said the Building Sustainable Communities initiative is one they are “extremely passionate” about, adding that the long-term difference it makes in their local communities makes their investment and efforts worthwhile.

This year, the community buildings associated with stores who participated in the scheme received up to €129,000 between them as a result of energy saving measures implemented by their respective SuperValu, Centra and Musgrave Marketplace stores.

Community buildings and clubs who benefitted include;

  • Peamount FC, Dublin
  • Cuala GAA Club, Dublin
  • Midleton Football Club, Cork
  • Midleton Rugby Club, Cork
  • Carndonagh FC, Donegal
  • Ballybunion Leisure Centre, Kerry
  • Ballybunion Community Centre, Kerry
  • Kings Island Community Centre, Limerick
  • Dungarvan Rugby Club, Waterford

In their clubhouses and buildings, upgrades included the installation of new heat pumps and insulation, others had windows and doors replaced, with the remaining associations opting for new energy efficient LED lighting. These upgrades put funds back into the pockets of nominated community groups during a challenging year, reducing yearly energy bills by almost €19,000 or 147,000 thermal KWH savings. This is equivalent in energy terms to powering 43 houses per year.

The 10 stores involved in this year’s Building Sustainable Communities initiative were:

  • SuperValu Sundrive, Dublin
  • Centra Newtownpark Avenue, Dublin
  • SuperValu Rush, Dublin
  • SuperValu Youghal, Cork
  • SuperValu Newmarket, Cork
  • SuperValu Midleton, Cork
  • SuperValu Carndonagh, Donegal
  • SuperValu Ballybunion, Kerry
  • Musgrave MarketPlace Limerick
  • SuperValu Dungarvan, Wateford

Soaring to new heights with their sustainability credentials this year, a number of the stores installed solar PV panels to their roofs. Not only are these stores conserving energy through LED lighting upgrades and new refrigeration systems, but they are now creating their own eco-friendly energy to power their stores.

A shining example of the fantastic strides being made in their green endeavours is SuperValu Ballybunion, Co. Kerry. The store underwent a refrigeration and LED lighting update in 2017 which greatly reduced their electricity consumption and carbon footprint by almost 30%. This year, the store had PV solar panels installed which has reduced their carbon footprint by a further 20% now that the store is generating its own green energy.

On the Centra side, their store in Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, also made huge energy savings as a result of new PV solar panels installed this year, reducing their carbon footprint by 40%.

Declan Meally, head of transport and communities with SEAI, said the company was delighted to work with the Musgrave Group and communities on “another successful year for the ‘Building for Sustainable Communities’ initiative”.

“The Musgrave Group has been leading by example in their own stores with their energy saving initiatives, in addition to informing their communities and customers in the process to illustrate how everyday changes can make a big difference,” Meally said.

Ian Allen, managing director for SuperValu and Centra, said the group is “committed to making a real difference and creating a positive impact on communities across Ireland.

“We are constantly looking for ways in which we can operate our business in more environmentally friendly ways,” Allen said, “for example we are working to ensure that 100% of our ‘Own Brand’ range packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 and to reduce our carbon emissions to net zero carbon by 2050.”

To learn how you can make small changes with a big impact see www.supervalu.ie/about/sustainabilitywww.centra.iewww.musgravemarketplace.ie or follow #SustainableSundays #EverythingYouNeed or #ThereWhenYouNeedUs on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

advertisement



 
Share this post:



Back to Top ↑

Shelflife Magazine