Passivent helps Tesco achieve zero carbon at new store

Complex balancing of humidity and temperature

The nature of a supermarket’s internal air is complex, balancing the cold air and humidity levels of fridges and freezers whilst maintaining a pleasant temperature for shoppers. Tesco has used natural ventilation for a while, but Passivent were able to bring added value, with the ability to deliver what was promised, and provide the means of not only controlling the ventilation and internal atmosphere but to monitor and analyse its performance. Tesco Ramsey project manager, Philip Jones, commented, “The store has provisionally achieved an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating, and we are reviewing the potential to achieve a level of ‘outstanding’!”

The Passivent Airscoops, installed by one of Passivent’s installers, on behalf of main contractor RG Carter Projects, are part of the overall sustainable strategy employed at the store, which also encompasses rooflights, wind turbines, rainwater harvesting and a biofuel heating and power unit. Each Airscoop comprises a roof mounted terminal divided diagonally into four chambers. Wind from any direction is channelled down through the windward chambers into the building, which displaces the warm, ‘used’ air out through the leeward chambers by harnessing naturally occurring convection whereby warm air rises. The only electrical consumption is that required to modulate the louvres to adjust the flow rate.