Decathlon debuts sustainable logistics hub
French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has opened a new, eco-friendly logistics hub in Brandizzo in northwest Italy.
The warehouse is currently undergoing LEED certification and features LED lighting in addition to rooftop solar panels capable of producing up to 350kW of electricity — allowing the building to be powered self-sufficiently during the bright summer months.
Decathlon is also debuting a new layout at the Brandizzo facility, featuring two automated mezzanine floors, which will be used in all of the company’s future warehouses worldwide.
The building has a surface area of around 23,000 square metres and is split into two units: one dedicated to picking, while the other stocks bulky material.
The heating and cooling system at the new logistics hub is based on 15 WSM high efficiency reversible air cooled roof-top units by Climaveneta, a group company of Mitsubishi Electric.
Alessandro Bergui , M&E Designer with Techbau SpA, who constructed the building, says: "Nowadays buildings are the first cause of pollution and CO2 production in the world. We drive Euro 6 and Euro 7 cars, while we live in buildings not so focused on energy savings.
“For our and our children's future it is essential to start thinking about buildings as we already do for automobiles, that is to say certifying energy performances. Following this philosophy, at the new Decathlon logistics hub we've tried to take the maximum advantage of renewable energies, since they don't come from fossil fuels and don't cause any CO2 emissions, by installing photovoltaic panels and selecting high efficiency HVAC units with air source."
Decathlon intends to design all of its new buildings to be eco-friendly.
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